Roman Houses

Not like our houses… Came right up the sidewalk Few, small, high-up windows Most only one story high Shops on either side of the front door Did the outside of the house look very attractive or inviting?

Plan of the house ianua: front door Shops (tabernae) on either side on the side of the house facing the street Shops (tabernae) on either side

Plan of the house atrium: reception hall Main room of the house Used for family occasions and for receiving visitors High roof Not many furnishings Marble or mosaic floor Painted walls

Plan of the house compluvium: large square opening in the roof to let in air, light, and rainwater

Plan of the house impluvium: shallow, rectangular pool used to collect rainwater Stored for family use

Plan of the house lararium: shrine to the household gods in a front corner of the atrium

Plan of the house cubiculum: bedroom Situated around the atrium Much smaller than our bedrooms

Plan of the house tablinum: study at the back of the atrium

Plan of the house peristylium: colonnaded walkway around the hortus: garden

Plan of the house triclinium: dining room Winter triclinium off the atrium Summer triclinium off the peristylium

Plan of the house culina: kitchen off the peristylium

Plan of the house latrina: bathroom Right next to the kitchen

Not like our houses… Houses were not private places only for family and close friends Business and social life conducted at home Visitors received in the atrium Close business friends and high-ranking individuals were invited to dine in the triclinium

Something to remember Only the very wealthy lived like this Everyone else lived in insulae: apartment buildings Meet the Romans with Mary Beard Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFw8M4PBUI 2:00-4:05, 7:23-13:33