The house of the faun
The House of the Faun was built during the 2nd century BC, and was one of the largest private residences in Pompeii. It was home to many spectacular pieces of art, and is one of the most luxurious houses from the Roman republic. Because of this, the House of the Faun reflects this period of time exceptionally, and has helped widen the knowledge of life ancient Rome.
The House of the Faun was named after the bronze statue of the dancing faun that was located in the centre of the impluvium. Fauns, which are spirits of untamed woodland, were often connected to Pan and Greek satyrs by Romans, or followers of the Greek god of wine and agriculture, Dionysus. This statue tells us about how the family that lived there wanted people to know that they were religious, and believed in the Gods. It is also a sculpture that reflects high order.
The origins of those who lived there were discovered when archaeologists uncovered an inscription that stated the name Saturninus, and then a ring bearing the name Cassius was found. This indicated that someone of the Cassii family married into the Satria family, and they both lived in the House of the Faun. The House of the Faun was one of the biggest houses in Pompeii, suggesting immense wealth for those who lived there. It was built with influences of the Hellenistic style of architecture, and it covers nearly 3,000 square metres, taking up the space of an entire insula. The house can be divided into five central parts - the Tuscan atrium, tetrastyle atrium, corridors and service rooms, the Ionic peristyle and the Doric peristyle. Amongst all these were the other rooms, such as the tabernae (storefront shops). The house had a incredibly sophisticated building plan, detailing mutiple rooms. The entrance is decorated by the Latin word "HAVE", which means welcome.
From the size of the house, it is obvious that the owners were one of the more wealthy families of Pompeii at the time. This again was reinforced by the private bath system they had in the house. Most families used the public baths, and to have one in your house meant you were higher up in the money, and social, department. It was located in the domestic wing, to the right of the entrance. Like the kitchen, it was heated with a large furnace. Their wealth is suggested once again with the servants quarters, and the peristyle gardens. Most homes generally only had one peristylium, but the House of the Faun had two. The second one was created as a stage to host recitations, mimes, and pantomimes, which suggested that the occupants of the House of the Faun were highly regarded within society, and often had guests over at their house. The house also had an entrance passage, bedrooms (cubicula), dining rooms (triclina), a reception room (oecus) and the office (tablinium).
It is assumed that one of the owners of the house was an important Samnite official. The Samnite civilization was at it's peak during this period, and therefore would have given that person higher power over others. There were many valuable pieces of art in the House of the Faun, such as the Alexander Mosaic, so much so that on the day of the 79 AD Mt Vesuvius eruption, the family were reluctant to leave their possessions and therefore were killed in the tablinium of the house. The Alexander Mosaic was also an extremely elaborate and rare mosaic, again highlighting the wealth and power of the occupier of the house. Anyone in possession of pieces of grand art would have also been a similar type of person. This particular mosaic also suggests that the occupants of the house were educated, as the Alexander Mosaic depicts the Battle of Isus, held between Darius and Alexander the Great. Another mosaic at the House of the Faun depicts ducks seated amongst fish, which is possibly referring to the thriving income that was collected from the fishing industry at the time.
The House of the Faun was a Roman Domus, that just happened to be expanded in size. The Domus was a house that was designed for business and entertainment, so the richer residents of Pompeii generally lived in one while the poorer citizens lived in insulae. The lavish triclinum in the House of the Faun showed that the owner of the house owned their own kitchen, while most of the population ate a local taverni. Eating in one's house was also a luxury pastime, and those who could do so were often highly respected. Entertaining at home was also an important aspect of social life for the Patricians (higher up citizens), and the wealthy usually built larger and more spectacular rooms to entertain others in, especially in the public areas of the house, to show off how they were the ideal family. The House of the Faun, since it had it's own baths, clearly was home to heated piped water. This was also an indication of high status and wealth, because having water was reserved for only the most influential people. Having the ability to heat it with a brazier by the household slaves elevated this power even more. It is assumed that the owners of the House of the Faun were politicians and successful business people, which also explains some of their power within society.
Houses in Pompeii were generally built to show off social status, and the more luxurious and lavish they were, the wealthier the occupants were. The House of the Faun is an excellent example of this, and today it is a major tourist attraction at Pompeii, and visitors can enter the house and have a feeling of what it would have been like living in the extravagant house during the ancient times.
