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The House of the Postumii, also known as the Domus M. Holconi Rufi or House of Holconius Rufus, is a large residence in Regio VIII of Pompeii, at the north-western corner of Insula 4. It follows the typical arrangement of a Pompeian house, with rooms distributed around an atrium and a large porticoed courtyard.
The main entrance led into the atrium, paved with an early cement-based floor dating to the Republican period. From the atrium, the tablinum and several corridors led to the peristyle, around which the principal rooms in the more private part of the residence were arranged. The house preserves evidence of several decorative phases: some floors date to the Republican period, while most of the wall decoration belongs to the Fourth Pompeian Style.
The principal rooms included a large triclinium with an elaborate geometric floor and a spacious reception hall on the southern side of the peristyle, distinguished by a refined opus sectile pavement made from different types of marble. These features attest to the prestige and considerable wealth of the residence.
The house was connected to several adjoining rooms and properties, forming an increasingly complex group of buildings over time. Excavations began as early as 1766; the main entrance was uncovered in 1855, and further exploration followed in 1861.
Recent archaeological research has also examined parts of the house that remained only partially explored. Investigations identified staircases, rooms still awaiting excavation and links to a productive area containing an oven and facilities used for bread-making, showing that the complex also included spaces devoted to economic activity.
The House of the Postumii is therefore an important example of the evolution of Pompeii’s large residences, transformed over the centuries through the combination of living quarters, reception rooms and areas used for productive activities.