The House of the Silver Wedding's original configuration

Originally, the House of the Silver Wedding was only a single-story home constructed during Pompeii's Tufa Period between 200 and 80 BCE. The period is so named because during this period, Pompeii's city walls were rebuilt using tufa, a type of volcanic rock. This was done in response to the Second Punic War, in which Hannibal's invasion threatened many cities. It is thought the monumental home was built after older and presumably smaller houses dating back to about 300 BCE were demolished and the terracing of the south-facing slope was completed

Wolfgang Ehrhardt in his text "Hauser in Pompeji Band 12: Casa de Nozze d'argento", in contrast with August Mau, postulates the first major reconstruction of the house to have occurred about 80 BCE, based on an analysis of the tuff capitals of the atrium columns being dated to the last quarter of the second century. Before this renovation, the rooms opening off of the atrium had doors over four meters high and the tablinum was still completely open to both the atrium and the peristyle. The large garden, referred to as Hortus 5, was closely connected to the atrium wing by means of three doors.

In his 1899 text, "Pompeii: its life and art," August Mau observed that the compluvium (opening in the roof of the atrium) was so large, it must have provided brilliant light throughout the space, so much so, that hanging curtains may have been needed during the summer to mitigate the heat. Mau points out excavators found on the side of each column, facing the corner of the atrium, bronze rings through which a cord might have been passed to use in drawing the curtains back and forth. The original simple terrazzo floors have actually been preserved in some rooms around the atrium and the peristyle.

The first major renovation, however, demolished the structure's First Style decorations, replacing them with Second Style decor, and lowered the room heights in the atrium wing to create an upper floor, although the fauces and tablinum retained their original ceiling height, perhaps to preserve a prestigious effect on visitors. According to Mau there was also no second story over any of the rooms around the peristyle.

Images: More of Professor Eber's photographs of The House of the Silver Wedding taken in 2023.

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 Looking south-east from north-west corner of Rhodian peristyle Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 25, detail of restored triclinium in large garden area to east of house Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 25, looking north across triclinium, in center, and pool, on right Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 23, peristyle. Looking west in north-west corner Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 Looking south along east porch Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, looking west onto south portico Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, looking west Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, detail of painted decoration on base of pillar Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, east wall Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

Houses of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, detail Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, north wall at east end Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, north-east corner Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 Room 21, Corinthian oecus, detail from north wall Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, looking west along north wall Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, north and east walls Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 21, Corinthian oecus, looking east from portico Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 20, looking south from doorway Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 South portico of peristyle, with doorway to room 20, on left Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 19, looking north across mosaic threshold of exedra to peristyle Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 Doorway to PiP room 19 and east wall, on left, and room 18, on right Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 18, east wall Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 18, detail of mosaic doorway threshold, on left, and mosaic flooring, on right Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 Doorway to PiP room 18, bedroom or small dining room, on right Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

House of the Silver Wedding Pompeii 2023 PiP Room 23, looking south along west porch Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber