HOUSE OF F. RUFUS - POMPEII

This is one of the so-called ‘town villas’ which was built on more than one level (possibly four) against the town walls in the last period of the town’s life. The villa had a fine view over the Gulf of Naples and its interior was entirely decorated in the Pompeian fourth style. The villa itself is the result of the fusion of a number of previously built houses and so, in a tiny room in the central apsidal structure, we can find the remains of second style frescoes, including what appears to be a portrait of the Venus of Pompeii. The side walls in the same area are also decorated with stars and small moon designs, suggesting that the room may have been used for astrology.

 

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This sumptuous villa was built just out-side the Porta Ercolano gate in sight of the town walls. An entrance on Via dei Sepolcri led straight into the 14-column peristyle around which the various rooms and living quarters of the house were situated. The house’s bath area was situated in a triangular space between the road and the peristyle while the triclinium/living room opposite commanded a view over the Gulf of Naples and the large garden below. In the centre of the garden was an open-air triclinium with a swimming pool surrounded by a covered gallery (cryptoporticus). Here the master of the house, with his ‘treasure’ of 1356 sesterces, and other 18 people, mainl ... continue

(Apic. 4, 2, 25) Ingredients:

• 500 g scallion
• Liquamen (o 1 tblsp soya sauce + 1 tblsp anchovy paste)
• 3 tblsp oil
• 1/2 glass water
• 2-5 fillets smoked herrings
• 2 tblsp honey
• 2 tblsp red wine (like dry Marsala)
• Savory

Instructions:
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Clean the scallion. Put in a pan Liquamen, oil and water; mesh and warm. Cut in a half and dispose it in a pyrex-dish. After boiling, add smoked herrings, cut in fillets, between the scallion. Do not mesh, but only shake and tilt the pan. Melt honey in wine and pour on s ... continue

Love was a common topic of conversation in Pompeii. Feelings, passions, poetic love, sex, homosexuality, prostitution and so forth were all part of daily life and not a source of prejudice. The concept of “obscenity” seems to have been unknown. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man’s life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. The thousands of examples of graffiti found on the town’s walls are unequivocal proof of what the people of Pompeii thought about love and sex.