VII.2.16 Pompeii. House of Gavius Rufus or Casa di Teseo

or House of the Seven Skeletons.

Excavated 1867. 

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VII.2.16 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance, with cubic tufa capitals.

Della Corte thought that the identification of the owner of this house as being M. Gavi Rufi should be rejected.

The identification was based on two inscriptions found on the red plaster at the sides of the doorway

M.  GAVI.  DOMVS    on the left, and

RVFII  VA(le)   [CIL IV 2319f]  on the right between VII.2.16 and VII.2.17.

Therefore, he said, this house owner should remain anonymous.

Fiorelli thought these inscription gave the ownership of the house, without doubt, to duumvir M. Gavio Rufo.

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.154)

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.81)

 

Also found on the wall of the house, according to Coolley,

Marcus  Vecilius  Verecundus,  outfitter.  [CIL IV 3130]

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii : A Sourcebook. London : Routledge. (p.176, H55)

According to Della Corte, the graffito was found on a column in the house:

M. Vecilius  Verecundus,  Vestiar(ius)       [CIL IV 3130]

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.280)

 

Also found on the wall between VII.2.16 and shop at VII.2.17,

Vesbinus  cinedus,  Vitalio  pedicavit     [CIL IV 2319b]

See Varone, A., 2002. Erotica Pompeiana: Love Inscriptions on the Walls of Pompeii, Rome: L’erma di Bretschneider. (p.137)

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. One of the seven skeletons found in the house on 12th March 1868.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Seven skeletons were found, but six of them had not left enough imprint in the cinders to make a good plaster cast.

The above was the only successful one, although his left leg was not cast, on his face was a look of horror.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.190)

According to Dwyer, the cast was only partially successful as the cavity had been infiltrated by lapilli and this left the skull and left leg exposed.

This cast, known as the Fifth Victim, was placed in the Archaeological School, and it was here that Ernest Breton saw it, and described

“This unfortunate was discovered lying on his stomach in a room to the left of the atrium of the House of Gavius Rufus.

Six other skeletons were near him” from Breton, 1869.

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press. (p. 80)

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. December 2005. Atrium from the entrance fauces.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south across atrium from entrance fauces.

The door to room 1, is on the east side (the left).

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, porter’s room, and behind it the stable. Looking east.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, looking south across atrium.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, marble impluvium and cistern mouth in atrium.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 2, remains of mosaic floor, in atrium.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 2, atrium. South-east corner, with small doorway to room 3, oecus.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, east wall of oecus.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, north wall of oecus.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, west wall of oecus.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to room 4.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 4, east end, with entry to recess on north side.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 4, recess, looking north.

 

VII.2.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south along east portico of peristyle garden.

 

 

 

Part 2

 

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