The House of the Five Skeletons: Is one of the murals Priam and Cassandra or Aeneas consulting Anio?

 By Mary Harrsch © 2024

In the House of the Five Skeletons (VI 10,2) in Pompeii, Henri Roux found a fresco depicting Priam and his prophetic daughter, Cassandra.

Cassandra and Priam from House of the Five Skeletons (VI 10,2) Pompeii  by Henri Roux lithography published by Raoul Rochette

House of the Five Skeletons (VI 10,2) Pompeii original fresco Archaeological Museum of Naples Inv no 8999

House of the Five Skeletons (VI 10,2) Pompeii Painting by Giuseppe Marsigli, 1830, copy of Priam and Cassandra

House of the Five Skeletons (VI 10,2) Pompeii Drawing by Giuseppe Marsigli, 1829, of wall painting of Aeneas consulting Anio or Cassandra prophesizing the fall of Troy

Initially, the fresco was identified as Aeneas consulting Anio so I asked ChatGPT about this misidentification.

"The myth of Aeneas consulting Anio is not part of the traditional Greco-Roman canon found in major sources like Virgil’s Aeneid or Homer’s works. Anius, a mythical figure, was a seer and king of Delos in Greek mythology. He was a son of Apollo and could be sought by Aeneas for prophecy or guidance during his journey."

However, the center of attention in the fresco is a female figure and no explanation is given for her. She appears to be the seer, not the elderly man. So I asked why early excavators may have favored the Aeneas interpretation.

"The myth of Aeneas was central to Roman identity, linking the founding of Rome directly to the gods and the noble lineage of Troy. Interpreting the fresco as Aeneas’s flight from Troy would align with this national mythos and elevate the artistic and cultural significance of the house.

"Early archaeological interpretations often lacked rigorous analysis and were influenced by preconceived notions about Roman art and its themes. Familiarity with the Aeneid could have led excavators to impose an Aeneas-based reading on the scene.

"Augustus heavily promoted the Aeneas myth as part of his cultural program. Even if the fresco predates Augustus, early excavators might have assumed the painting reflected Augustan ideals, given the strong presence of such imagery in later Roman art."

I uploaded Roux's image of the fresco to ChatGPT and pointed out the soldiers in the background of the fresco wear Phrygian caps as does the small child (Astyanax?) Their attention, as well as the attention of the elite warrior and elderly male is focused on the female priestly figure on the right. Then asked, "What other attributes clearly point to Priam and Cassandra?"

ChatGPT replied, "...several attributes clearly identify the figures as Priam and Cassandra rather than Aeneas and Anio. Let’s analyze the fresco further:

"Key Attributes Supporting Priam and Cassandra

Elderly Male Figure as Priam:

"The seated elder with white hair and beard is a common representation of Priam, the aged king of Troy. His regal yet sorrowful demeanor aligns with Priam’s tragic role in the Homeric epics and other Trojan War narratives.

Female Priestess as Cassandra:

"The standing female figure, wearing laurel wreaths, has a commanding presence consistent with depictions of Cassandra, the prophetic daughter of Priam. Laurel wreaths often symbolize prophecy and divine connection, supporting her identification as a seer.

The Phrygian Caps:

"The Phrygian caps worn by the figures in the background and the child signify their Trojan origin. Phrygia, located near Troy, was culturally associated with the Trojans in Greco-Roman art. The small child in the foreground could represent Astyanax, the son of Hector and Andromache, linking the fresco’s context to the royal family of Troy.

Focus of Attention on Cassandra:

"The gestures and expressions of the figures—including the elite warrior (possibly Hector or another Trojan noble)—emphasize their deference to the priestess. This aligns with Cassandra’s role as a prophetic figure whose warnings were critical (though unheeded) in Trojan mythology.

Cultural and Stylistic Context:

"In Pompeian art, Cassandra is a common figure associated with the Trojan War, often depicted in moments of prophecy or futile warnings to her family. Aeneas, by contrast, is rarely depicted in such direct consultation with river gods or priestly figures, making the earlier identification of Anio unlikely.

Context in Mythology

"The scene could represent Cassandra warning Priam and the Trojans about an impending disaster, potentially the introduction of the Trojan Horse into the city. Her role as a tragic prophet who is never believed adds emotional depth to the fresco and aligns it with the moral and symbolic themes often depicted in Roman domestic art.

Additional Clues

"The Vessel and Laurel on the Table: These elements may signify a ritual or divine consultation, reinforcing Cassandra’s priestly and prophetic role.

"Absence of Aeneas-Specific Symbols: Aeneas is typically associated with his armor, shield, or companions like Anchises or Ascanius, none of which appear in this fresco.

Conclusion

"The combination of the elderly regal figure, the female priestly figure, the Phrygian caps, and the attention directed at Cassandra strongly supports the identification of this fresco as depicting Priam and Cassandra. It aligns with the broader Trojan War narrative, emphasizing themes of prophecy, tragedy, and ignored wisdom...Cassandra’s despair and the looming sense of doom fit the narrative of Hector’s refusal to leave Troy, while Aeneas’s story is more closely associated with piety, survival, and destiny."

I pointed out that we usually think of Astyanax as a babe so asked if there is another offspring the child may represent and ChatGPT replied:

"The child in the fresco could represent another offspring of the Trojan royal family, depending on the artistic interpretation and the mythological narrative intended. While Astyanax is the most iconic child of Troy due to his tragic fate, other offspring of Priam or Hector could be plausible candidates. Let’s explore possibilities:

1. A Younger Sibling of Cassandra or Hector

"Priam had numerous children with Hecuba and other wives, many of whom were lesser-known in mythology. The child could symbolize one of Priam’s unnamed or less-documented offspring, used here to evoke the broader theme of familial tragedy without specifying a particular child.

"Trojan princes and princesses were often portrayed in art to represent the royal family as a whole, emphasizing lineage and the impending doom of the Trojan race.

2. Polydorus

"Polydorus is a younger son of Priam, notable for his tragic end. In some versions of the myth, Polydorus was sent away from Troy to avoid the destruction but was later betrayed and killed. While he is typically depicted as a young adult in literature, the fresco might present him as a child to symbolize his vulnerability.

3. A Generalized Trojan Child

"It’s also possible the child represents no specific individual but rather a symbolic Trojan youth:

"The figure could embody the innocence and future of Troy, emphasizing the pathos of the city’s destruction.Artists often took liberties in Pompeian frescoes to focus on universal themes rather than strictly adhering to mythological specifics.

4. An Alternative Mythological Figure

"Troilus, one of Priam’s sons, could be another possibility. Although often depicted as a youth or adolescent in myths (particularly in his ill-fated encounter with Achilles), his presence in this scene might be interpreted more symbolically.

"If the child is indeed male and linked to Cassandra, it could also be a figure invented by the artist to balance the familial narrative.

Why Not Astyanax?

"As you noted, Astyanax is typically portrayed as an infant or toddler in both art and literature. While this fresco might show a slightly older child, the lack of clear maternal presence (Andromache) and the focus on Cassandra and Priam make this identification less certain.

Conclusion

"The child likely serves a symbolic function, either as an unnamed offspring of Priam or as a generalized figure representing Troy’s doomed younger generation. If the artist took creative liberties, they might have included the child to heighten the emotional resonance of the scene, emphasizing familial ties and the broader tragedy of the Trojan War."

Update: I examined another painting of Priam and Cassandra from the Casa dell'Atrio Tetrastilo (I 2,28) and the child in it is identified as a young Paris.

Casa dell’Atrio tetrastilo  (I 2,28) fresco of prophesizing Cassandra with Hector, Priam, and a young Paris