Chapter 5 Where they lived.

Focus After this presentation you will be able to talk about the types of Roman housing as well as various rooms in the dwellings.

Variety The Romans, like any civilization, had a variety of dwellings that varied in quality. The Romans had sprawling estates, town house and apartments. Naturally the quality of the dwellings was related to the wealth of the person living there. Many of the estate owners also had townhouses in the nearest city, so the “farming” estates were like a vacation home might be for us today.

The Villa  The Romans idolized farming and considered it an admirable hobby. Thus the most wealthy could have “second” homes on “farms”.  The villa could range from a sprawling estate with many building and vast fields bringing in a tidy income to a modest house with a garden. Villa Rustica

The Villa  Farming was considered the truly respectable way to earn a living, but it was so admired that having a small villa with just a garden was a relaxing escape from the city.  Remember that these villas were for the wealthiest Romans and often were a source of income. If that seems at all strange, just think compare it to the modern beach house. It is a place to go and relax, but can also be rented out for an income. Hadrian’s Villa

The Domus  Townhouses were single- family dwellings along the city streets.  They are distinguished by their linear nature; that is the rooms were all in a line. Perhaps they could be compared to the modern day “ranch” style of house. In which the rooms are centralized around a main hall or set of rooms (like the living room and kitchen).

The Domus  Townhouses came directly up to the sidewalk with no “yard”; but rather a garden contained within the walls of the home at the rear of the house.  The owners of townhouse were wealthy. The domus may have been the main home occupied when the owner had business or political matter which needed his attention, or it could be the only residence.

The Insulae  The masses of Rome need to live in multi-family dwellings, or apartment buildings.  Apartment buildings could be arranged around a central courtyard that would let in light or have a water source. left: a thermopolium above: a public toilet

The Insulae  Apartment buildings were not well constructed. At one point they were so prone to collapse or fire, that they were limited to 3 stories and fire regulations had to be created.  For the Romans, the best apartments were the ones on the ground floor or the first floor with dwellings. (Sometimes, the first floor would be rented out as shops.) The worst and least expensive apartments were the ones at the top, since there were more stairs to climb and the most dangerous.

The Common Bonds There were some rooms that were standard in the Roman house.  Atrium: was a living room and a reception room in which visitors were received.  Tablinum: was like a home office.  Peristylum: colonnaded courtyard that was the last in the line or axis central to the house. above: atrium with impluvium right: peristylum with piscina surrounded by hortus

The Common Bonds  Triclinium: the dinning room. While it was a room on the side on the axis, it was still so important that there may have been more than one.  One dining room would be inside for winter dining and possibly another off the courtyard for summer dining.  The Romans often entertained with dinner parties, so this was a key room in the house. triclinium with couches triclinium with frescoe

The Common Bonds  Cubiculum: bedroom  Ianua: front door through which a Roman entered his house.  Hortus: garden (These gardens were mostly floral and not vegetable and was the only “yard” a Roman would have. ) cubiculum hortus inside a peristylum

The Extras atrium with the impluvium roped off and the sun shining through the compluvium piscina culina lararium

Rooms LATINENGLISHLATINENGLISH Atriumreception/living roomAlaside/storage rooms Tablinumstudy/officeLarariumshrine for the Lares Tricliniumdinning roomVomitorium Peristylumcolonnaded courtyardImpluviumshallow basin for rainwater TabernaeshopsCompluviumhole in roof to direct water Faucesentrance/foyerto the impluvium CulinakitchenAndronhallway Ianuafront doorPosticumback door CubiculumbedroomLatrinatoilet Hortusgarden (often in the center of the peristylum. Piscinafishpond (could replace a hortus) Exhedraroom near garden off the peristylum, maybe for dinning Oecuslike an exhedra but with column interior columns

Sample Plan of a Roman House Aatriumreception area/living room Alala"wings" opening from atrium Ccubiculumsmall room; bedroom Cuculinakitchen Eexedragarden room Pperistyliumcolonnaded garden Ttabernashop Tatablinumoffice; study Tritricliniumdining room Vfaucesentrance/foyer

Exterior Design  Roman townhouses (domus) came right up to the sidewalk.  The rear of the house was designed to have the central part without a roof to allow for the courtyard.  The courtyard in the rear and the compluvium in the front provided much needed light.  Windows were placed high up to discourage thieves, as glass was reserved only for the wealthiest people.  In all, the outside of a Roman house was unattractive and uninviting.

Interior Decoration  The Romans apparently used a minimum of furniture.  They used tripod stools, but bedrooms often only contained the bed and maybe a table used as a nightstand.  The lararium (shrine) was really a cabinet serving as an altar at which the family worshiped the Lares (household gods). lararium Roman bed

Interior Decoration  The Romans would paint directly on the walls and several styles of paintings have been identified.  Frescos were painted while the plaster was still wet  Tempura was painting on dry plaster.  Subjects for the paintings often included scenes from the country or mythology.  The Romans also used mosaics to decorate their floors. The mosaics could range from simple black and white geometrical designs to more elaborate scenes from mythology.

The Basics The Romans had a variety of dwellings that varied depending on status, just as today. The villas were owned by the most wealthy citizens; the individual domus were owned by the wealthy while the masses lived in insulae or apartment buildings. Roman houses contained a few common elements such as the atrium, tablinum, peristylum or hortus, triclinium, cubiculum and ianua. When it came to pleasing the eye, the Romans concentrated on the interior of the home. The outside appearance was both unattractive and uninviting, while the inside could contain elaborate paintings and mosaics.

Assessment You will need to study the names of the rooms and their English counter parts in order to be successful on the quiz. The quiz is matching with some multiple choice.