The House of the Lararium of Achilles takes its name from the refined stucco decoration of a small room beside the atrium, probably used as a shrine for domestic worship.
The decoration depicts episodes from the Trojan War. The choice of this subject, also found in the nearby House of the Cryptoporticus, has been interpreted as an allusion to Rome's mythical origins and perhaps to the owner's desire to associate his family with a prestigious cultural tradition.
An equally spectacular feature was a large wall painting in one of the rooms overlooking the garden. It showed two enormous elephants guided by Cupids, who use myrtle branches as reins. Since myrtle was sacred to Venus, the scene is interpreted as a celebration of the goddess's power.
The house was excavated chiefly between 1911 and 1929. Its paintings and stucco decoration rank among the most refined expressions of the visual culture of Pompeian houses.
View this location on the Pompeii Buildings and Places map