“Vettii House” reopened in Pompeii

This is the home of a wealthy merchant family in ancient Pompeii, buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and uncovered during excavations. The house is relatively small, but representatively designed and has substantial murals.

The reopening of one of the best preserved houses in the archaeological site of Pompeii took place Tuesday in the presence of Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. The former owners of the house are Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus. Their names were found on two bronze seals found in front of a money chest in the main courtyard. The house was closed soon after the excavation in 1894, so the paintings are particularly well preserved.

The house is one of the main attractions of Pompeii. Among the most famous frescoes are his depiction of an ancient Roman god with a large phallus, a symbol of male power, and depictions of Ariadne and Theseus on the island of Naxos. The house was closed for restoration work in the early 2000s and briefly reopened in 2016 for the first time in 12 years. This was followed by another four-year restoration phase, which has now been completed.

The Roman city of Pompeii on the Bay of Naples was destroyed in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and the settlement was covered with ash and lava. The city was rediscovered in the 19th century. Today, Pompeii is one of the best preserved ancient city ruins and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After the Colosseum in Rome, Italy’s most visited archaeological site is Pompeii. However, in recent years the ancient city has made a name for itself mainly due to its impending decay and spectacular collapse. Since 2012, the EU and Italy have provided a total of 105 million euros for the major project, of which 78 million euros came from the EU’s regional development fund.

(SDA)