SOURCES:
http://wikireedia.net/wikireedia/index.php?title=Pompeii_-_Houses_and_Social_Status
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Faun
http://www.ancient.eu/pompeii/
The House of the Faun was named after the bronze statue of the dancing faun that was located in the centre of the impluvium. Fauns, which are spirits of untamed woodland, were often connected to Pan and Greek satyrs by Romans, or followers of the Greek god of wine and agriculture, Dionysus. This statue tells us about how the family that lived there wanted people to know that they were religious, and believed in the Gods. It is also a sculpture that reflects high order.
The origins of those who lived there were discovered when archaeologists uncovered an inscription that stated the name Saturninus, and then a ring bearing the name Cassius was found. This indicated that someone of the Cassii family married into the Satria family, and they both lived in the House of the Faun. The House of the Faun was one of the biggest houses in Pompeii, suggesting immense wealth for those who lived there. It was built with influences of the Hellenistic style of architecture, and it covers nearly 3,000 square metres, taking up the space of an entire insula. The house can be divided into five central parts - the Tuscan atrium, tetrastyle atrium, corridors and service rooms, the Ionic peristyle and the Doric peristyle. Amongst all these were the other rooms, such as the tabernae (storefront shops). The house had a incredibly sophisticated building plan, detailing mutiple rooms. The entrance is decorated by the Latin word "HAVE", which means welcome.
From the size of the house, it is obvious that the owners were one of the more wealthy families of Pompeii at the time. This again was reinforced by the private bath system they had in the house. Most families used the public baths, and to have one in your house meant you were higher up in the money, and social, department. It was located in the domestic wing, to the right of the entrance. Like the kitchen, it was heated with a large furnace. Their wealth is suggested once again with the servants quarters, and the peristyle gardens. Most homes generally only had one peristylium, but the House of the Faun had two. The second one was created as a stage to host recitations, mimes, and pantomimes, which suggested that the occupants of the House of the Faun were highly regarded within society, and often had guests over at their house. The house also had an entrance passage, bedrooms (cubicula), dining rooms (triclina), a reception room (oecus) and the office (tablinium).
It is assumed that one of the owners of the house was an important Samnite official. The Samnite civilization was at it's peak during this period, and therefore would have given that person higher power over others. There were many valuable pieces of art in the House of the Faun, such as the Alexander Mosaic, so much so that on the day of the 79 AD Mt Vesuvius eruption, the family were reluctant to leave their possessions and therefore were killed in the tablinium of the house. The Alexander Mosaic was also an extremely elaborate and rare mosaic, again highlighting the wealth and power of the occupier of the house. Anyone in possession of pieces of grand art would have also been a similar type of person. This particular mosaic also suggests that the occupants of the house were educated, as the Alexander Mosaic depicts the Battle of Isus, held between Darius and Alexander the Great. Another mosaic at the House of the Faun depicts ducks seated amongst fish, which is possibly referring to the thriving income that was collected from the fishing industry at the time.
The House of the Faun was a Roman Domus, that just happened to be expanded in size. The Domus was a house that was designed for business and entertainment, so the richer residents of Pompeii generally lived in one while the poorer citizens lived in insulae. The lavish triclinum in the House of the Faun showed that the owner of the house owned their own kitchen, while most of the population ate a local taverni. Eating in one's house was also a luxury pastime, and those who could do so were often highly respected. Entertaining at home was also an important aspect of social life for the Patricians (higher up citizens), and the wealthy usually built larger and more spectacular rooms to entertain others in, especially in the public areas of the house, to show off how they were the ideal family. The House of the Faun, since it had it's own baths, clearly was home to heated piped water. This was also an indication of high status and wealth, because having water was reserved for only the most influential people. Having the ability to heat it with a brazier by the household slaves elevated this power even more. It is assumed that the owners of the House of the Faun were politicians and successful business people, which also explains some of their power within society.
Houses in Pompeii were generally built to show off social status, and the more luxurious and lavish they were, the wealthier the occupants were. The House of the Faun is an excellent example of this, and today it is a major tourist attraction at Pompeii, and visitors can enter the house and have a feeling of what it would have been like living in the extravagant house during the ancient times.
SOURCES:
http://wikireedia.net/wikireedia/index.php?title=Pompeii_-_Houses_and_Social_Status
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Faun
http://www.ancient.eu/pompeii/