Exploring Ancient Rome from Afar

Key Takeaways:

• The House of the Griffins, a well-preserved ancient Roman home, is now open to the public for the first time via a livestreamed tour of its underground frescoes and mosaics.
• The house is located on the Palatine Hill, a historic site in Rome that was once home to temples and homes of leading citizens during the Roman Republic and Empire.
• The livestreamed tour allows visitors to explore the house’s intimate rooms and view its newly restored frescoes, including a famous arched lunette fresco featuring two griffins.
• The tour is part of an effort to spread tourists out beyond the crowded Colosseum and Forum, and to protect the delicate frescoes from damage caused by large numbers of visitors.
• The restoration of the House of the Griffins is one of 10 projects funded by the European Union in the archaeological park, and is considered a significant addition to the park’s cultural offerings.

Introduction to the House of the Griffins
The House of the Griffins, a remarkably well-preserved ancient Roman home, has been hidden from the public for centuries. Located on the Palatine Hill, a historic site in Rome that was once home to temples and homes of leading citizens during the Roman Republic and Empire, the house was first discovered during excavations in the early 20th century. The house is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman homes on the Palatine Hill, and its discovery has provided a unique glimpse into the lives of the aristocratic families who lived there.

The History of the Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill, located just off the Colosseum, was a prestigious neighborhood during the Roman Republic, which is traditionally dated from 509 B.C. to 27 B.C. The hill was home to many prominent citizens, including politicians and military leaders, who built their homes and temples there. During the Roman Empire, the hill became the aristocratic quarter, with new palaces being built on top of the older homes. The House of the Griffins is one of the earlier Republican-era homes, and was hidden from the world underground after the Emperor Domitian built his palace on top of it in the first century A.D.

The Restoration and Livestreamed Tour
The House of the Griffins has undergone a significant restoration, and its newly restored frescoes are now available for public viewing via a livestreamed tour. The tour allows visitors to explore the house’s intimate rooms and view its famous frescoes, including the arched lunette fresco featuring two griffins. The tour is conducted by a guide wearing a head-mounted smartphone, who descends into the domus and walks through its rooms, livestreaming the visit and narration. The livestreamed tour serves multiple purposes, including protecting the delicate frescoes from too much humidity and carbon dioxide, and allowing visitors to "see" a domus that would otherwise be off-limits due to its underground location.

The Significance of the House of the Griffins
The House of the Griffins is considered a significant addition to the archaeological park, and its restoration is one of 10 projects funded by the European Union. The house provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the aristocratic families who lived on the Palatine Hill, and its frescoes and mosaics are some of the best-preserved examples of ancient Roman art. Project chief Federica Rinaldi said that archaeologists don’t know much about the family who lived in the House of the Griffins, but they were clearly well-off, given the level of decoration that recalls some of the elegant homes of the era in Pompeii.

Efforts to Spread Tourism Beyond the Colosseum and Forum
The restoration of the House of the Griffins is part of an effort to spread tourists out beyond the crowded Colosseum and Forum, which often get overwhelmed with visitors. The head of the park, Simone Quilici, said that the livestreamed tour is a great occasion to value the full territory of the park, and to encourage visitors to explore beyond the most popular sites. The livestreamed tour is available weekly, on Tuesdays, with one tour in Italian and one in English, and groups are limited to a dozen people and require reservations, as well as an additional ticket beyond the typical Colosseum-Palatine Hill entrance fee.

Conclusion
The House of the Griffins is a significant addition to the archaeological park, and its restoration and livestreamed tour provide a unique opportunity for visitors to explore this ancient Roman home. The house’s frescoes and mosaics are some of the best-preserved examples of ancient Roman art, and the livestreamed tour allows visitors to view them in a way that was previously not possible. The restoration of the House of the Griffins is part of a larger effort to spread tourism beyond the crowded Colosseum and Forum, and to encourage visitors to explore the full territory of the park. As the park continues to develop and expand its offerings, the House of the Griffins is sure to be a popular destination for visitors from around the world.