The Hercules Garden House of Pompeii Archaeological Park, also known as the perfumer’s house, in reference to the probable production and marketing of perfumes that took place there, has been inaugurated following a redevelopment and enhancement project involving both some of the interior rooms and the green area.
The garden has been reconstructed philologically thanks to the technical sponsorship of theROSANTIQUA Association, with the inclusion of historically documented botanical species. The garden is now home to 800 old roses, 1,200 violets, 1,000 ruscus plants, along with cherry trees, vines and quince trees. This is another example of public-private collaboration, but also an interesting convergence of archaeology, botany and sensory culture.
Dating back to the 3rd century B.C., the Garden House of Hercules is named after a marble statuette of Hercules found in the garden’s lararium. It is a typical terraced dwelling in Pompeii, also known for the inscription “cras credo” (“tomorrow credit is given”) placed at the entrance.
Excavations took place in several stages: the first archaeological campaign on the house was conducted between 1953 and 1954; the garden was investigated between 1971 and 1972; further research then took place in 1985-1988.
The archaeological investigations made it possible to reconstruct the state of the houses in Insula 8 at the time of the eruption of AD 79, revealing several remakes. Some rooms of the Garden House of Hercules contained building materials waiting to be used. Beginning in the mid-1st century BCE, the area underwent amalgamations and demolitions, transforming into a district devoted to specialized productions.
Following the earthquake in 62 AD, the owner of the house acquired and demolished the neighboring domus in order to create a large green space for the cultivation of flowers for commercial purposes. Among the finds unearthed are glass perfume bottles. Originally, the house included eight rooms and a kitchen garden, and production was still active at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius.
The restoration work included the restoration of the original ground plan and the ancient irrigation system - unique to Pompeii - as well as the reconstruction of vine arbors and the planting of botanical species documented in Roman times. The selection of essences was based on the research of botanist Wilhelmina F. Jashemski, who in the 1950s, during the first excavations of the area, identified pollen, spores and plant macro-trees, confirming the productive function of the garden.
A terracotta reproduction of the statue of Hercules, placed in the lararium next to the summer triclinium, was also made.
The intervention was developed through a thorough research and study project coordinated by the ROSANTIQUA Association, chaired by Michele Fiorenza. The work involved the scientific participation of Antonio De Simone and Salvatore Ciro Nappo for archaeology, Michele Borgongino for botany, and Luigi Frusciante and Gaetano Di Pasquale of the Department of Agriculture of the Federico II University for agronomic aspects. The direction of the work was entrusted to Raffaele Serafino. General coordination was handled by Pompeii Archaeological Park officials, supervised by Paolo Mighetto and Maria Rispoli, together with Anna Onesti and the Park’s Green Area team Claudia Buonanno, Maurizio Bartolini and Halinka Di Lorenzo.
“In Pompeii, the natural and archaeological landscape are one. This natural fusion was so in ancient times and has become so again today, thanks to the Park’s green area care projects, which have restored and enhanced this mixture,” said Pompeii Archaeological Park Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel. “Pompeii’s greenery that was once perceived as a management and maintenance problem, an element almost separate from the archaeological structures, is now recognized as an essential component of the archaeological areas, as well as of the Park’s broader farm project. In the many activities to enhance the site, the support of private individuals, from technical sponsorships to public-private partnerships, is increasingly crucial, and we thank them in this regard for this valuable support.”
The House will be open to visitors every Tuesday as a “house of the day.”
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| Pompeii, Hercules' Garden House inaugurated. Philologically reconstructed garden |
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