Would the fresco of Medea contemplating killing her children serve as a cautionary tale of the consequences of infidelity in a (possibly) priestly household like the House of the Dioscuri or the House of Jason in Pompeii?

 By Mary Harrsch © 2024 

The scene of Medea contemplating the death of her children appears to have only occurred twice in Pompeii, in the House of the Dioscuri (VI 9,6) and the House of Jason (IX 5,18). However, Henri Roux captured this scene of Medea he found in the House of the Dioscuri when excavators worked there in 1837.

Children from House of the Dioscuri (VI 9,6) Pompeii  by Henri Roux lithography published by Raoul Rochette

House of the Dioscuri (VI 9,6) original wall painting of Medea contemplating killing her children who are playing nearby

House of Jason IX 5,18 Pompeii Wall painting of Medea sitting contemplating killing her children who play nearby

House of Jason IX 5,18 Pompeii 2017 Room “e”, detail from painting on west wall of cubiculum, second room in southwest corner courtesy of Annette Haug

House of Jason IX 5,18 Pompeii 19th century drawing by Geremia Discanno of wall painting of Medea sitting contemplating killing her children who play nearby

I asked ChatGPT what messages a fresco of Medea and her children would impart to 1st century CE Roman viewers and it replied:

"A fresco of Medea with her children would have conveyed complex and potent messages to 1st-century Roman viewers, touching on themes of passion, betrayal, vengeance, and the destructive potential of intense emotions. This myth, rooted in the story of Medea, a sorceress who kills her children in revenge against her unfaithful husband, Jason, was highly resonant in the Roman context for several reasons:

"The Dangers of Excessive Passion and Wrath: Romans valued moderation and control over one's emotions, considering excessive passion (furor) as dangerous and destabilizing. Medea’s revenge on Jason—murdering their children—represented the extreme consequences of unchecked anger and betrayal. This cautionary element would resonate as a warning against letting emotions overpower reason, a theme that was relevant in a society that highly valued rationality and restraint.

"The Consequences of Betrayal in Marriage and Family: Roman society placed a high value on familial loyalty and the sanctity of marriage. Jason’s betrayal of Medea, choosing to marry another woman for political gain, would have appeared as a serious transgression. Medea’s extreme reaction highlighted both the expectations for marital loyalty and the catastrophic fallout when those bonds are broken. This would likely have served as a moral reminder of the importance of maintaining family integrity and honoring one’s commitments.

"The Role of Foreigners and Outsiders: Medea, as a foreign sorceress from Colchis, represents the "other" in Greek and Roman culture. Her identity as a foreigner with potent and feared powers might have reinforced Roman anxieties about outsiders and the influence of foreign customs. Medea’s destructive actions could be viewed as a caution against the dangers of mingling too closely with those outside traditional Roman or Greek norms, reflecting broader societal tensions about the influence of non-Roman individuals and ideas.

"Female Agency and the Role of Women: Medea’s actions represent an intense and dangerous assertion of female agency, particularly in a culture where women were expected to be subordinate in the household. Her ability to act decisively, albeit destructively, defied traditional gender roles, making her both a powerful and threatening figure. This might have served as a reminder of the perceived dangers when women stepped outside their prescribed roles, reinforcing the value Romans placed on female modesty and subordination.

"Symbolism of Sacrifice and the Role of Children: By killing her own children, Medea’s actions would have been seen as an affront to pietas (duty to family), a core Roman value. Children were seen as the future and a legacy to be nurtured; thus, Medea’s actions would be viewed as an extreme violation of the motherly duty to protect. This element could underscore the importance of familial duty and the tragic consequences of neglecting it, making her story a reminder of the sacred responsibility parents held to protect and raise their children.

"In sum, a fresco of Medea and her children would carry layered messages about the perils of unchecked passion, the sanctity of family bonds, the fear of foreign influences, and the consequences of violating social and familial duties. The story of Medea, with its powerful emotional and moral implications, would have served as a potent reminder of these values to its Roman viewers."

I pointed out to ChatGPT Roman males were not necessarily expected to be loyal to their wives as many elite marriages were relationships dictated by political gains. Divorce was also common among elite couples. Then asked, "So, how would these messages have been altered in Roman culture as opposed to Greek culture?"

ChatGPT responded, "In Roman society, the portrayal of Medea in art and literature would have been interpreted differently from its Greek origins, as Roman cultural norms around marriage, loyalty, and family were more pragmatic and politically driven. Here’s how these messages might have been altered for Roman audiences:

1. Marriage and Infidelity

"Greek Context: In Greek tradition, Medea’s rage is directed against Jason’s betrayal as a spouse, underscoring the personal and emotional bonds of marriage.

"Roman Context: Among Roman elites, marriage was often a tool for political alliances, and male infidelity was more tolerated, with little expectation of exclusive loyalty to a wife. However, Roman values emphasized the wife's chastity and her duty to the family. Medea's extreme reaction might have been less about marital fidelity and more about a failure of Jason to uphold his broader obligations to his family and household, a key Roman virtue (pietas).

2. Divorce as a Social Norm

"In elite Roman society, divorce was common and often mutual if the marriage no longer served its purpose, such as producing heirs or maintaining political ties. Medea's violent response to Jason’s abandonment could highlight the perceived dangers of failing to dissolve marital bonds amicably, emphasizing the importance of maintaining civility and public order in such transitions.

