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.

According to inscriptions found in the house, it was most likely owned by Aulus Rustius Verus, who was an important figure and duumvir, or a client of his. Excavations began in 1888 but then stopped and were resumed in 2023 as part of the Great Pompeii 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 the Dionysian Thiasus, hence the name of the house.

Five skeletons have been found in the house, some of whom were killed by walls and roofs collapsing 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 human remains.