Villa of Diomedes, Ancient Roman villa in Pompei, Italy
The Villa of Diomedes is a Roman residential house in Pompeii with multiple levels containing rooms for living, bathing, and social gathering. The building features a peristyle, gardens, and an underground corridor for storing supplies.
The house was excavated between 1771 and 1774 by Francesco La Vega and contained the remains of dozens of people who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The discovery of these bodies provided insights into how the volcanic eruption affected the inhabitants.
The villa displays typical Roman rooms such as the tablinum and summer triclinium, which served different purposes in daily life. The walls still preserve their Fourth Style paintings today, giving a sense of how wealthy Romans lived.
Access is from the Herculaneum Gate, and the site is best visited on dry days since some underground areas can be hard to reach when wet. Good walking shoes with solid grip are important because the ancient stone surfaces are uneven.
The ruins contained a skeleton wearing a gold ring and carrying over 1300 coins, suggesting a wealthy resident. A key was also found near the entrance, possibly still in the grip of a household member trying to lock the house.
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