Casa del Naviglio (Reg VI, Ins 10, 11, 8, 9)

The Casa del Naviglio faces onto the Via della Fortuna Augusta, its narrow entrance squeezed in between two adjacent shops. ..

.. The house is also known as Casa del Naviglio o di Zefiro e Flora and consists of three labelled properties in the insula - No 11, plus Nos 8 and 9. A Samnite house, it has a small atrium with impluvium which leads directly off the vestible. The atrium still bears some of its frescoed decoration.

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The property is now in a poor state of repair, but many of its frescoes were removed and can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and elsewhere. One such fourth style fresco (pictured above) comes from the triclinium and shows the wedding of Zefiro and Cori. The central scene is framed by a red surround between two architectural views on a black background. The rear garden entrance is off Via di Mercurio just beyond the Arch of Caligula.

House of the Faun (Reg VI, Ins 12, 2)

.. The house had two atria, one for the main house, with a second to its right. This second atrium had its own entrance and was possibly used as guest quarters. The main atrium has no supporting columns and contained a spectacular impluvium with a statue of a dancing Faun, after which the house was named. (The original of the statue can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples).

The House of the Faun is on the Via della Fortuna and covers a complete block. It was discovered in 1830 and is one of the largest residences in Pompeii. .. The entrance, preceded by the word Salve, meaning welcome, is decorated in the first style and holds two shrines to the Lares (left).

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At the far side of the atrium was the tablinum flanked by two triclini. The tablinum opened onto the smaller of two peristyles adorned with 28 doric columns. Separating this from the second and larger peristyle with 46 columns was an exedra flanked by two summer triclini. . This mosaic, part of which is pictured below and right, can now be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. .. The mosaic below of birds feeding is also from the house and can be seen in-situ. ..

.. The exedra, decorated in the first style, had a magnificent mosaic floor portraying the battle between Alexander the Great and Darius, king of the Persians, at Issus. About one million tesserae make up the mosaic, a rightly considered masterpiece. Of particular interest is the artist's use of opus vermiculatum. .. .. Other mosaics from the triclinium can also be found at the Naples museum. The Nile landscape (below) was from a summer triclinium and can also now be seen in Naples. .. .. Beyond the second peristyle were the gardener's quarters and the secondary entrance or posticum leading onto the Via di Mercurio.

House of the Vettii (Reg VI, Ins 15, 1)

.. The vestibule leads into a column-less atrium with an impluvium in the centre. It has safes on either side sheathed with iron and bronze nails, set on masonry bases. The wall decoration depicts cupids sacrificing to the Penates, putti in various poses, wagons with symbols of Bacchus and Mercury and a scene of sacrifice to Fortuna. .. A second, smaller atrium to the right leads to the domestic area and kitchen. ..

This house derives its name from two bronze seals found near a strongbox in the atrium. The seals bore the names Aulus Vettius Restitutus and Aulus Vettius Conviva. The house was built along two sides of the peristyle (see left). In the vestibule is a picture of Priapus, god of fertility, there to ward off bad luck. The main atrium (left) leads directly onto the peristyle without the usual tablinum. To the right of the atrium is an oecus decorated with panels depicting scenes from mythology. A second oecus, on the opposite side of the atrium is similarly well decorated.

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Fourth style paintings adorn most of the rooms. The large triclinium (pictured right) opens off the northern corner of the peristyle and is decorated with red panels with Seasons in frames and perspective architecture, ornamental elements which turn into delicate figurines, small pictures of naval battles set under theatrical masks and Dionysiac cult objects. .. Above is a black frieze decorated with imaginary architecture and cupids acting out the various professions, while below is in faux marble. .. The scene on the right wall shows Ariadne in Naxos, awakened by Dionysius. .. The peristyle itself contained statues, columns, fountains and tables and these have been restored to their original positions together with a recreation of their garden setting based on traces left by the plants roots. Even the lead pipes that carried water to the numerous fountains are in their original position. .. A gynaeceum lies in the north-east corner of the peristyle set on a large colonnaded court with cubicle and its own triclinium. .. A third oecus leads off the main atrium at the front of the house.

House of the Golden Cupids (Reg VI, Ins 16, 7)

.. The entrance is flanked by cubicula and leads to the atrium which in turn leads to the triclinium and peristyle. The triclinium has several paintings in the third style with subjects ranging from Thetic at Vulcan's Forge and Jason and Pelias (below). ..

This house once belonged to Poppaeus Abitus. Next to the House of the Vettii, it is a refined dwelling, richly decorated. It was originally named after the glass discs etched with cupids on gold leaves found in a cubiculum. .. .. All the remaining rooms are laid out around the peristyle (above). Many of the rooms were elegantly decorated with stucco, paintings and mosaics. In the peristyle are altars to both Egyptian and Roman gods while the garden contains busts on small pillars and a pool with fountain.

House of the Ara Maxima (Reg VI, Ins 16, 15)

.. The house consists of several rooms arranged round a central atrium (pictured above and right). A two storey house, sections of the upper floor also still survive.. ...

The House of the Ara Maxima (Great Altar) is a small but elegantly decorated house situated on the Via di Stabia. .. Also known as the House of Pinarius and the House of Narcissus (after the fresco on the left below), it was excavated between 1903 and 1904. ..

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.. These frescoes contain detailed scenes of human figures, animals, floral designs and simple architectural elements as shown in the accompanying photographs.

Of particular note is the elegant peristyle; the gaps between the columns are filled by dwarf walls, which, being hollow at the top, were probably intended to contain earth for the growing of plants and flowers. The property still has many of its frescoes in-situ. ..

House of the Golden Bracelet (Reg VI, Ins 17, 42)

Also known as the House of the Wedding of Alexander, the house derives its name from the discovery of the remains of a woman wearing a thick gold bracelet. The bracelet, weighing 1.3 pounds, was in the shape of a two-headed snake curled so that each mouth gripped one side of a portrait medallion. Excavation of the building began in 1958 and was completed in the late seventies. .. .. On the middle level are a private bath suite and more reception rooms. The bottom level opens onto a garden with a fountain at its centre and contains a beautifully frescoed triclinium.

.. The house is built on three levels, utilizing the city walls and the slope of the hillside. The top level opens off Via Consolare, the entrance leading to a Tuscan atrium with cubicula and reception rooms. ..

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.. The triclinium is entirely decorated with a garden scene (pictured above and right). In the centre of the fresco is a trellis with openings offering glimpses of the flourishing plants and wildlife beyond.

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