The Roman Villa

“Man who lives in the city longs for the informality of country living, the healthfulness of the air, the opportunity for exercise, especially hunting and fishing in a place which offers undisturbed intellectual and creative activities, leisurely conversation with friends and the delights of contemplating the natural and cultivated landscape in different seasons and conditions.” -Virgil, 70 BCE – 19 BCE Traditional Roman houses as we know it are believed to originate from a desire to enjoy the country life. In order to have this “perceived” rural life, the ancient “domus” or house borrowed an architectural style known as the Greek peristyle house. Villa Poppaea, between Naples and Sorrento

First, the houses came right up to the sidewalk with no lawn. The Roman home, or domus, is both similar and yet strikingly different to our houses today. First, the houses came right up to the sidewalk with no lawn. Second, windows were few, small, and placed fairly high. They never had doors but curtains to cover doorways. Third, houses were usually one story high – sometimes with rare second floors. Windows were placed high in order to let light in and keep heat out in the summer. Large windows would have made it different to regulate temperature. It was not very pretty on the outside with high windows.

The house was usually separated into two equal size parts, often with the “public” and “personal” sides of the house. The main entrance would face the street. There were typically shops, tabernae, that sit on either side of this entrance hall or faucēs. They were often operated or rented by the domus occupant.

What else would you find in the atrium? -lararium After passing through the ianua, you would enter into the atrium, which was typically the most impressive room used for family occasions and receiving visitors. In the center, the roof would slope down into a large square opening known as the compluvium. Air and light would stream into the room. Any water would collect into a shallow impluvium. What else would you find in the atrium? -lararium -portraits, statues, bronze lampshades, marble tables Though this is not true for all impluviums, the impluvium would be made with both porous and non-porous stone/rock that would allow the water to drain into a cistern, or a storage container, which would then be used within the household.

One of the most striking things about the atrium was the sense of space. The high roof with the glimpse of the sky, the large floor area, and the absence of furnishings gave it a huge impression. The floor would be paved with marble or mosaics, and colorful panels with brightly painted plaster decorated the walls. They liked red, orange, and blue. The walls were often decorated with scenes from stories, like Greek myths.

The bedrooms, cubiculum, were often found to the right and left of the atrium. The Romans did not sleep in beds but on couches.

Straight ahead of the atrium would be the tablinum Straight ahead of the atrium would be the tablinum. The triclinium would be the side of the office. Narrow hallways would run parallel to this study and would lead into the second half of the house. Continuing through the hallway would lead you to the peristylium, which was made up of a colonnade of pillars surrounding an open-air hortus. Surrounding this part of the house would be the culina, the summer triclinium, the latrina, servants’ quarters, and storage rooms. The garden was laid out with flowers, shrubs in a very careful plan. There were fishponds, fountains with streaming water, marble statues, and small pieces of furniture.

Houses were not expected or made for privacy Houses were not expected or made for privacy. A lot of the “master’s” business would be conducted at home, where he would receive clients and visitors. They often would be invited into the tablinum or receive invitations to dine in the triclinium or into the peristylium.

Rich v. Poor Not all Romans lived in the country-longing domus – the typical town houses we see frequently were for the wealthy. The poor, however, lived in apartments known as insulae or “islands”. They were multiple level apartment buildings that often were comprised of one or two rooms per family and had very little amenities.

A mosaic. a tablinum A fishpond.