HOUSE OF THE TRAGIC POET - POMPEII

A mosaic depicting a growling dog and the well-known words of warning ‘cave canem’ (beware of the dog) is the decoration found near the entrance of this medium-sized, imperial style house opposite the Forum baths. The house has a Tuscan atrium and a peristyle with lararium situated on the rear wall. The atrium leads into the cubicula (bedrooms) and the tablinum. The house derives its name from a fine mosaic with a theatrical scene which was found in this tablinum along with paintings representing episodes from the Iliad. These finds are now exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. To the right of the peristyle we find the triclinium whose frescoes and figured panels are still intact. The panel on the rear wall depicts Ariadne abandoned by Theseus while the panel on the left-hand wall portrays a nest of cupids.

 

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The focal point of this house is the peristyle, which is sumptuously decorated with painted garden features (fountains, hedges, birds, flowers, sculptures). The most impressive painting of all is on the rear wall: it portrays a naked Venus with a head of curly hair and resplendent with gold jewels, sailing in a shell with billowing sails accompanied by a retinue of cupids. From an artistic point of view the painting is of poor quality, but its colours are well arranged and the overall effect is highly dramatic.

(Apic. 6, 3, 1) Ingredients:

• 1 partridge for each person
• Pepper
• Lovage (or celery leaves)
• Celery seeds
• Mint
• Myrtle berries (or juniper berries)
• 30 ml red wine
• 30 ml red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp liquamen (or soya sauce)
• Honey

Instructions:
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Cook the partridge by soaking it in low heated water for about 45 minutes. Grind the spices in a mortar, add honey, wine, vinegar, oil and liquamen. Pour the sauce on the venison and serve. ... continue

Love was a common topic of conversation in Pompeii. Feelings, passions, poetic love, sex, homosexuality, prostitution and so forth were all part of daily life and not a source of prejudice. The concept of “obscenity” seems to have been unknown. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man’s life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. The thousands of examples of graffiti found on the town’s walls are unequivocal proof of what the people of Pompeii thought about love and sex.