The House of the Vettii's exedra: The consequences of deception in Greco-Roman myth

Exedra "p" (Mau's floorplan) in the House of the Vettii is one of the most ornately decorated rooms in the residence. Its copious Fourth Style frescos include depictions of the myths of Ixion, Pasiphae and Ariadne's abandonment and discovery of Dionysus on the isle of Naxos. Other details include tragic theater masks that appear to depict Silenus along with baskets overflowing with fruit, dramatic groupings of hippocamps, scenes of war galleys in combat, and small panel paintings depicting human forms in various poses but without detail. 

As I contemplated these images, I realized that all of the main murals reflect the consequences of deception. In the case of Ixion, he lusted after Zeus's wife, Hera, even though he was warmly welcomed to Olympus by the god. After Ixion attempts to seduce Hera, Zeus creates the cloud goddess Nephele in the image of Hera to deceive Ixion, who lies with Nephele and their union creates the centaurs. As punishment, Zeus banishes Ixion from Olympus and orders Hermes to tie Ixion to a winged fiery wheel, which is to spin for eternity.

The mythological scene of Daedalus and Pasiphae, depicts Daedalus showing King Minos' wife  a wooden cow he has created so she could sleep with her husbands treasured bull. Her lust towards the bull was a consequence of King Minos refusing to sacrifice the bull to Poseidon, angering the god who punished King Minos by making Pasiphae lust after the bull. Pasiphae's deceptive cow is successful but she becomes pregnant with the fierce Minotaur.

The third mural depicting Dionysus' discovery of the abandoned Ariadne on Naxos, hints at the deception of Theseus who encouraged Ariadne to help him escape the labyrinth then abandons her on the island. However, this mural illustrates how there can be hope for a renewed life after suffering the consequences of deception.

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail of the wheel from painting of the torture of Ixion exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Hera (Juno) with gold crown and long sceptre is seated on her throne with Iris standing to her left, gesticulating p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail of the figure seated on the floor, perhaps the cloud nymph Nephele or a personification of the underworld exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail of Mercury with his caduceus from central panel on north wall exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Central wall painting from east wall of exedra p (Mau plan) - the torture of Ixion on the wheel courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Central painting of Daedalus showing Pasiphae the wooden cow, from center of north wall of exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Central painting on south wall Bacchus looking over the sleeping Ariadne after she was abandoned by Theseus exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail from central wall painting from south wall of Bacchus looking over the sleeping Ariadne exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail from central wall painting from south wall of Ariadne sleeping exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

I wondered how Gemini would interpret this imagery so I asked it.

Gemini's interpretation was slightly different than mine:

"A strong common thread between the myths of Ixion, Pasiphae, and Ariadne's abandonment is the theme of transgression and its consequences.

Here's a breakdown for each figure:

Ixion: He attempted to seduce Hera, the wife of Zeus. This act of hubris (excessive pride) against a god landed him eternally bound to a flaming wheel in the underworld.

Pasiphae: Consumed by lust, she had an unnatural affair with a bull, resulting in the monstrous Minotaur. This transgression against the natural order led to suffering for both her and her family.

Ariadne: While not directly committing a transgression herself, she is deeply affected by Theseus's betrayal. He promised to marry her after she helped him escape the Labyrinth, but then abandoned her on Naxos.

In all three stories, a character oversteps boundaries or makes a poor choice, and faces severe consequences. This theme reflects a core belief in Greek mythology: the importance of respecting the gods and maintaining order."

I'm not sure I agree with all of this interpretation. Certainly Ixion transgressed but in my view was deceived into transgression by Zeus. Pasiphae was certainly instrumental in ordering the construction of the deceptive cow but only because she was influenced to do so by the god Poseidon who was punishing her husband. Ariadne was merely a victim of Theseus' deception. She simply aided him in his quest to defeat the Minotaur although I guess if you consider the existence of the Minotaur to be the will of Poseidon then she was beguiled by Theseus enough to assist him in his act of hubris. So, I think a possible message to diners viewing the murals was to beware of deception as it can take many forms. However, if you fall victim to deception, all is not necessarily lost.

I also asked Gemini about the significance of the tragic theater masks depicting Silenus with baskets of fruit. 

