Expert: Irulan Serena - 5/6/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I finally found out the deal about Pompey the Greats house.  He apparently had two.  One on the Via Lata at the foot of the Pinico Hill.  It's were he went when Milo was causing trouble in Rome.  His Villa in the Garden.  His other house was over by where the Coloseum is now, it's described as being near the temple of Tellus.  It took me a long time but I found it.  Just thought I would let you know.  Thanks, Brenda
Answer -
Hello Brenda,

Thanks for the information.  

I finally found more information on the topic.

It appears that Pompey had more than just two houses.  His first one was on the Via Lata, after his political success he built another house on the western end of the southern spur of the Esquiline hill on the street named Via di Grotta Pinta.  The Area was known by the name of Carinae and it was located near the temple of Tellus.  

The house was ornamented with rostra, a beak like prow of a captured pirate ship and therefore called Domus Rostrata.  

According to Plutarch, Pompeius built himself a finer house than he previously occupied, after the erection of his theater.  It was in this house where he built the Gardens which you mentioned.   Near his house he also built the Theatrum Pompei [Theater of Pompey]  which was the first stone theater in Rome. All earlier theaters, such as the Theatrum Scauri, are often referred to as temporary theaters.  

According to Plutarch,  Pompey maintained other places of residency at Alba, Alsium, Baia, Cumae, Formiae, Picenum, Tusculum, ourside of Rome.  The ones mentioned are the well-documented estates …there were others but I have not been able to find more information on the other estates.

After the death of Pompeius the house, Domus Rostrata, became the property of Antonius  given to him by Julius Caesar.  The house later became the property of the imperial family. Tiberius lived in it before his accession, and in the third century it is said to have belonged to the Gordiani.

Iru



Thanks for the info.  My main interest was really concerning Marcus Antonius and I had to research Pompeius to find out where his house was.  I wanted to know where Octavian met with him because Appian says they met in Pompey's Gardens.  I assume that Antonius got the Villa in the gardens as well as the house in Carnae.  Later he states that Antonius had the senate met in the temple of Tullus since it was near his house.  that was just after the death of Caesar.  And of course it was in April when he met with Octavian.  Anyway I think I've got it striaght.  Thanks,
Brenda

Answer
Hello Brenda,

You got it straight now  ...actualy we both did! LOL!
I also thank you for bringing up a fact I had not persued before your question.  It also brought up some other points I was not sure of but reading Plutarch's Lives has clarified them for me ...  thanks to your question.

Welcome, and good luck in your endeavors,

Iru