Description of the House (Reg VI, Ins 8, 3, 5) .. The fauces led directly to the atrium (C). In its centre is a marble impluvium, at the north end of which is the puteal used for drawing water from the cistern beneath. .. Along the west side of the atrium is a series of cubicula. Opposite these lie an additional cubiculum, an ala, and an oecus. To the rear of the atrium is the tablinum (D). .. .. Despite its size, the house was filled with decorative mosaics. Most of these have been removed, including the mosaic in the tablinum depicting the rehearsal of a theatrical tragedy (below right) after which the house has named. This, and other mosaics can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. .. The north side of the tablinum opens onto a small peristyle (E). On the eastern side of the peristyle is an oecus (F). Decorated in the fourth style on a yellow ground, it contains several pictorial scenes including one of Ariadne and Theseus, and another of Venus and Adonis. Adjacent to the oecus is a small kitchen area. .. Beyond the oecus on the rear wall of the peristyle was a fresco (bottom right) known as the Sacrifice of Iphigenia, in which Iphigenia is taken by Ulysses and Achilles to be sacrificed just before Artemis delivers a deer to be sacrificed in her place. .. .. In the north west corner of the peristyle is a posticum (G) which opens onto the Via della Fullonica, and a small lararium (H), used in the worship the Lares Familiares, or family gods. .. This house, excavated in 1824 lies at the corner of the Via delle Terme and the Via della Fullonica, across from the Forum Baths and is a small, but good example of a Pompeian house in the Imperial age. The property has the classic layout of a Samnite House, built round a central atrium (C). On either side of the entrance were two shops (A), presumably run by the owner of the house. In its entrance vestibule (B) is the well known mosaic of a dog on a chain (below) bearing the warning cave canem, 'beware of the dog'. .. .. .. .. .. ..

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