The House of Neptune and Amphitrite | Herculaneum

Buried by volcanic debris from Mount Vesuvius is a house of two stories with some famous mosaics of the Roman world and skillfully crafted sculpture and painting. This house was connected to possibly the most well-preserved shop of the ancient world. It even has wooden elements still preserved in their original position. This is James from History of Victoria. Join us as we explore the House of Neptune and Amphitrite in the city of Herculaneum. The House of Neptune and Amphitrite is located on a street called Cardo IV in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which is about 10 miles away from the city of Pompeii. The first thing ancient visitors would see is this shop facing the street. The shop had a door that connected it to the rest of the house. It's a bit difficult to film since it's behind this metal grate, but we will do our best. This shop is a must-see when visiting Herculaneum. This was a common type of shop in ancient Rome which sold food and wine, but this one is among the most well-preserved shops in all of antiquity. The eruption of Vesuvius had a different impact on various parts of the city. In some areas, the combination of very high temperatures and a lack of oxygen allowed wooden elements to carbonize, preserving them in their original position. This shop had the ideal conditions and has the most preserved wood of any ancient shop. Wooden racks for amphorae of wine still survive and some have been partially reconstructed. One of the most unique parts of this shop is this wooden partition with a lattice pattern, beautifully preserved in carbonized wood. Above is a sort of loft which could be used for more storage. In addition to the preserved carbonized wood, the remains of food sold here was also carbonized. Food was stored in these jars called dolia which are built into the countertop. Carbonized remains of grain, chickpeas, and fava beans were discovered. These were popular foods in ancient Rome. One ancient recipe describes mashed fava beans which are served with a sauce created from egg yolks and spices. These foods are still popular in the region today, with chickpeas being the key ingredient of hummus. An ancient stove can be seen in the corner which was used to heat food and drink for customers. The Romans often drank a type of wine mixed with water that was served heated, probably with spices as well. The shop could have been even more preserved than it is now. Tunnelers in the 18th century destroyed part of the countertop and also removed some of the house's painted decoration and other objects. The main highlight in the interior of the residence is this open air courtyard in the back of the house, whose walls are covered with paintings and mosaics. The most famous mosaic of the courtyard showing the sea god Neptune and his wife Amphitrite was positioned so that it could be seen from the street if the door was open, and visitors today can still get a similar first impression of the mosaic as the ancient Roman visitors did in antiquity. The courtyard has the most extensive surviving wall mosaics found anywhere in Pompeii or Herculaneum. Many of the mosaics now displayed on the walls of museums today were actually originally on the floors of ancient Roman houses. Wall mosaics in general were much less common. With wall mosaics, different material was possible because the surface did not have to be completely flat. Actual shells were used to frame some of the scenes, some of which still survive on the walls. The mosaics were created using small pieces of colored glass and stone. Because the mosaics did not need to be flat, some of the glass pieces were angled at different directions in order to catch the light. This area was used as a summer dining room. In the center are stone couches where diners could recline, and much of the original pavement survives. The courtyard may have been originally partially covered by a pergola to provide some shading. In between the two couches was a marble basin with a water fountain. Water passed up through this marble column, which is decorated with carvings in the shape of leaves and berries. This may have originally had a bowl on top, similar to this one shown on the wall painting nearby. The top of this fountain would have also been visible from the street in front of the mosaic. The water for the fountain was first stored in a water tank, which was supplied from the aqueduct. The tank is hidden behind this elaborate mosaic on the north wall, which is adorned with various detailed scenes. The mosaic wall has three niches. The two rectangular niches on either side are believed to have held lamp stands to illuminate the area at night. The larger niche in the center would have held a decorative statue. Above the mosaic are representations of theater masks made from marble. These masks are well crafted and well preserved. Today, they seem to stare down hauntingly over this partially destroyed house, but this is not how they were seen in ancient times. Decorating with scenes from the theater was very popular in ancient Rome. In the center is a tragic mask, with traces of the original coloring and the hair. And there are two comic masks on either side. Above is a finely crafted head of Silenus, who was associated with the theater and the god of wine, Dionysus, or Bacchus. The wall is adorned with various mosaic scenes. The mosaic scenes are well made and have some intricate details. Personally, I was struck by the quality and detail of these peacocks. They are shown whimsically walking on garlands. The wealthy ancient Romans did at times have peacocks in their gardens. And the garden could also be decorated with hanging garlands. On top of the central niche is one of several references to the sea and water in this house. The god Oceanus is shown, with the claws of a crab emerging like horns from his head, and has a long flowing beard. He is flanked by several sea griffins. The most well known part of the house, and possibly one of the most famous mosaics of the Roman world, is on this east wall. It shows the god of the sea, Neptune, or Poseidon, and his wife Amphitrite. She is not to be confused with the more well known Aphrodite. Amphitrite was a goddess of the sea, the mother of Triton, and is mentioned occasionally in ancient myths, such as in this scene with the hero Theseus. Neptune holds a trident in his right hand, and Amphitrite holds a staff. Upon looking closely, I was impressed by all the different colors that went into her garment. These figures are made from stone, and