The association between Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius goes way back to 79 AD, where the fateful eruption of the volcano smothered this town under pyroclastic material.
While this event was tragic, no doubt, it led to the unintended consequence of preserving houses, mosaics and other artifacts remarkably under volcanic debris. Among these ruins was discovered the House of Neptune, a relatively small yet ornately decorated dwelling that’s believed to be owned by a sea merchant. It is best known for the mosaic depicting Neptune, the Roman sea god and his sea-nymph wife, Amphitrite.
Read on to know what makes visiting this house stand out from others in Herculaneum.
Compared to other houses in Herculaneum, the House of Neptune was not very big in size. Besides a shop and a couple of rooms, the most interesting aspect of the house is the open-air courtyard. The dining room adjacent to the courtyard is also small, and has red walls. Frescoes that adorned its insides are now in the Archeological Museum of Naples. The dining room and a few other rooms were connected to a mid-sized atrium.
One noteworthy feature of the atrium is the presence of a shrine in a corner, called a lararium. Some remnants of the lararium are now part of the Naples Archeological Museum. The few rooms in the second floor of the house also contain inscriptions and paintings that reflect the taste and of the owner and the lives of its occupants.
The presence of the mosaic featuring the sea-god Neptune and his wife Amphitrite suggest the owner's inclination and respect for mythological themes and motifs. This is consistent with the general themes found in frescoes and mosaics of the time.
It is also likely that the general blue color scheme followed in the courtyard, along with the use of scalloped designs, seashells, etc. hint at the seafaring background of the house owner; he was probably a merchant who made profits from his maritime business. Hence, the decor of the house may be his way of expressing gratitude to the sea gods for keeping watch over him.
The very end of the house features an open-topped courtyard with an artificial grotto and a fountain, or Nymphaeum. The entire courtyard features garden paintings. Later, when an aqueduct was introduced, they redirected it to a cistern in the courtyard. This cistern was also decorated with blue mosaic chips. The courtyard is positioned in such a way that a visitor has a clear and direct view of it even before entering the house. The owner wanted to give the impression of a courtyard-cum garden in the limited space available, so there are frescoes within that depict flowering plants and fountains.
The most striking feature of the House of Neptune is undoubtedly the brilliant blue mosaic of the god Neptune and his wife Amphitrite. Neptune is pictured posing with a trident, whereas his wife stands beside him holding a long staff. Of note is her flowing dress that’s multi-colored. The mosaic is made up of little blue glass pieces, possibly imported from Alexandria in Egypt. The decoration above the figures is also shell-patterned, maintaining consistency with the ocean theme.
The courtyard also served as a summer dining room. The word triclinium was derived from the 3-sided couch that surrounds the dining table. In the House of Neptune, the triclinium comprises a stone bench that still survives. Here, you can see still lifes of cherries and roosters, a spread of fruit, etc. consistent with the xenia theme of impressing guests with the lavish spread available at home.
On the left of the Neptune mosaic are a series of three niches, with the largest occupying the center. The two smaller niches on either side of the central niche were believed to hold lamps, whereas the central niche was likely occupied by a statue. Above the niches are a series of masks, some comic and some tragic. The tragic mask still has some coloring left over from its time of creation.
One of the best preserved shops in antiquity, the shop (outside the House of Neptune and facing the street) likely served food and wine. The amphorae, or jars used to store wine, oil, etc. are still remarkably preserved. It also had a niche that is assumed to be a stove that could heat up customers’ food. The shop also had a door that connected it to the main house. It is unclear whether the owner of the house himself ran the shop, or whether it was leased to someone else on their property.
The carbonization of wood led to the preservation of lofts and a sliding lattice door inside the shop. It also preserved food remains of chickpeas and fava beans.
Yes, your Herculaneum tickets grant entry to the House of Neptune. You don’t need to purchase separate tickets to enter the residence.
The House of Neptune, or Casa di Nettuno e Anfitrite as it's known in Italian, was unearthed in the latter half of the 18th century during the Bourbon excavations. Its construction dates back to the 1st century CE.
Visitors today can access the shop, the atrium and the courtyard, and view the stunning mosaics inside.
Despite not being as large as residences like the Villa of the Papyri, the Samnite House or the House of the Deer, the House of Neptune remains one of the most visited attractions within Herculaneum. This is largely because of its expertly preserved frescoes and mosaics in the courtyard.
The House of Neptune is a two-storeyed, relatively small-sized villa. It had several rooms surrounding the atrium, a tablinum or reception area that overlooked the courtyard, and a couple of rooms on the floor above.
While the exact identity of the owner is not clear, it is believed that they were a merchant or business person who made their living out of maritime trade. As an alternate source of income, they might have also rented out the space for the shop before the house.
The shop outside the House of Neptune is one of the very few houses in ancient Rome that has well-preserved organic remains including wood and food. Other structures include a wine pots, a stove and food jars.
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