House of the Labyrinth

House of the Labyrinth in Pompeii. Plan dwg scale 1:100

Built in the late 89nd century BC, this double atrium and peristyle dwelling was badly damaged during the Siege of Sulla in XNUMX BC. Following this event, having become the property of the powerful Sextilii family, the domus underwent major renovation, which was followed over time by further modifications and extensions that saw the addition of a small thermal sector and a bakery to the original nucleus.
The main tetrastyle atrium has a monumental character, with four tall Corinthian-Italic columns. The most noble and representative sector of the domus, however, is to be recognized in the rooms that open onto the northern side of the large peristyle; among them, there is a large Corinthian oecus (reception room) supported by 10 columns and decorated with paintings of the Second Style. This room is flanked by two pairs of finely decorated cubicula; one of them has a splendid mosaic whose central panel, depicting the fight between Theseus and the Minotaur, is framed by the labyrinth motif from which the conventional name of the house derives.