1. Roman Houses

2. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. Plan of the house
culina: kitchen
off the peristylium

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

22. 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

23. 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
2:00-4:05, 7:23-13:33