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House of Galba (Casa di Galba) (Herculaneum)

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.
 
As with other houses in Herculaneum, Galba's house was built during the samnite period. The main entrance is located on the right side of the street, but it is still buried under volcanic rocks. Quite a large part of the mansion is still undiscovered. The second, smaller entrance is located on the West side of Cardo III street. Corridor (a) leads directly to the partially excavated peristyle (C). There are some remains of plaster in the walls of the corridor, but not enough to easily identify the original decoration. Immediately to the left of the entrance is the kitchen area (b) and restrooms. The pre-Roman peristyle was rebuilt in the Roman period; the original columns of the Doric tuffs were covered with plaster, and a pluteus or low fence was inserted between the columns. In the center of the peristyle is a cruciform pool.
 
Some of the rooms around the peristyle have been excavated, the most imposing of which is the Exedra (d) on its Eastern side. This room is decorated in the fourth style, which has a Central pavilion on a red background, surrounded by promising architectural views. Most of Galba's house has not yet been revealed, especially since it extends to Cardo II. It is assumed that the hidden part includes the Taberna-shop (e), North of the secondary entrance to Cardo III. Behind the store, a staircase was built that led to the top floor.