House of the Relief of Telephus, Roman residential building in Ercolano, Italy
The House of the Relief of Telephus is a three-story Roman residence decorated with Neo-Attic sculptures arranged around a central courtyard enclosed by decorated columns. Multiple living spaces, corridors, and reception rooms distribute around this interior court, creating the layout of a prosperous household.
The house was built during the early Imperial period as the residence of a wealthy family in Herculaneum. Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD buried the building under volcanic materials and preserved it for nearly two millennia.
The marble reliefs throughout the house reflect Greek mythology integrated into Roman domestic spaces. These artistic choices demonstrated education and cultural refinement for the wealthy families who lived here.
The house sits within the Herculaneum archaeological site and is accessible via marked pathways indicated on provided site maps. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable since the ground is uneven and some areas feature tight spaces with low ceilings.
The walls still retain their original colors and decorative paintings, showing how vibrant and colorful the rooms once were. These preserved color layers offer a rare glimpse into Roman visual preferences and stand apart from the pale ruins typically seen elsewhere.
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