Excavating Theater History at Pompeii’s House of the Four Styles

Thursday, April 18 at 8 PM at the Bender JCC

Excavating Theater History at Pompeii’s House of the Four Styles

Marden Nichols – Georgetown University

The “House of the Four Styles” is a well-preserved Pompeian house, named for the superb examples of wall painting across all of the Four Styles of Roman mural decoration that have been discovered within it.

In a large room located on the east side of the atrium, a complex figural scene that includes dancers and a rotating theater platform has suffered significant degradation in the over 70 years since its excavation. Archival photographs, however, reveal a painting of remarkable technique and composition.

This lecture demonstrates how the conception of this painting was informed by theater architecture and engineering, as well as the choreography of Greco-Roman theater, civic festivals, and other religious celebrations.

For questions or to request accommodations contact:

Donald O Kane