The restored structure called as ''The house of Vettii'' is a luxurious residence houses which has an impressive collection of Fresco decorations typical of the wall paintings in the houses of rich Pompeian traders. The excavation techniques used made them to preserved, in almost all the rooms in the complex. The paintings completed after the earthquake of 62 A.D..
THE HOUSE OF VETTII
The plan of the House of the Vettii is commonly divided into five major sections: the large atrium, the small atrium, the large peristyle, the small peristyle, and the shop. The house features a large garden as well as main living quarters and servant quarters.The service areas are centered around the smaller atrium while the main occupants remained around the larger atrium. There are two entrances to the main sections of the house, the main entrance is located on the east facade, entered from the Vicolo dei Vettii, and the second is entered from the Vicoli di Mercurio on the southern facade. In addition, there are five small windows on the east facade, two narrow vertical windows on the south facade, and a single small window on the west facade.
The small atrium and small peristyle are located on the north section of the house. The large atrium is surrounded by four cubicula (bedrooms), which belonged most likely to the main occupants of the house. There are also two alae and a winter triclinium surrounding the atrium. To enter the atrium from the main entrance, one has to pass through the fauces and vestibulum. The small atrium is surrounded by four rooms which are believed to have been used by servants and as storage rooms. A kitchen is also located near the small atrium along with a cubiculum meant to house the cook and an impluvium, which was designed to catch rainwater from an opening in the roof A staircase was found in the southeast corner of the small atrium but the second floor no longer remains.
There are two service areas in the house, the first being centered around the small atrium. The second was accessible from the main atrium of the house as well as the second entrance from the Vicolo di Mercurio on the south facade. Here a large gate opened into the shop or otherwise known as the tabernae. Draft animals were moved through this gate and stabled in the shop.[10] Besides the shop is an additional chamber and latrine.
This mythological scene above about the punishment of Ixıon is located on the north triclinium. This mythological scene shows the moment of Ixion, the Lapith King, who was being punished for betraying Zeus. After attempting to seduce the wife of Zeus ''Hera'', Zeus creates the cloud goddess Nephele in the image of Hera. Ixion sleeps with Nephele and the realtionship creates the centaurs. As punishment, Zeus banishes Ixion from Olympus and orders Hermes to tie Ixion to a winged fiery wheel, which would be spinned forever.
In this scene, Ixion is tied to the wheel and Hermes stands in the forefront. He can be identified by his winged sandals and caduceus. the other figures are Hephaestus, Hera, İris, and a woman who is thought to be Ixıon's mother.
The Death of Pentheus scene above can be seen in the southern triclinium. The scene is about Pentheus who was the legendary King of Thebes, killed by the female followers of Dionysus. When Dionysus returned to Thebes, Pentheus refused to accept him as a god and took him into prison, Dionysus escaped from the prison. When Pentheus go to Mt. Cithairon, he observed the celebration of the cult of Dionysus by the women of Thebes. There was also Pentheus' mother Agave and her sisters Ino and Autonoe. These women finds out the observation of Pentheus, hidden behind tree, but they mistook him as a lion. Then they attacked and tore him to pieces.
In the scene there are Pentheus' mother and her sisters & Pentheus who has fallen to one knee.
Punishment of Dircee;
Another mythological scene in triclinium, which is another one about the punishment of someone is the ''Punishment of Dirce'', When you see all of them you can think that the house owner was obsessed with the concept of punishment or has tendency to sadism. This scene depicts Dirce, wife of Lykos, being punished by Amphion and Zethus. The legend is that, Amphion and Zethus were the twin sons of Antiope who was niece of Lykos. After the twins were born, Lykos exposed them on Mt. Cithairon, but they were found and saved by a shepherd. As a punishment, Lykos imprisoned Antiope and allowed his wife, Dirce, to treat her cruelly. Eventually Antiope escaped and reunited with her now adult sons but was recaptured by Dirce. She wants that Antiope would be executed by being dragged by a bull. Amphion and Zethus saved their mother and killed Dirce by the same way which their mother would be put to death.
Achilles on Skyros
Another mythological scene in the south-east triclinium is about Achilles on Skyros. This scene shows Achilles on the island of Skyros. After his mother Thetis learns that her son Achilles would die in the Trojan War, she sents him to live on that island. Achilles was disguised as a maiden among Lykomedes daughters. While living on Skyros, Deidameia gave birth a son whose father was Achilles. Odysseus finds out where Achilles was and comes to Skyros to reveal him. Odysseus displays gifts in front of the King's daughter, including arms and armor. When a trumpet sounds, Achilles grabs the weapons and reveals his true nature.
Daedalus and Pasiphae
Daedalus and Pasiphae sceene is in the same triclinium where the Punishment of Ixion sceene is. This scene is about King Minos's wife, Pasiphae, and the craftsman Daedalus. Pasiphae orders him to construct a cow to sleep with her husbands valuaable bull. Her lust towards the bull made him refuse to sacrifice the bull for Poseidon. S0, Poseidon gets angry and punşshes the King Minos by making Pasiphae lustfull for the bull. Pasiphae later gets pregnant with the Minotaur.
Erotic Art
Some samples of historical erotic art which made Pompeii famous and created the unpleasant & unreal reputation were found in the house of Vettii. Above there is a sex sceene and a statue which was being used as a fountain. A fountain statue of Priapus was found standing in a corner.
