From 2 June 2025, visitors will once again be able to admire the House of the Bronze Herm, one of the most refined treasures of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum. After careful restoration and enhancement, this jewel of antiquity is once again accessible to the public, exactly one year after an act of vandalism that had compromised its decorations.
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The operation was the result of joint work between restorers, archaeologists and conservation specialists.
An integrated project to bring the domus back to life
The House, which preserves the original layout from the Samnite era and frescoes in the third Pompeian style with miniature landscapes, has been the subject of a double intervention. The first, emergency phase, followed the vandalism of June 2, 2024; the second, more structured, is part of the extraordinary maintenance plan for the site.
A delicate operation allowed the complete removal of indelible ink from a fresco, made possible only after in-depth studies on the safest and most effective techniques.
Restorations against time and vandalism
The intervention involved in particular the frescoed surfaces of the atrium, made safe through the consolidation of the pictorial film and the treatment of the plaster damaged by old graffiti, dating back to the 90s and 2000s. The rediscovery of original decorative fragments helped restore coherence and legibility to the compromised decorations.
A fragment of plaster that collapsed in 2019, preserved in the Park's deposits, has been reintegrated into the structure, testifying to the foresight in the management of cultural heritage.
A virtuous example of collaboration and scientific rigor
The multidisciplinary team of the Ercolano Archaeological Park directed the intervention, in collaboration with the Packard Humanities Institute and external restorers. The scientific and integrated approach allowed the harmonious recovery of the decorated surfaces and the return of the original dignity to the rooms.
The restoration was financed through ticket revenue, supplemented by state funds from the 2015 stability law.
Francesco Sirano: “An opportunity for rebirth”
“The House of the Bronze Herm finally returns to tell its story,” declared Francesco Sirano, director of the Park. “No longer a symbol of degradation, but a concrete example of cultural rebirth. This intervention is a strong message: constant care and shared responsibility are the true protection of heritage.”
The domus is now a permanent visitor attraction, with scheduled maintenance to ensure its preservation over time.
A small jewel from the Samnite era
Excavated between 1927 and 1929 under the guidance of Amedeo Maiuri, the House of the Bronze Herm (Regio III, insula 16) owes its name to a male portrait statue, probably of the owner, placed on a marble herm, now kept in the Park's deposits.
The house has a typical Roman floor plan, with direct access from the street via a corridor (fauces), two side rooms – including a frescoed bedroom – and a decorated central atrium, equipped with an impluvium for collecting rainwater.
Architecture and clues to a larger property
The tablinum served as a reception room, while other rooms – including a dining room and service rooms – are distributed around a small courtyard. A staircase, now disappeared, led to the upper floor.
Particular attention should be paid to the windows on the north wall of the atrium, which provided light to rooms in the adjacent Casa a Graticcio, suggesting possible structural links between the two homes.
Article published on May 28, 2025 - 17:07 pm