the framework around them is made from colored glass. The figures are shaded as if they are being lit from the right side. Above is a sort of shell pattern shaded in various colors, and there are also various other patterns with a blue background. On the sides are two columns, giving the impression that the gods are standing in a temple, or possibly a household shrine. The mosaic is framed by a line of shells. This house was not quite large enough to have a garden area, and the painted decoration in the walls is meant to evoke that type of garden scene, which was more common in larger Roman houses. We can see plants, birds, and a water fountain painted on the walls. This small outdoor dining area in the courtyard was probably only large enough for about two or three people. Adjacent to this courtyard was another large room, which would have served as the main dining room of the house. A large area of mosaic floor can be seen in its original position. The walls were decorated with a red color scheme, and we can still see some glimpses of architectural scenes. This mythological scene, now in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, is believed to have once adorned the walls of this room. It shows a scene involving Phaedra. She sits on a gilded chair next to her nurse, to whom she had told of her scandalous love for Hippolytus, who stands to the right. This dining area, along with various other rooms, was connected to the fairly spacious atrium. Much of the atrium has been destroyed, but some of its original pavement remains, which is made from various materials with some marble chips mixed in. This type of flooring is relatively inexpensive compared to some of the other decoration of the house, and it may be that the house was being renovated at the time of the eruption. The usual impluvium, which is made from marble, can be seen in the center, and the basin of a former fountain can be seen here. In this small room connected to the atrium, we can see remnants of some more luxurious flooring which once existed. In a typical layout for a Roman house, this room would be used as a tablina, which is for conducting business, but the room is very small. See this example of another tablinum from a house across the street, which is quite a bit larger. It almost seems as if it were designed solely as a viewing area for the mosaics in the adjoining room, which is how visitors use it today. Some of the most intriguing finds in the house were from this area in the corner of the atrium, which formerly held a household shrine or a lararium, which would have looked something like this one from the house of the Menander in Pompeii. This shrine was unusually made from marble. Marble panels were found painted in red monochrome, which may have originally had other coloring as well. The signature of a painter was found on this panel, who was named Alexander the Athenian. To give you an idea of how rare this is, there is only one signature of a painter found anywhere in the city of Pompeii. This well-preserved panel is also believed to have been part of this shrine, and is signed by the same artist, Alexander the Athenian. Not all ancient art from Roman times was created equal, and the presence of this well-made scene, which is one of my favorites, and other paintings in the house shows a certain level of taste of the owner. These two women here are identified as Leto and Niobe, and below are a group of women playing knuckle bones, which is an ancestor of the modern day game of jacks. It is believed that the women playing knuckle bones are some of the children of Niobe, who according to the myth, would soon be killed by Apollo and Artemis. In addition to this lower story we have seen so far, some of the upper rooms can actually still be seen with their original furnishing and painting, along with inscriptions that give us insights into daily life of the occupants of this house. The city of Herculaneum was buried in volcanic debris to a much larger depth than the city of Pompeii. This allowed the second story of houses to be preserved. The wall on the upper story of this house which faces the street was completely destroyed, either by earthquakes or other effects of the eruption. As a result, we can see directly into this upper level. A small marble table can be seen here, and in a room nearby, which we can see above the shop, is the bronze leg of a bed. Inscribed on the wall near to this bed was a list of spelling words, so the occupant of this bed was apparently learning how to read and write. An upper story of ancient Roman houses was often reserved for renters, or possibly the shopkeeper below, but in this case these tall and finely decorated rooms appear to be living area for the family of the owner. The area of this house was somewhat modest, at least compared to some of the other grand houses of the city, such as the House of the Stags, which we see here, and the owners had to adapt to their conditions by creating an interesting and unique layout. Based on the fine decoration of this house, it's likely that the owner would have had some other source of income in addition to the shop. Due to the prominent placement of the mosaic of Neptune and Amphitrite, and other references to the sea and water, it's possible that the owner of this house became wealthy due to the sea trade. We may actually have the name of the owner on a plaque outside the house. The plaque seems to have served as a property line between two houses. The sign has been reconstructed, but no one is exactly sure which side faced which. We can see here someone named M. Nonius Dama, who is listed as a freedman, and the other side shows someone named Julia, but either way, this is another rare detail in Herculaneum which helps to bring this destroyed neighborhood back to life. Today, this is one of the most visited houses in Herculaneum, and its mosaic frequently can be seen on the cover of textbooks on ancient Rome. The house is normally referred to as the House of Neptune and Amphitrite, when Neptune is the Roman name for Poseidon, and Amphitrite is actually a Greek name for the Roman Selassia. The shop is considered to be one of the most, if not the most, well-preserved shop of antiquity. Some rivals include this newly uncovered shop in Pompeii, with its fabulously preserved frescoes, and this well-preserved shop in the city of Ostia, but of course, none of these would have the wooden elements of this shop which are found in Herculaneum. Hope you enjoyed this, if you have anything else to add, let us know in the comments, and thanks for watching.