VIII.2.21 Pompeii. House of L. Aelius Magnus.

Entrance to House, later converted to Sarno Baths and gymnasium.

Linked to VIII.2.23. First excavated 1808.

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east from entrance doorway.

According to Garcia y Garcia, the plan “Pompeii bomb damage 1943” showed that a bomb fell in the area of this house.

As it does not seem to have suffered grave damage, perhaps the bomb remained exploded.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.139)

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. December 2004. Looking east towards small room.

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east towards small room.

According to Richardson, between the street and the atrium, the fauces and the rooms flanking the fauces had been destroyed to make a lobby,

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. September 2005.

Looking south from entrance into large atrium, with shallow alae and a large tablinum completely open at both ends.

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. December 2004. Looking south-east from entrance doorway.

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. September 2005.

South side of atrium, with doorway to room on left, and remains of tablinum, on right.

According to Richardson, flanking the tablinum were two rather narrow rooms, much of that on the west having collapsed.

Beyond these must have run a terrace at least as deep as the tablinum, probably with rooms at either end to judge from bits of masonry that survive and the thickness of the walls in the lower storey.

Perhaps these rooms may have been the most splendid triclinia in the house, but how they would have been remodelled there is no way of telling.

See Richardson, L., 1988. Pompeii: an Architectural History. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.  (p.303-7)

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. December 2004. Steps to lower floors.

VIII.2.21 Pompeii. December 2004. Arched entrance to steps to lower floors.

VIII.2.21 to VIII.2.28 Pompeii, from the rear. December 2005. Looking north-east.