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The House of Orpheus

The House of Orpheus is the most well preserved building located in the southern part of the ancient Roman city, Volubilis, located in the northern side of modern day Morocco. The House of Orpheus is named after the famous musician and poet Orpheus known in Greek mythology. The House of Orpheus is around 1700 square meters and covers three sectors within the Ancient city. The house is known mainly by its mosaic floors that are located throughout the building. Within the house, there are three open corridors or peristyles, many mosaics, a private area for the owner and his family, a meeting room where the proprietor met with his clients and guests, and an industrial zone that focused on producing olive oil.

Living Quarters

After entering the private part of the home and head down the hallway after the kitchen, one will run into one of three peristyles within the House. Within the Peristyle, the triclinium is the most interesting of the bunch with three doors, the main door for the family and two for the servants. Within the triclinium, the family would spend time together or with friends.

Public Access

The section where the proprietor greets his guests and clients is accessible only from the street allowing the guests to enter into an open courtyard, or ceremonial room, with a small pool and a reception room located across from the courtyard. One of the walls of the ceremonial room has a couple grooves in the floor indicating that there was a glass wall that would allow guests and clients to see other visitors entering through the main entrance. 

Production

Volubilis was one of Rome’s main exporters of olive oil. The House of Orpheus was a big addition to the exporting of olive oil and was one of the main olive oil producers in Volubilis. Entering the industrial part of the house, it is shown that there are two oil-pressing areas and two large barrels to hold the oil. 

Mosaics

Within many of the rooms throughout the house, there were mosaics on the floors of throughout the home telling stories of ancient gods and goddesses. The biggest and most popular mosaic, found in the ceremonial room, is a picture of Orpheus playing his lyre and surrounded by animals that were known throughout the lands around Volubilis. The mosaic of Orpheus gave the name to the House of Orpheus. Another mosaic within the triclinium is a picture of nine dolphins in a square pattern. The pool in the ceremonial room is an aquarium with a mosaic at the bottom with a bunch of sea creatures and Neptune at the tom riding inside of his chariot.

See Also

Volubilis

References

-MARTHA, ISHERWOOD B. "Mosaics Illuminate a Remote Roman City." The Globe and MailFeb 15 1989. ProQuest. Web. 14 Dec. 2016 .

-“Volubilis: Western Outpost of Roman North Africa,” Films Media Group, 2006, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=102587&xtid=38806.

From <http://0-fod.infobase.com.library2.pima.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=38806#>