House of Pinarius Cerialis e Cassia

The House of Pinarius Cerialis e Cassia is a Roman residential villa in Pompeii with multiple interconnected rooms, including a dining room and a sleeping chamber. The layout reveals the typical arrangement of a wealthy private home, with a central courtyard and surrounding functional spaces.

The house was preserved under volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD and later excavated between 1916 and 1926. These excavations allowed archaeologists to document the survival of this Roman residential space and its artistic furnishings.

The walls display detailed frescoes depicting scenes from Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris, along with representations of Bacchus and floating cherubs. These paintings reveal the artistic tastes and education of the wealthy family who lived in this home.

The house is located in Regio III, Insula 4 of Pompeii and can be reached by following the paths through the excavated Roman streets. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven, and most areas are exposed to direct sun throughout the day.

A staircase with 16 steps ascends to an upper floor, while a kitchen area remains preserved beneath these ancient stone steps. This unusual layout shows how the family ingeniously fitted daily activities into their cramped quarters.