The House of Venus is one of the grand merchant mansions along the upper Decumanus, named for the mosaic it contains showing Venus in a bathing scene. The house also holds the celebrated mosaic of Diana surprised by Actaeon while bathing, and a striking panel of the Four Seasons — allegorical figures representing spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These mosaics are exceptional both for their size and their state of preservation; the colours, though faded, are still clearly readable.
The house is set well back from the street, with a large interior courtyard that once had a garden and pool at its centre. The scale and quality of the decoration indicate a very wealthy owner. Visiting the House of Venus is one of the high points of any Volubilis tour — plan to spend time here reading the individual scenes rather than simply passing through.