Evidence of the Erotic in the House of the Vettii

Ashley Franker-Shuh, The University of Western Ontario

Abstract

In this thesis I examine the erotic evidence from the House of the Vettii in Pompeii. I analyze the erotic wall-paintings in the House of the Vettii (located in rooms b, p, n, t, and x¹) and the erotic graffiti found within the house (located in rooms v and a). I also consider individual and overarching themes found within the erotic wall-paintings in order to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the artwork and identify a number of themes in the decorative programme: erotic abandonment, illicit desire, and demigods that use sexual violence against mortal women. While I do not come to any unprecedented revelations in my thesis, mine is the first scholarly work to examine all the erotic evidence from one house.