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House of the Gladiators, Pompeii

Location: Regio V

Insula 5

The House of the Gladiators, known in Italian as Casa dei Gladiatori (V.5.3), is a modest but historically significant structure in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, located in Regio V, Insula 5, on the north side of Via di Nola. This major east-west thoroughfare connected the Via Stabiana to the Nola Gate, placing the house roughly halfway along this route near the eastern edge of the excavated urban area. Unlike the more famous Schola Armaturarum (another "House of the Gladiators" in Regio III) or the larger Gladiator Barracks (Quadriporticus) in Regio VIII, this site in Regio V served as a specialized barracks or hostel primarily for gladiators and their families, reflecting Pompeii's vibrant gladiatorial culture in the decades leading up to the city's destruction by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Excavated in the late 19th century, it offers valuable insights into the daily lives of gladiators through its inscriptions and layout, though it lacks the grandeur of elite Pompeian residences.

Historical Background

Constructed in the 1st century BC as a private mansion during the late Republican period, the House of the Gladiators underwent a significant transformation around the time of Emperor Augustus (27 BC–14 AD) or Claudius (41–54 AD). It was repurposed into a communal living space or hostel for gladiators and their families, accommodating an estimated 15 to 20 people at a time. This conversion coincided with the expansion of gladiatorial games in Pompeii, where spectacles in the nearby Amphitheater (built c. 70 BC) drew crowds for entertainment, political patronage, and social display. Gladiators—often slaves, prisoners, or volunteers—were trained in specialized schools (ludi), and sites like this provided lodging, especially when the city's Palaestra (gymnasium) was adapted for their use.
The house's gladiatorial association is evidenced by over 100 inscriptions (up to 143, cataloged as CIL IV 4280–4423) found on its columns, dating paleographically and archaeologically from the Augustan era to around 62 AD. These graffiti detail gladiators' names, victories, weapons, combat styles (e.g., Essedarii fighting from chariots, Thracians with curved swords, Murmillones with fish-crested helmets, and Equites on horseback), and affiliations with trainers or owners. They paint a picture of a competitive, hierarchical world where fighters recorded their exploits, perhaps as boasts or memorials.
The site's use likely ended after the devastating earthquake of 62 AD, which damaged much of Pompeii. Gladiators may have relocated to the larger Quadriporticus behind the Great Theater in Regio VIII, either due to structural issues or the need for expanded facilities during the city's reconstruction phase. By 79 AD, when Vesuvius erupted, the house was buried under layers of ash and lapilli, preserving its features remarkably well. Its name derives directly from these inscriptions, underscoring its role as a barracks rather than a training ground—distinguishing it from other gladiatorial sites in Pompeii.
Excavations began in 1899, with initial findings documented in publications like the Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1890, pp. 25–39). Further work in the early 2000s, including digs to lower levels, was detailed in reports such as D. Esposito's 2005 article in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani (XVI, pp. 156–166). The house has been photographed extensively from the 1930s onward, with images from 1968, 2004–2005, 2009, 2012, 2017, and 2018 showing its evolving condition amid ongoing conservation efforts under the Great Pompeii Project. Unlike the Schola Armaturarum, which famously collapsed in 2010, this structure remains intact, though some sources note general concerns about site fragility in Pompeii.

Architecture and Layout

The House of the Gladiators is a compact, utilitarian building typical of repurposed Roman urban spaces, lacking the atrium-fauces-tablinum layout of wealthier homes. Visitors enter from Via di Nola via a raised pavement and a series of steps leading to a corridor (fauces) on the north side. This corridor opens directly into the house's central feature: a large peristyle (courtyard, labeled Room 7 in excavation plans), measuring approximately 10–12 meters on each side.
The peristyle is surrounded by 24 plastered brick columns (six per side) that support the inner roof edges, creating a shaded ambulatory. Columns are numbered in historical records (e.g., 1–6 on the south side, with some like Column 1 no longer in place). Low walls enclose the space, and doorways on the east side lead to adjoining rooms (e.g., Room 1), while niches (such as one on the west wall) suggest storage or display functions. The design emphasizes communal living, with the peristyle likely serving as a gathering area for meals, socializing, or minor training. Excavations revealed earlier, lower levels beneath the peristyle, indicating phased construction. The facade and corridor retain gypsum traces, hinting at a once-polished exterior.

Decorations and Frescoes

Decorative elements are modest but evocative of Roman tastes. The entrance walls and peristyle feature remnants of painted plaster in the Fourth Pompeian Style, with faded frescoes on the inner sides of the west and east walls. Notable is a vivid animal scene on the west side of the peristyle: a boar attacked by four dogs, symbolizing hunting themes common in gladiatorial contexts (where venationes, or beast hunts, often accompanied fights). Low walls around the peristyle include decorations with hunting and mythological motifs, adding to the site's martial ambiance. Traces of original frescoes survive on the facade and corridor, though weathered by exposure. No elaborate mosaics are documented, aligning with the building's functional rather than luxurious purpose.

Artifacts and Discoveries

The most prominent discoveries are the gladiatorial inscriptions on the peristyle columns, which form the core of the site's significance. These provide rare personal glimpses into gladiators' lives, including records of successes in the arena. Few other artifacts were recovered, as the site was not a primary armory or training facility. Historical references, such as Matteo Della Corte's Case ed Abitanti di Pompei (1965, pp. 139–141), compile these findings, emphasizing the house's role in Pompeii's social history.
In summary, the House of the Gladiators in Regio V, Insula 5, stands as a testament to the everyday realities of Pompeii's gladiatorial subculture, bridging private architecture with public spectacle. Its inscriptions and peristyle layout highlight a space for rest and camaraderie amid the brutality of the games. Today, it is accessible to visitors as part of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, with ongoing preservation ensuring its legacy endures.