3. Loyalty to Family and Children

"Roman society placed immense importance on children as carriers of the family lineage and legacy. Medea’s murder of her children would have been viewed as the ultimate violation of familial duty (pietas), which encompassed responsibilities to one’s ancestors, descendants, and the broader social order. For Romans, this might have served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting personal vengeance or passion override these sacred duties.

4. Women’s Role and Power

"Medea’s character, as a powerful and assertive woman, would resonate differently in Roman society, where women were expected to exert influence within the domestic sphere but remain subordinate to male authority. Her ability to take drastic and independent action would have been seen as both fascinating and threatening, serving as a reminder of the need to regulate and control female power within the patriarchal framework.

5. Broader Social Messages

"Medea’s foreign origin (as a Colchian sorceress) would align with Roman anxieties about external influences corrupting Roman values. Her actions might have symbolized the potential dangers of allowing non-Roman customs or individuals to disrupt societal harmony.

"For Roman male viewers, Jason’s failure could also symbolize a caution against neglecting one’s duties to family and household in pursuit of ambition or personal desires.

Conclusion

"While Greek audiences might have focused on Medea as a figure of personal tragedy and divine vengeance, Roman audiences would likely have interpreted her actions within their own cultural framework of family, duty, and societal order. The myth could be seen as a multifaceted warning: about the dangers of emotional excess, the sanctity of familial roles, and the importance of maintaining Roman virtues in the face of personal betrayal and ambition."

As I have mentioned in previous posts about the House of the Dioscuri, I suspect the owner of the house may have had priestly responsibilities due to the number of large portraits of deities there including Zeus enthroned, Apollo, and Saturn. I asked ChatGPT about possible religous affiliation of the owner of the House of Jason and learned although there is no direct evidence confirming that the owner of the House of Jason served in a formal religious role, certain features of the house suggest the possibility.

"The mythological themes depicted in its frescoes, particularly those focusing on Jason, Medea, and other figures involved in divine or semi-divine narratives, may reflect a resident who had religious interests or affiliations. These themes, when coupled with the broader societal respect for mythology as a medium of moral and philosophical discourse, could imply a connection to religious practices or intellectual engagement with divine concepts.

"In Pompeian society, elites often showcased their education and alignment with Roman religious and philosophical ideals through their choice of domestic decoration. Houses with mythological imagery were sometimes associated with owners who played roles in local priesthoods or civic cults. The emphasis on dramatic and morally charged myths like those of Jason and Medea could reflect not only personal taste but also a desire to communicate religious or ethical messages to clients and guests.

"Additionally, the frescoes’ potential links to cautionary or didactic themes might have resonated with priestly functions, as religion in Roman culture was deeply intertwined with morality and public behavior. If the owner was indeed a priest or associated with religious activities, these artworks would complement the societal expectations of their role. However, without inscriptions or definitive archaeological evidence directly identifying the owner or their occupation, this remains speculative."

So then I asked if the residents of both houses were involved in priestly functions would this myth be included in the decorations to serve as a more cautionary tale of proper behavior for both wives and husbands from a religious standpoint.

"The inclusion of the scene of Medea contemplating the death of her children in two houses with potential priestly associations—the House of the Dioscuri and the House of Jason—suggests that the myth might have been interpreted within a more religious or moral framework by their residents. Here’s how the myth could serve as a cautionary tale from a religious standpoint. The AI replied:

1. Moral and Divine Retribution

"In Roman religious culture, myths often illustrated the consequences of impiety or excessive passions that disrupted divine or social order. Medea’s story, particularly her contemplation of infanticide, exemplifies the extremes of human emotion—wrath, betrayal, and despair—that violate the sacred bonds of family and community. For priestly families, this imagery could underscore the importance of temperance, restraint, and adherence to divine laws.

2. Pietas (Duty) as a Core Value

"Roman pietas emphasized duty to family, state, and the gods. Medea’s contemplation and eventual act of killing her children would represent the ultimate rejection of this virtue. By including this myth in the decoration of a house with possible priestly connections, the patron may have aimed to remind viewers of the consequences of failing to uphold such sacred responsibilities.

3. Religious Authority and Moral Oversight

"Priestly families were seen as exemplars of moral and social order, tasked with upholding the traditions and values of Roman religion. The inclusion of Medea’s myth could serve as a stark warning against allowing personal desires or emotions to override one’s duty to the gods and the community—a message especially relevant to those in religious roles.

4. Myth as Allegory for Leadership

"The story of Medea might also have served as an allegory for leadership and control. Just as Medea’s unrestrained emotions led to tragedy, leaders (including religious leaders) were expected to exercise self-control, rationality, and justice to maintain harmony within the household, community, and broader society.

5. The Role of the Dioscuri and Jason

"The Dioscuri, associated with protection and divine order, and Jason, whose leadership ultimately falters, provide contrasting figures to Medea’s story. The patrons of these houses might have used these myths to frame the dangers of neglecting divine guidance or succumbing to personal ambition over communal responsibility.

Conclusion

"The presence of the Medea fresco in these houses likely reinforced the importance of moral and religious discipline, aligning with the roles of priestly families as custodians of both divine and social order. For Roman viewers, it could have offered a powerful visual lesson on the destructive consequences of forsaking one’s obligations, framed within the broader religious and cultural values of the time."

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