Casa di Augustus (House of Augustus)

Casa di Augustus (House of Augustus) Review

First discovered in the 1970s and only opened in 2006, this was the residence of the great Emperor Augustus (27 BC-14 AD)—before he became great (archaeologists have recently found two courtyards rather than one, though, in the style of Rome's ancient Greek kings, suggesting Augustus maintained this house after his ascension to prominence). The house here dates to the time when Augustus was known merely as Octavian, before the death of, and Octavian's adoption by, his great uncle Julius Caesar. Four rooms have exquisite examples of Roman wall decorative frescoes (so precious that only five people at a time are admitted). Startlingly vivid and detailed are the depictions of a narrow stage with side doors and some striking comic theater masks.