Location of the House (Ins III, 1 and 19) .. View of Cardo IV looking south, with the entrance to the House of the Inn on the right and the path down to the shoreline centre left. Plan of the House .. ................................Plan of the House Key: A. Entrance on Cardo IV B. Atrium C. Peristyle D. Sunken Garden E. Room with Mosaic Floor F. Room with Mosaic Floor G. Room with Mosaic Floor H. Private Bath Suite iiI. Quadriporticus Description Across Cardo III from the House of Argus lies the House of the Inn, which is set in a magnificent waterfront location. Built during the Augustan period (27 BC - 14 AD), the house was first excavated in 1852. Because of its large size and the presence of its own private baths, it was originally thought to be an inn, but it is now believed to be a private house, albeit a rather sumptuous one. .. .. The southern side of the peristyle and, in particular, the three large adjoining rooms (E, F & G), have mosaic flooring. The portico itself was supported by pilasters of opus vittatum mixtum, alternating rows of brick and tufa blocks, as shown in the photograph (above right). The private baths (H), pictured right, are situated to the right of the atrium, and are decorated with frescoes from the late second style and have black and white mosaic flooring. These baths are the only private thermae so far found in Herculaneum. To the south of the peristyle is a quadriporticus terrace (I) which overlooked the sea. It is built over a vaulted substructure which contained several small rooms, probably used for storage, and two larger rooms with panoramic views to the south. The property is in a poor state of repair not only due to the effects of the eruption, but also to the exploratory tunnels and passageways dug in the course of early excavations. It would appear the property was remodelled sometime after the earthquake of AD62 into a commercial establishment comprising both shops and workshops. .. The main entrance (A), which is on Cardo IV, opens onto a rather plain atrium (B), off which rooms radiate left and right. The atrium here is a simple lobby rather than the expected prestigious foyer found elsewhere. At the rear, the atrium leads onto a large peristyle (C) with a central sunken garden (D), pictured above and left, where the carbonised trunk of a pear tree was discovered during recent restoration work. As a living reminder of its former use, the garden is now planted as a pear orchard. ..

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