Surgeon's House

Built in Pompeii Italy between the 4th and 3rd century BC

The Surgeon's House was built between the 4th and 3rd century BC

The House of the Surgeon is one of the many ancient residences discovered in the ancient city of Pompeii, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. This house takes its name from a fresco depicting surgical instruments, which was found inside during excavations.

Located in Regio VII (Region 7) of Pompeii, the House of the Surgeon is known for its complex floor plan and well-preserved frescoes. The house displays common features of Roman architecture, such as an atrium with impluvium (a basin to collect rainwater) and a peristyle (a colonnaded courtyard).

Numerous bronze surgical instruments were found inside the House of the Surgeon, including syringes, scalpels, mirrors, and other medical instruments. These findings have led archaeologists to speculate that the owner of the house may have been a doctor or surgeon, or that the house may have been used as a medical clinic.

The frescoes inside the house include depictions of mythological scenes, landscapes, still lifes and portraits, which provide important information about daily life and art in ancient Pompeii.

The House of the Surgeon is one of the many testimonies of the different activities and professions present in Pompeian society, and represents an important archaeological site for understanding the life and culture of the Roman era.