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Painted detail from above navel scene on south wall of exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan), painted panel of naval scene, with basket and mask above courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan) with detail of basket and mask courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan), from east side of central painting, panel with naval scene with mask and basket above courtesy of Johannes Eber

"The tragic expressions on the Silenus masks in the House of the Vettii's exedra add another layer of intrigue to the overall message. Here's how it changes the interpretation:

Deepening the Theme:  Silenus, while associated with revelry, was also a wise teacher and advisor. A tragic expression on his mask could be a reminder that even a life filled with pleasure can have moments of sadness or consequences. This strengthens the connection to the tragic myths depicted and the theme of transgression.

Irony and Contrast:  The juxtaposition of a drunken, jovial figure (Silenus) with a tragic expression creates irony.  Perhaps it's a commentary on how appearances can be deceiving, or how even those who seem carefree can experience hardship.

The overflowing baskets of fruit, traditionally symbols of abundance and celebration, create a strong contrast with the tragic expressions on the Silenus masks. This further emphasizes the theme of irony and the fleeting nature of pleasure.  Even amidst plenty, there's a sense of underlying sadness.

Symbolism of Mortality:  In some cultures, fruits can symbolize life and mortality. The overflowing baskets could represent the abundance of life, while the tragic masks depict the inevitability of death or loss.

A Reminder of Consequences:  Perhaps the overflowing fruits, associated with indulgence, are meant to be a reminder that overindulgence (like Silenus's association with wine) can lead to negative consequences, represented by the tragic masks.

A Juxtaposition of Themes:  The fruit baskets could represent the Dionysian aspect of life - revelry, pleasure, and abundance. The tragic masks could symbolize the Apollonian aspect - order, moderation, and awareness of mortality.  This juxtaposition reflects the balance between these two forces in life.

A Symbol of Hope:  Despite the tragic expressions, the overflowing baskets could offer a glimmer of hope.  Life, with its hardships, still offers abundance and the potential for joy.

(Gemini also points out that the mural portraying Dionysus discovering Ariadne on Naxos also emphasizes hope with the arrival of Dionysus symbolizing a new beginning for her, a chance to be "reborn" into a happier life.)

Adding Complexity:  The tragic masks might suggest a more nuanced view of Silenus.  Maybe the owner was using them to portray him as a figure who understands the fleeting nature of pleasure and the potential for suffering in life."

I also asked about the depictions of naval battles.

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan), painted panel of naval scene courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan) with wall painting of naval scene, with basket and mask above courtesy of Miriam Colomer

"Naval battles represent conflict and potentially the disruptive nature of war. Myths were often used to reflect societal values. The owner might be highlighting the dangers of overstepping boundaries or the consequences of war."

Then I asked about the hippocamps.

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Detail of painted decoration below central painting on south wall of exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Johannes Eber

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 North wall of exedra p (Mau plan) detail from below central painting (2) courtesy of Klaus Heese

"The inclusion of dramatic depictions of hippocamps in the House of Vettii's exedra adds another interesting layer to the overall message and its connection to the other mythological scenes. Here's how hippocamps might be interpreted in this context:

Symbolism of Power and Majesty: Hippocamps are often associated with Poseidon, the god of the sea. Their dramatic depiction could symbolize the power and majesty of the ocean, a fitting theme for a lavishly decorated room.

Connection to the Sea:  Perhaps the hippocamps represent a connection to the sea and the world beyond. This could be a way to evoke a sense of wonder and adventure, or maybe it reflects the Vettii family's potential trade connections that relied on maritime transport."

Gemini asked me how the hippocamps were depicted and I explained that they are shown in a cluster of three rearing dramatically from the sea.

Gemini pointed out rearing up is often associated with victory or triumph.  Perhaps the hippocamps represent a sense of overcoming challenges, which could connect to the story of Ariadne finding a new beginning after her abandonment.

There are also a number of small panel paintings of human figures without detail in various poses. Gemini observed the generic nature of the figures could represent the universality of human experience, where everyone faces consequences for their actions, regardless of their specific identity.

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Upper north wall of exedra p (Mau plan), detail of painted figures on panel towards east end courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 pper south wall, detail of painted panel towards west end exedra p (Mau plan) courtesy of Klaus Heese

House of the Vettii VI 15,1 Pompeii 2023 Upper north wall of exedra p (Mau plan), detail from painted panel courtesy of Klaus Heese