Pompei, Italy - October 28, 2024

The discovery came during excavations underway in the central district of Pompeii at the Insula dei casti Amanti construction site. Digging has been underway on the site of the ancient city for over 600 years, with new archaeological finds hitting the headlines regularly. Pompeii was engulfed in volcanic ash in 79 C.E. after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and the fallen ash that encased the city is believed to be responsible for the excellent preservation of its ruins.

Archaeologists on site have found small homes—classified as those without a traditional atrium—featuring extensive wall murals during their investigations in central Pompeii along Via dell’Abbondanza.

The atrium was an open courtyard at the entrance of a home, enclosed by columns and small rooms. Atriums acted as a reception space, where the heads of households would take meetings and where certain ceremonies would be undertaken. The courtyard would also contain an impluvium—a basin for collecting rainwater which would have served a decorative as well as functional purpose. Atriums were a key feature of grand homes and were a marker of wealth in ancient Rome. But researchers are now finding that being atrium-less did not rule out ancient Pompeiians from decorating their homes lavishly.