Together with the Caseggiato degli Aurighi and the Terme dei Sette Sapienti, the Caseggiato del Serapide makes up one of the city’s largest building complexes, unitary from a construction point of view. The building, of the Hadrianic period (AD 117-138), had a courtyard with very tall brick pillars and at least two upper floors that could be reached from stairs located in the courtyard itself and occupied by apartments. In the early 3rd century AD, a small cult building was constructed in the courtyard, with a stucco depiction of the god Serapis and other Egyptian deities at the sides. A gateway decorated with stucco reliefs was also built, with a frieze of bucrania (ox heads, originally holding religious significance), which gave access to the next-door Terme dei Sette Sapienti.
Axonometric reconstruction of the building
(I. Gismondi)
Elevation of the entrance and of the shrine with a statue of the god Serapis
(A. Pascolini)
Excavation and conservation work in the Caseggiato del Serapide
The House of Serapis during excavation (1934)
View of the house during excavation
Discovery of the heads of Trajan and Hadrian in the lime kiln near the House
Head of Hadrian discovered in the lime kiln near the House
Detail of the aedicule with relief of Serapis