Chapter 5

Where they lived.

FocusAfter this presentation you will be

able to talk about the types of Roman housing as well as various rooms in the dwellings.

VarietyThe 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 VillaFarming 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 DomusTownhouses 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 InsulaeThe 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 BondsThere 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 BondsTriclinium: 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 BondsCubiculum: bedroomIanua: 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 Extrasatrium with the impluvium roped off and the sun shining through the compluvium

piscina

culina

lararium

RoomsLATIN ENGLISH LATIN ENGLISH

Atrium reception/living room Ala side/storage rooms

Tablinum study/office Lararium shrine for the Lares

Triclinium dinning room Vomitorium

Peristylum colonnaded courtyard Impluvium shallow basin for rainwater

Tabernae shops Compluvium hole in roof to direct water

Fauces entrance/foyer to the impluvium

Culina kitchen Andron hallway

Ianua front door Posticum back door

Cubiculum bedroom Latrina toilet

Hortus garden (often in the center of the peristylum.

Piscina fishpond (could replace a hortus)

Exhedra room near garden off the peristylum, maybe for dinning

Oecus like an exhedra but with column interior columns

Sample Plan of a Roman House

A atrium reception area/living roomAl ala "wings" opening from atriumC cubiculum small room; bedroomCu culina kitchenE exedra garden roomP peristylium colonnaded gardenT taberna shopTa tablinum office; studyTri triclinium dining roomV fauces entrance/foyer

http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/house.html

Exterior DesignRoman 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).

larariumRoman bed

Interior DecorationThe 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 BasicsThe 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.