The House of the Garden of Hercules lies near Via di Nocera in the southern part of Regio II. Its modest residential rooms open towards a much larger cultivated area, making it an instructive example of a Pompeian property in which domestic life and agricultural production shared the same space. The house takes its modern name from a marble statuette of Hercules found in a small shrine on the eastern side of the garden.
The earliest layout is dated to the third century BC. It belongs to a group of narrow houses characteristic of this district, with an atrium or courtyard and relatively few rooms beside it. The entrance leads through the domestic section to the garden behind. Irrigation channels show that this open ground was deliberately organised and watered, rather than simply left as an undeveloped yard.
The interpretation of the property as a perfume garden rests on several kinds of evidence. Pollen analysis points to the cultivation of flowers, including roses, violets and lilies, while numerous small terracotta and glass containers were recovered from the site. Such vessels were used for scented preparations. Taken together, the planting evidence, irrigation arrangements and containers support the identification of the house with the cultivation of flowers and the preparation or sale of perfumes.
The shrine of Hercules adds a religious dimension to this productive landscape. Household worship was part of daily life, and a cultivated garden could contain a place for offerings as well as beds of plants. The ancient statuette gives the building its archaeological name; it does not identify the occupants or establish that the whole property was a sanctuary.
The principal excavation campaigns took place in 1953–1954, 1971–1973 and 1984. The importance of the site extends beyond its standing walls: botanical remains and traces in the soil help reconstruct activities that would otherwise be difficult to recognise. When access is available, the contrast between the compact house and its extensive garden is the clearest feature to look for.
Access to this property can vary. Check the Archaeological Park’s current building openings and service notices before planning to enter the garden. Check official building openings.
Archaeological Park of Pompeii: official site guide.
View this location on the Pompeii Buildings and Places map