VII-A. Wall Paintings

VII-1 Theseus and the Minotaur

Fresco from Pompeii, 1st century AD.

Theseus emerges from the dark entrance to the labyrinth, leading a child. The vanquished Minotaur lies over the threshold of the entrance. A crowd greets Theseus, both cheering his return and looking at horror at the dead Minotaur.

VII-2 Perseus with Andromeda after rescue

Fresco from Pompeii, 1st century AD.


Naples Archaeological Museum 8998. H. 1.22 m. from wall of the House of the Dioscuri, Pompeii.

Perseus has slain the monster, whose head is seen disappearing into the sea at the left. The hero now helps Andromeda down from the rock.


VII-3 Perseus rescuing Andromeda

Two versions from the Bay of Naples, 1st century AD.

Right: Boscotrecase, country villa

Below: Pompeii, the House of the Priest Amandus

VII-4 The Odyssey Landscapes

Odysseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (1)

Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.

First surviving scene: Odysseus arrives at the land of the Laestrygonians. He and two companions are greeting a woman holding a jug. Their ships are seen in the bay at the left. A cow can be seen at the right, indicating that this is a rich land.

Oddyseus arrives at the Land of the Laestrygonians (2)

Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.

Second surviving scenes: In the scene after the promising arrival, we see the Laestrygonians getting rocks and tree branches to attack Odyssues and his comrades.


Odysseus flees from the Laestrygonians

Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.

Surviving scene. Odysseus and his companions are trying to escape from the Laestrygonians, who pursue them, hurling rocks that have already sunk a couple of ships.

Odysseus and Circe

Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.

Fifth surviving scene. At the left, the sea is shown. The palace of Circe takes up most of the background. Just to the left of the tree, Odysseus is drawing his sword on Circe, who has fallen to her knees in front of him


Odysseus at the Entrance to the Underworld

Vatican Museums. Height 1.16m. Originally placed at top of 5.50 m. wall of room in house on Esquiline Hill, Rome.

Sixth surviving scene. Odysseus' ship anchors off the entrance to the underworld. Odysseus offers a sacrifice, and the dead throng to the entrance to drink the blood. The next scene, not shown here, shows figures being punished in the Underworld.

VII-5 Cupid Punished

Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.

1.16 m. high. Archaeological Museum, Naples.

Venus sits under a tree with a scroll on her lap. She is dressed like a contemporary Roman woman, and is identifiable partly because her garment slips off her shoulder, and partly because of the small winged boy (eros or cupid) who stands behind her shoulder. A second winged boy is led forward by a more simply dressed woman. His hand is up to his face, probably wiping his eyes. We do not know any written story to which this refers, but we can figure out that this cupid has been mischievous, probably by causing unlikely people to fall in love, and is now being brought to his mother by his nurse to be scolded.


VII-6 Europa and the Bull

Painting from House of Cupid Punished, Pompeii.

From another wall of the same room as the picture of Cupid Punished.

1.16 m. high, Archaeological Museum, Naples.

VII-7 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, reception room

Left: Two walls from the Yellow Room (a reception room) at the House of the Vettii, Pompeii. In the middle of the back wall is the death of Pentheus (below). In the middle of the right hand wall, the Punishment of Dirke (VI-5). The third wall shows the baby Hercules strangling serpents (below).

Maenads attack man (Pentheus), whom they will tear to pieces.

Baby Hercules strangling serpents, third wall of the Yellow Room.

Torture of Ixion.

VII-8 House of the Vettii, Pompeii, Ixion Room

The Red Room from the House of the Vettii, Pompeii. In the middle of each wall is a mythological scene that involves characters who stand or sit quietly, staring.

Persons and Events:

  • Andromeda

  • Circe

  • Dirce (Dirke)

  • Europa

  • Odysseus

  • Pentheus

  • Perseus

  • Ulysses

  • Venus

  • Monster killing

  • Punishment

  • Rape

  • The Loves of Jupiter

Objects and Places:

  • House Decoration

  • Pompeii

  • Painting on house walls

Texts and Authors:

  • Homer

  • Odyssey

  • Iliad

  • Ovid