Pompeii Home Of Slaves Turned Roman Elite Opens After 20-Year Restoration

Two former slaves and wine traders owned the Pompeii house. The restoration is complete. Now, visitors can see a glimpse of the elite at work. Roman life, circa 79 AD.

It was known as the House of Vettii. The site was first discovered in late nineteenth century. However, constant flooding and pillaging prevented it from being restored to its original glory until 2002. Associated Press Report. Intense restoration has now been able to reveal the numerous frescoes — or watercolor paintings on walls and ceilings — in the home. Many scenes from Greek mythology are depicted in the paintings, which show elite Roman life’s values and narratives.

“The House of the Vetti is like the history of Pompeii and actually of Roman society within one house,” Pompeii’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said. “We’re seeing here the last phase of the Pompeian wall painting with incredible details, so you can stand before these images for hours and still discover new details.”

Aulus Vettius Conviva was the owner of the house, while Aulus Vettius Restitutus was his second name. The fact that they share the first name and have different surnames indicates that the two were likely not related biologically. It is possible that they were slaves, possibly Aulus Vettius. According to The Guardian. Wine trading was believed to be the key to their significant upward economic mobility once they had achieved freedom.

Zuchtriegel claimed that the two men “had an incredible career after [slavery] and reached the highest ranks of local society, at least economically,” Note the incredible domus, garden. “They evidently tried to show their new status also through culture and through Greek mythological paintings, and it’s all about saying, ‘We’ve made it and so we are part of this elite.’”

In the living room, you will find a depiction of Hercules crushing two snakes as a child. The garden is surrounded by marble baths and tables.

Arianna Spinosa, Pompeii’s architect director of restoration, called the home “iconic,” It is a statement that it “represents the Pompeiian domus par excellence, not only because of the frescoes of exceptional importance, but also because of its layout and architecture.”

According to National GeographicPompeii’s remains were preserved in large part by thick volcanic ash that was formed from Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 AD. This high level of preservation allows historians and archaeologists to virtually step back in history and study Roman life. One-third of the city is still buried. The real challenge isn’t finding the rest; it’s continuing to preserve what is already there, given that it’s exposed to pollution, weather, and tourists.