.. ............Plan of the House

Key: A. Entrance on the Decumanus Maximus B. Atrium C. Tablinum D. Peristyle E. Stairs to upper floor

Description

In the London Times article of July 14, 2004, Buried Jewel of Ancient Rome, Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Director of the British School at Rome, said, of Herculaneum in general, that '.. the place is in an appalling state. Exquisite buildings are crumbling before our eyes, mosaics are being destroyed by damp and weeds and many of the remains are covered in pigeon droppings'. In particular he said that he had been particularly dismayed by the state of degradation of two key landmark buildings, one of which was the House of the Bicentenary (the other was the House of the Mosaic Atrium). He continued to say that '.. the House of the Bicentenary has hundreds of tiles missing from its roof. When it rains, water just cascades through it into the entrance hall. It makes me weep... '.

Since the article, the Herculaneum Conservation Project has made substantial progress in the stabilisation of the excavations. The House of the Bicentenial, however, along with its magnificent entrance hall, remains closed to the public for the time being. Because of this we are unable to provide photographs of the interior - to appreciate its grandeur, however, you can view the photographs that are available at the Conservation Project's website, a view of the atrium, and a view of the tablinum.
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The house, discovered by Amadeo Maiuri, was named after the bicentenial celebrations being held that year to commemorate the beginning of the excavation of Herculaneum. .. .. At the far end is the tablinum (C), flanked by lateral alae. The tablinum has a fine mosaic floor in opus tesselatum: a geometric pattern in black and white, with a central panel in opus sectile. On the side walls are two large panels, one of Daedalus and Pasiphae and the other of Venus and Mars surmounted by a frieze of tiny cupids. ..

.. The house, which belonged to Gaius Petronius Stephanus, was one of the finest private houses in Herculaneum. The entrance (A), opening directly onto the Decumanus Maximus, is situated between shops as shown in the photographs above and opposite. .. The large atrium (B) has a sloping roof and a black and white mosaic floor. The Fourth Style frescoes are of architectural and animal motifs. To the right of the atrium are several cubicula, the last of which is closed by an unusual wooden screen (below left). .. .. Beyond the tablinum, a staircase (E) leads from the peristyle (D) to the more modest second floor, which was probably rented out as apartments. .. A white stucco panel with a cruciform cavity was discovered on the far wall of an upstairs room. According to Maiuri, it was intended to hold a wooden cross, which would make it the oldest known Christian symbol. Below it was a low, wooden cupboard, probably used as a lararium. A more recent interpretation suggests that the cavity was simply used to support a wooden tablet. .. A number of papyrus records were found in the house revealing a lengthy legal battle concerning the claims of a girl, Justa, who had been born within the household. The girl claimed to be a freedwoman, but this was contested by the widow of Stephanus, Caltoria. The claims were made in 75-76 AD and judgement had still not been given by the time of the eruption.