House of the Tragic Poet, Pompei

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House of the Tragic Poet, Pompei

House of the Tragic Poet, Pompei

The House of the Tragic Poet is also known as the Homeric or Iliadic House. It is a fairly typical Roman era residential building, built in the 2nd century BC. It is famous for a series of elaborate mosaics and frescoes which depict scenes from Greek mythology. It has attracted interest from writers and academics ever since it was unearthed in November 1824. The artworks discovered are among the finest ever found in Pompei. This is unusual, given that the house itself is unremarkable compared to some of the city’s larger villas. Little is known of the family that owned the house, except that they were most likely killed in the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius.

There are frescoes and mosaics throughout the House of the Tragic Poet. A mosaic found in the entrance hall shows a chained dog, with the words ‘Cave Canem’ – beware of the dog – written underneath. The house’s atrium and peristyle feature frescoes depicting several Greek Gods, including Zeus, Aphrodite, Achilles and Poseidon, amongst others. Many literary figures have been based upon this mysterious building, including Vladimir Janovic, whose epic poem House of the Tragic Poet gave the house its name. Janovic’s work is based around the myths and stories told in the house’s many frescoes and mosaics.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Pompei. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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House of the Tragic Poet on Map

Sight Name: House of the Tragic Poet
Sight Location: Pompei, Italy (See walking tours in Pompei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Pompei, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Pompei

Create Your Own Walk in Pompei

Creating your own self-guided walk in Pompei is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Frozen at the moment it was buried under the thick blanket of ash and pumice, the city of Pompeii (now excavated) remains a unique window into the past, offering a snapshot of everyday life back in the 1st century AD Roman Empire. Aside from causing quick and unexpected death to the city, the huge eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD did have one positive outcome – it preserved everything (properties,...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Pompeii Introduction Walk I

Pompeii Introduction Walk I

Modern-day Pompei is best known for its ancient predecessor, the Roman city of Pompeii, that fell victim to the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ruins of Pompeii, first uncovered in the late 18th century, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Presently, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, drawing annually up to 2.5 million visitors.

The...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles