Stabiae, Villa di Arianna or Villa Arianna or Villa di Varano A.

Excavated 1757-1762, 1777-1778, 1950-1962.

Part:   1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        10        11        12        13        14       Plan

Other rooms found in the Bourbon excavations

Room W.15

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 22nd July 1758. Room W.15. Painting of a basket with high handles containing a spindle and wool.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8689.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 491.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 22nd July 1758. Room W.15. Painting of bird.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8726.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 490.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 22nd July 1758. Room W.15. Painting of bird.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8728.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 490.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 22nd July 1758. Room W.15. Painting of bird.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8740.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 491.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 29th July 1758. Room W.15. Painting of bird.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8737.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 491.

Room W.23

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 11th August 1759. Room W.23. Landscape.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9443.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 244.

Room W.24

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

Wall painting of nude Eros standing on a pillar holding a patera (dish) and cestino (basket).

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9763.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 486.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

Two separate fragments of wall painting, each with winged figures above a yellow gable below which is a satyr mask.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9371.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 485.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

These three fragments were assembled in a single frame after detachment from the walls of the room in which they were found in July 1759

Each fragment of wall painting has a cupid riding a sea panther.

The second is symmetrical to the first and is probably a part of the same aedicula.

The third is the same group and pose as the first, but the cupid has natural colours.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8521.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 487.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

Wall painting of a caryatid wearing a green/blue and violet peplum (long Greek style dress, down to the ankles) and gold shoes.

She has her hair tied back and a candelabra in the form of a flower on her head.

She stands at the extremity of an architectural feature.

From upper wall of the same room as inventory number 8521.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8910.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 487.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

See Antichità di Ercolano: Tomo Terzo: Le Pitture 3, 1762, p.115, Tav. XXII, found Gragnano, 16th July 1759.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, Room W.24.

The figure on the right, according to Zahn drawn in the Naples Museum, was from Villa Arianna, room W.24 on a white background, found 16th July 1759.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 8910.

The woman on the left is a drawing by Zahn of a woman from Room W.28, although he lists it as from Herculaneum.

See Zahn, W., 1828-29. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: I. Berlin: Reimer, taf. LXXVIII (no.78).

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

Wall painting of Paris and Helen.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8982.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 483.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th June and 16th July 1759. Room W.24.

Two frescoes of seated women from the lower part of the same wall as Paris and Helen (8982).

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9664.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 483.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242 and p. 243.

Room W.25, room on west side of W26

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th June 1759. Room W.25. Wall painting of priests and priestesses.

According to Grasso, this was found in Room 25, a cubiculum, on the 16th of June 1759.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8972.

See Bragantini, I. and Sampaolo, V., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Verona: Electa, p. 161.

According to Prisciandaro & Pagano, this was found together with another, three women with cupids, inventory number 9180.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p.242.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, 1972. Room W.25. Detail of priest and priestess. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

The priestess carries a jug and a wicker basket.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J72f0562

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, 16th June 1759. Room W.25. Wall painting of three women with three cupids.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 9180.

According to Prisciandaro & Pagano, this was found together with another, of priests and priestesses, inventory number 8972.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.242)

Stabiae, Villa Arianna. Room W.25.

From an album of Michele Amodio dated 1874, entitled “Pompei, destroyed on 23 November 79, discovered in 1745”.

Fresco of the “Cupid Seller”.  Now in Naples Archaeological Museum: inventory number 9180.  Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna. Room W.25. From an album dated January 1874. Fresco of the “Cupid Seller”.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum: inventory number 9180. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna. Room W.25. From an album by Roberto Rive, dated 1868. Fresco of the “Cupid Seller”.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum: inventory number 9180. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna. Room W.25. June 1759. Drawing of the “Cupid Seller” by Zahn made in Royal Museum at Naples, pre-December 1858.  

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. LXXXV, (85).

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 6th August 1759. Room W.25 or W.28. Painting of a group of psyche.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9334.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 484.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 16th June 1759. Room W.25 or W.28.

