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House of Galba (Casa di Galba) (Herculaneum)

The House of Galba (Casa di Galba), situated at Insula VII.2 in the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum (modern Ercolano, Italy), is a partially excavated domestic structure buried by the pyroclastic flows of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Positioned on the west side of Cardo III, near the town's central grid and close to the ancient shoreline (now inland due to bradyseism), it occupies only a small portion of a much larger complex beneath modern residential areas. The house derives its name from a silver portrait bust of Emperor Servius Sulpicius Galba (reigned 68–69 CE, the first of the Year of the Four Emperors), discovered in fragments outside the building during early explorations—this artifact, restored and now housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), may suggest ties to supporters of Galba or victims of Nero's regime, though no direct ownership link is confirmed. Originating in the Samnite period (ca. 4th–1st century BCE), the residence was rebuilt and adapted during the Roman imperial era, featuring a peristyle garden typical of elite homes but modified for post-62 CE earthquake resilience.

Excavation history reflects the site's challenges: Initial Bourbon tunnel probes in the 18th century likely stripped minor elements, but systematic open-air digs occurred between 1828 and 1855 under Carlo Bonucci, focusing on the secondary entrance and eastern sections. Amedeo Maiuri's later work (1927 onward) referenced the bust's street find, but the main entrance on Cardo II and western half remain buried under Via Mare, limiting full access. As of September 2025, it forms part of the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano (entry €13, open 8:30 AM–7:00 PM), with ongoing conservation addressing plaster decay; visitor reviews describe it as a "hidden gem" for its serene peristyle but note its incomplete state, ideal for a 10–15 minute visit near the site's entrance.

Galba's house in Herculaneum is named after a bust of the Emperor Servius Sulpicius Galba. This Emperor did not mark a long reign. He replaced the Emperor Nero in 68, but the following year he lost his throne and died. It is possible that the residence belonged to a family that suffered from the bloody rule of Nero or someone who might have supported Galba. The bust of broken silver was badly damaged, but it has now been restored and is on display in Naples at the National archaeological Museum.

Overall Layout and Architectural Features

The House of Galba spans an estimated 400–600 square meters (partially excavated), with a north-south orientation adapted to the sloping terrain. The visible eastern section centers on a peristyle courtyard accessed via a secondary posticum (back entrance) from Cardo III, while the unexcavated western part likely includes the primary atrium and extensions to Cardo II. The layout emphasizes the peristyle as a light well and leisure space, with service areas flanking the entrance and reception rooms along the garden's east side. Multi-story elements, inferred from a rear staircase, suggest upper galleries for private quarters, built in opus craticium (timber-framed infill).
Architecturally, it blends Samnite opus quadratum (squared tufa blocks) with Roman opus reticulatum (diamond-patterned masonry), particularly in the peristyle's Doric tuff columns—reused from the original phase, plastered over in red stucco, and connected by low pluteus walls (parapets) except near doorways for openness. The central cruciform pool (ca. 2x1.5m) collected rainwater via channels, feeding cisterns. Post-earthquake modifications closed inter-columniations for stability, and the secondary entrance features a simple threshold with adjacent utility spaces. Preservation under mudflows carbonized wood traces, but Bourbon looting removed much, leaving a fragmented but evocative structure.

Room-by-Room Description

Due to partial excavation, only 5–7 spaces are identifiable in the eastern half, labeled alphabetically in Bonucci's plans; the western areas (e.g., main atrium, tablinum) are hypothetical.

Posticum/Secondary Entrance (Unlabeled): Modest doorway (ca. 1.5m wide) off Cardo III's west side, with tufa threshold; flanks a taberna-shop (e) to the north, possibly a commercial annex. Leads south to corridor (a).
Corridor (a): Narrow passage (ca. 4x1.5m) from entrance to peristyle (C); south wall retains faded plaster traces (original decorations unidentified). Branches west to kitchen/restrooms (b).
Kitchen and Restrooms (b): Left of corridor (ca. 3x2m); utilitarian L-shaped space with hearth remnants, dolia (storage jars), and a latrine pit under a small window. Low ceiling suggests service use; connects back to entrance.
Peristyle Courtyard (C): Core garden (ca. 8x6m), open to the sky with four-sided colonnade (Doric columns, red-stuccoed, spaced 2m apart); low pluteus walls enclose most inter-columniations, creating a semi-private enclosure. Central cruciform pool with marble edging; east side opens to exedra (d) via wide doorway. Provides light to surrounding rooms; northern part poorly preserved.
Exedra (d): Eastern reception alcove off peristyle (ca. 5x4m), semi-circular niche for seating; Fourth-Style walls with central pavilion on red background, framed by architectural vistas (columns, pediments). Doorway west to peristyle; south window for views.
Taberna-Shop (e): North of secondary entrance (ca. 3x2m, unexcavated interior); commercial counter facing Cardo III; rear staircase to upper floor, suggesting multi-use (shop below, residence above).

Unexcavated western rooms likely include a main atrium with impluvium, tablinum, and additional cubicula, extending to Cardo II.

Decorations, Artifacts, and Significance

Decorations are limited but evocative of Fourth-Style opulence (ca. 45–79 CE): The exedra's red-ground frescoes feature a central illusory pavilion with surrounding architectural fantasies—fluted columns, entablatures, and garlands—evoking depth and grandeur, though faded from exposure. Peristyle walls show red stucco remnants, possibly with geometric borders. No mosaics survive in visible areas, but upper floors may have held patterned floors.

The primary artifact is the silver bust of Galba (ca. 20cm tall, MANN Inv. unknown), found fragmented outside and restored to depict the emperor in toga, symbolizing loyalty or commemoration. Other minor finds include carbonized wood (beams, doors) and pottery shards from the kitchen, but no major statues or jewelry.

The house's significance lies in its transitional Samnite-Roman design, illustrating Herculaneum's layered urban evolution and elite adaptations to earthquakes—pluteus walls and column reinforcements highlight practical resilience.