Habitats at Herculaneum and Early Roman Interior Decoration

Explore Roman domestic architecture and wall painting styles in this Yale University lecture on Roman Architecture. Delve into the history of Herculaneum and its preservation by the eruption of Vesuvius. Examine three notable houses in Herculaneum, including the Houses of the Mosaic Atrium and the Stags, which exemplify popular residential styles in Campania. Learn about the First (Masonry) Style of Roman wall painting, which imitates marble-faced walls using stucco and paint, and the Second Style, which creates illusionistic vistas of shrines, cityscapes, and landscapes. Conclude with an analysis of the Garden Room from the Villa of Livia at Primaporta, a prime example of Second Style painting that transforms walls into panoramic windows.