Four wall painting fragments each representing a seated Psyche.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9169.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 488-9.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 20th or 30th June 1759. Room W.25 or W.28. Painting of cupid carrying shoes.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9337.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 242.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 494.

Room W.26

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of Flora cd Primavera.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8834.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of Flora cd Primavera.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8834.

Painting by Zahn, pre-December 1855.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 66.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of Leda and the swan.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9546.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of Leda and the swan.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9546.

Painting by Zahn, pre-December 1858, described as pendant to Flora.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 86.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759.

Room W.26, wall painting of Medea holding a sceptre and a book.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8978.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759.

Room W.26, wall painting of Medea holding a sceptre and a book.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8978.

Painting by Zahn, pre-November 1856 –

described as pendant to Penelope (?Diana), also on blue background and seen in Pl.III.46.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 76.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 8th August 1759. Room W.26. wall painting of Diana with a bow and arrow.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 8th August 1759. Room W.26. detail of wall painting of Diana with a bow and arrow.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9243.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella taken December 2019.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found August 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of Diana (or Penelope) with a bow and arrow.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9243.

Painting by Zahn, pre-October 1852.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 46.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 27th July 1759. Room W.26, wall painting of panthers in architecture.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9187.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 440.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with building, tent canopy, three men and an idol.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9403.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 6th August 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with temple with pitched roof and columns at the front.

To the left is a statue on a base and to the right are two figures in front of a pillar with a vase on top.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9402.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 438-9.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 25th July 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with building, tower, man and an idol.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9401.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape, column and tower with two men by its door.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9405.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759. Room W.26?

1889 watercolour copy of wall painting of landscape, column and tower with two men by its door.

DAIR Pompeji Wandmalerei 34. Arachne ID: 3564102. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

Original wall painting now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9405.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape, temple with columns at the front, tree at base of temple and a boat sails in front of the temple.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9397.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 26th July 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with a tower with a statue of Hecate on top.

Below are a tree and people carrying out rites in her honour.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9396.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 6th August 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with temple shaded by a tree, a monumental fountain, a columned structure and two female figures.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9407.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 6th August 1759. Room W.26?

Wall painting of landscape with a tall shrine with double sloping roof. On the left is a cloaked figure.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9398.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found 6th August 1759. Room W.26? Architectural landscape.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9459.

According to Grasso, this wall painting is an architectural landscape.

It shows the side view of a small temple, to which a figure is running, a tower with a platform and to the left a colonnaded portico in perspective.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 454-5.

According to Prisciandaro, there are two figures, one upright and one crouched.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples:

Nicola Longobardi, p. 243.

Room 56. Stucco and painted lararium.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, September 2015. Looking north to Vesuvius from the tablinum, room 18.

On a lower level of the villa here are rooms 54bis, 55, 56, 57 and 58.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, room 56. Stuccoed and painted lararium with an aedicula and two small columns supporting a pediment with marble painting.

According to Sodo, in the foreground are eight fishermen drawing in their nets full of fish. Behind is a golden couch with two wading birds aside it.

To the left is a silver kantharos and to the right a tall candelabra with a golden lamp.

Room 56 is situated on a ramp. It is a large room opening on to the bay and has no decoration preserved.

It is one of six rooms on the fourth floor of the villa ground level, preceded by a corridor and most likely used as storerooms or dwellings.

Now in Stabia Antiquarium, inventory number 69167.

See Otium Ludens, curated by Guzzo, P, Bonifacio, G, and Sodo, A.M. (2007). Castellammare di Stabia: Nicola Longobardi, p. 145.

Room location not known

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, found in the excavations of the 1950s in the infill from the Bourbon era excavations.

Painting of Pylades or a young hero. Room location unknown.

Now in Stabia Antiquarium, inventory number 62528.

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, March 2004. Painting of cupid and Dionysus. Now in Stabia Antiquarium. Inventory number 62477.

Photo courtesy of Mentnafunangann - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

See https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eros_e_Dioniso_1.jpg#/media/File:Eros_e_Dioniso_1.jpg

Stabiae, Villa Arianna, painting of tragic mask. Now in Stabia Antiquarium.

Part:    1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        10        11        12        13        14       Plan