Pompeii home owned by two former slaves more than 1,900 years ago is restored to its former glory: 'House of the Vetti' features gardens, marble baths and a small room filled with erotic frescos that was a brothel
- An ancient home owned by two former slaves has been restored to what it was before it was buried in volcanic ash by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
- The two men obtained their riches through the wine trade after they were freed
- The home was built in Pompeii and was said to be one of the wealthiest in the city
- Erotic frescos, marble baths and a garden fill the inside of the home
- Archaeologists believe a room near the kitchen was used as a brothel
A lavish home built by two former slaves in ancient Pompeii, which doubled as a brothel, has been restored to its former glory before being buried in volcanic ash by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The 20-year-long restoration of 'The House of the Vetti' uncovered stone pillars, a fountain and several erotic frescos, with one depicting the god Priapus with a large penis.
Priapus is the god of fertility and abundance, and the imagery hanging in the entryway is thought to have symbolized the wealth the men had accumulated.
The men, Aulus Vettius Restitutus and Aulus Vettius Conviva, obtained their riches through the wine trade after they were set free and constructed the ornate house that doubled as a brothel.
Visitors are now welcome to tour the home to see firsthand what life was like for elites in the doomed Roman City.
The home owned and built by two former slaves more than 1,900 years ago in Pompeii has been restored. A view of the impluvium, the rain water-catchment pool in the atrium of the House of Vetti
Pompeii´s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said: 'The House of the Vetti is like the history of Pompeii and actually of Roman society within one house.
'We're seeing here the last phase of the Pompeian wall painting with incredible details, so you can stand before these images for hours and still discover new details,' the archaeological park´s energetic director told The Associated Press ahead of the public inauguration.
The home was excavated between late 1894 and early 1896, and it covers an area of more than 11,000 square feet in the northwestern section of Pompeii.
In the living room, known as the Hall of Pentheus, a fresco depicts Hercules as a child, crushing two snakes, illustrating an episode from the Greek hero's life.
The 20-year-long restoration of 'The House of the Vetti' uncovered stone pillars, a fountain and several erotic frescos, with one depicting the god Priapus with a large penis
Several other erotic frescos are hanging throughout the structure, which is believed to have incorporated a small brothel
Restoration teams have been working to restore the structure for the past 20 years. The team was able to reconstruct several pillars that lined the perimeter
The House of the Vettii covers an area of more than 11,000 square feet in the northwestern section of Pompeii
According to mythology, Hera, the goddess wife of Zeus, sent snakes to kill Hercules because she was furious that he was born from the union of Zeus with a mortal woman, Alcmena.
Archaeologists theorize that this image was chosen by Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus to compare their own life stories to the figure of Hercules, who overcame challenge after challenge in his life
Ornamental marble baths and tables surround the garden, and a fountain sits in the courtyard.
There is also a room near the kitchen lined with erotic images and consisted of small bedrooms for prostitutes to provide sexual services.
Archaeologists also uncovered an inscription in Latin next to the image of Priapus, which includes a Greek name for women, who are described as having 'nice manners.'
The home was also a place of worship, which is shown in portraits of couples copulating and of deities associated with fertility.
The decorative schema of the House of the Vettii provides evidence for trends in domestic decoration in the final years of Pompeii’s occupation. Much of the artwork shows deities, which suggests the home was also a place of worship
Ruins of the home were first uncovered between late 1894 and early 1896. Visitors have now been welcomed to tour inside the newly restored home that features a garden in the courtyard
A small room near the kitchen is believed to have been a brothel. Pictured is a view of rooms that were reserved for women
Pompeii's architect director of restoration work, Arianna Spinosa, called the restored home 'one of the iconic houses of Pompeii.'
The residence 'represents the Pompeiian domus par excellence, not only because of the frescoes of exceptional importance, but also because of its layout and architecture,' Spinosa said.
Two thousand years ago, Pompeii, which lies 14 miles southeast of Naples, was a buzzing city with some 15,000 residents before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed it on August 24, 79 AD.
The eruption is thought to have killed 16,000 people in Pompeii and surrounding towns, making it one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions in history.
An administrator and poet called Pliny the younger watched the disaster unfold from a distance, and his letters describing the horrific event were found in the 16th century.
Two strong boxes were found still standing among the rubble and ash. One sits enclosed in a case on display in the atrium
A view of the frescoes and mosaics of the 'Room of the Cupids,' also used as the dining room. The frieze depicts cupids selling flowers and perfumes and as workers who sell flowers, make wine and work gold
The home seems to have artwork displayed around every corner
His writing suggests the eruption caught the residents of Pompeii by surprise.
Pliny said a column of smoke 'like an umbrella pine' rose from the volcano and made the towns around it as black as night.
While the eruption lasted for around 24 hours, the first pyroclastic surges began at midnight, causing the volcano's column to collapse.
An avalanche of hot ash, rock and poisonous gas rushed down the side of the volcano at 124 miles per hour, burying victims and remnants of everyday life.
Hundreds of refugees sheltering in the vaulted arcades at the seaside in Herculaneum, clutching their jewelry and money, were killed instantly.
A view of the Pompeii Archeological Park, near Naples, southern Italy. Archaeologists are still working in the region and uncovering new discoveries
This event ended the life of the cities but at the same time preserved them until rediscovery by archaeologists nearly 1700 years later.
The excavation of Pompeii, the industrial hub of the region and Herculaneum, a small beach resort, has given unparalleled insight into Roman life.
Archaeologists are continually uncovering more from the ash-covered city.
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