House of Thiasus

The House of Thiasus (Italian: Casa del Tiaso) is a house in Pompeii that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It is located on Via Nola in insula 10 of Regio IX.

It was most likely owned by Aulus Rustius Verus or a client of his, according to inscriptions found, who was an important figure and duumvir. Excavations began in 1888 but then stopped and were resumed in 2023 as part of the Great Pompei Project to solve drainage and damage problems on the edges of excavated areas.

In February 2025 a room was discovered with large colourful frescoes dating to 40-30 BC and depicting scenes of Dionysian Thiasus, hence the name of the house.

5 skeletons have been found in the house some of whom were killed by collapsing walls and roofs due to the weight of eruption material.

At the time of the eruption much of the house was being renovated or rebuilt as shown by the large piles of roof tiles, stone, mortar materials and tools found throughout the house. Nevertheless, the house was still occupied as shown by the last sacrifice at the domestic altar and the remains of the bodies.