The House of Hermes

Author: * Reylari Socrates - 13 Posts on this thread out of 2,984 Posts sitewide.
Date: Dec 22, 2004 - 07:19

I read that this house was used by the slave traders.

This is one of the most interesting houses on the island. It has been dated 3rd-2nd century BC. It takes its name from a statue of the god found there. It is multi storied and is built on the slope of a hill. Like almost all of the Delos houses it was built using blocks and overlapping tiles of gneiss with white plastered walls. The inside walls were decorated with experimental lining that imitated verigated marble enclosed by false moldings. Some of these were embellished with figured decorations in the first Pompey style. The center of the house is reached by the atrium, off which bathrooms lead. The center is made up of relaxation and service rooms arranged around a Doric peristyle from which natural light is filtered into the rooms. The upper balcony is reached by stairways cut in the structure and fitted with landings to form intermediate floors and additional rooms. The Ionic loggia leads into the proper oikos where there is a banquet room. This suggests that the house was used by a guild or association for reception and providing hospitality.

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