Experts Uncover A Lavish Pompeii Estate Owned By Two Former Slaves Who Became Staggeringly Wealthy

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Rags to riches

The story of the House of the Vettii in Pompeii is a remarkable tale of social ascent and transformation. Originally, the owners of this house were slaves, living under the shadow of their affluent master, with little hope of changing their station in life. However, a dramatic twist of fate altered their destiny, propelling them into the upper echelons of Pompeian society.

As newly minted members of the elite, they constructed a home that epitomized luxury and opulence, a clear statement of their newfound status. The House of the Vettii was designed to be a visual declaration of their rise from slavery to prominence, showcasing their wealth and influence in a society that once saw them as mere property.