AEDĒS RŌMĀNAE (THE ROMAN HOUSE)

PARTS OF A ROMAN HOUSE ianua door ātrium atrium, main hall and reception room, often containing the larārium (shrine to the household gods) compluvium opening in the roof through which rain entered the ātrium impluvium pool in the middle of the ātrium to collect rainwater tablīnum room between the ātrium and peristȳlium used as a study peristȳlium garden courtyard at rear of the house (or just hortus, garden) trīclīnium dining room (literally `three-couch room’), which opened onto the garden in the peristȳlium culīna kitchen cubiculum bedroom

FURTHER INFORMATION Houses like the one illustrated contained a wealthy family with its slaves. Apart from the main door, and perhaps a back entrance, it was completely sealed off by its walls and light and air was provided by the inner courtyards. However, rooms at the front opening onto the street were let out as shops. The poorer citizens of Rome lived in īnsulae (literally `islands’) which were apartment blocks up to 7-storeys high