House of the Tragic Poet
The house is named after this mosaic which can be found in the tablinium.  It shows actors performing a satyr drama -shown by the goatskin costumes worn by the two actors on the left.  A coreuta tries out a double flute in the middle, the choirmaster, wearing a himation, sits on a stool on the right and in the background, a servant helps an actor to dress.   Click on the links below to visit the rest of the domus.  Use your back key to return	A mosaic depicting an almost lifesize growling dog, complete with such details as they eyes, collar and chain picked out in colored tesserae and the well known words of warning "cave canem" or "beware of the dog" is the decoration found near the entrance of this imperial style house located in Region VI across from the Forum baths in Pompeii. The house derives its name from a particularly fine mosaic with a theatrical scene which was found in the tablinum along with paintings representing episodes from the Iliad. It has been suggested that the house belonged to P. Aninius, who belonged to a family which appears to have established itself after 80 BCE. A member of that family contributed to the rebuilding of the Stabian baths. Standing in the southwestern portion of the insula at VI-8-3, the house is not of particularly large proportions and seems to have always covered the same site and the only additions being the large drawing room and the kitchen on the east side of the peristyle. Though it does not have a particularly great floor area, this house, along with the House of the Vetti, contained more large paintings of mythological subjects than any other in Pompeii. As you will see, the main nucleus of the home has a classical layout, with the vestible, atrium, tablinum and peristyle all on the same axis. Passer-bys could see the whole house at a glance. Click on the room names below to enter the House of the Tragic Poet.