Academics Lesson VI—Customs

Question 1

What is the Latin term for “house”?

Answer 1

domus

Fun Fact: The Roman house (domus) in very early times consisted of one room, the ātrium. Over time the domus expanded to include several different rooms, some of which are common to us and some which are peculiar to the Romans.

Question 2

What is the Latin term for the main room of a Roman domus, a room which originally was the only room of the house?

Answer 2

ātrium

Fun Fact: The Roman house (domus) in very early times consisted of one room, the ātrium. Over time the domus expanded to include several different rooms, some of which are common to us and some which are peculiar to the Romans.

Question 3

In a Roman domus, which room is the kitchen?

Answer 3

culīna

Fun Fact: The Roman house (domus) in very early times consisted of one room, the ātrium. Over time the domus expanded to include several different rooms, some of which are common to us and some which are peculiar to the Romans. For instance, the Roman house included a kitchen (culīna), bedrooms (cubicula), and a dining room (trīclīnium).

Question 4

In a Roman domus, which room is the bedroom?

Answer 4

cubiculum

Fun Fact: The Roman house (domus) in very early times consisted of one room, the ātrium. Over time the domus expanded to include several different rooms, some of which are common to us and some which are peculiar to the Romans. For instance, the Roman house included a kitchen (culīna), bedrooms (cubicula), and a dining room (trīclīnium). The Roman trīclīnium was slightly different from our dining room. In the trīclīnium were three couches (lectī). The Romans would eat while reclining on their left elbow on these lectī. In the center of the ātrium was a fountain, called the impluvium. The impluvium would receive rain water which fell through a hole in the ceiling called the compluvium. Attached to the ātrium were the alae (wings or alcoves) where Roman families kept their imāginēs (wax busts of the family’s ancestors). Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium. Other rooms in the house included a front door (ostium) and a backdoor (posticum), an entrance way from the street (vestibulum) and a foyer area or faucēs.

Question 5

In a Roman domus, which room is the dining room?

Answer 5

trīclīnium

Fun Fact: The Roman house (domus) in very early times consisted of one room, the ātrium. Over time the domus expanded to include several different rooms, some of which are common to us and some which are peculiar to the Romans. For instance, the Roman house included a kitchen (culīna), bedrooms (cubicula), and a dining room (trīclīnium). The Roman trīclīnium was slightly different from our dining room. In the trīclīnium were three couches (lectī). The Romans would eat while reclining on their left elbow on these lectī.

Question 6

In a Roman ātrium, what is the impluvium?

Answer 6

fountain / small pool which would receive rain water through a hole in the ceiling

Fun Fact: In the center of the ātrium was a fountain, called the impluvium. The impluvium would receive rain water which fell through a hole in the ceiling called the compluvium.

Question 7

In a Roman ātrium, what is the co**mpluvium?

Answer 7

a hole in the ceiling where water falls into the i**mpluvium

Fun Fact: In the center of the ātrium was a fountain, called the impluvium. The impluvium would receive rain water which fell through a hole in the ceiling called the compluvium.

Question 8

In a Roman domus, what are the wings that stemmed off the ātrium?

Answer 8

alae

Fun Fact: In the center of the ātrium was a fountain, called the impluvium. The impluvium would receive rain water which fell through a hole in the ceiling called the compluvium. Attached to the ātrium were the alae (wings or alcoves) where Roman families kept their imāginēs (wax busts of the family’s ancestors).

Question 9

Kept in the Roman alae, what are the imāginēs?

Answer 9

wax busts of the family ancestors

Fun Fact: In the center of the ātrium was a fountain, called the impluvium. The impluvium would receive rain water which fell through a hole in the ceiling called the compluvium. Attached to the ātrium were the alae (wings or alcoves) where Roman families kept their imāginēs (wax busts of the family’s ancestors).

Question 10

In a Roman domus, which room is the master’s study?

Answer 10

tablīnium

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study.

Question 11

In a Roman tablīnium, what name is given to the chest where Romans would keep important documents?

Answer 11

arca

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca.

Question 12

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the garden?

Answer 12

hortus

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium.

Question 13

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the hortus that is surrounded by columns?

Answer 13

peristylium

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium.

Question 14

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the front door?

Answer 14

ostium

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium. Other rooms in the house included a front door (ostium) and a backdoor (posticum), an entrance way from the street (vestibulum) and a foyer area or faucēs.

Question 15

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the back door?

Answer 15

posticum

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium. Other rooms in the house included a front door (ostium) and a backdoor (posticum), an entrance way from the street (vestibulum) and a foyer area or faucēs.

Question 16

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the entryway from the street?

Answer 16

vestibulum

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium. Other rooms in the house included a front door (ostium) and a backdoor (posticum), an entrance way from the street (vestibulum) and a foyer area or faucēs.

Question 17

In a Roman domus, what is the name given to the foyer areas in the house?

Answer 17

faucēs

Fun Fact: Each house had a tablīnum which served as the master’s study. The head of the house would keep important documents in the tablīnum in a chest called the arca. The Roman house also featured an open courtyard behind the tablīnum which contained a garden (hortus) with columns surrounding it called the peristylium. Other rooms in the house included a front door (ostium) and a backdoor (posticum), an entrance way from the street (vestibulum) and a foyer area or faucēs.

Question 18

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 11.

Answer 18

cubiculum

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 19

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 4.

Answer 19

faucēs

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 20

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 15.

Answer 20

culīna

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 21

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 3.

Answer 21

vestibulum

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 22

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 8.

Answer 22

tablīnum

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 23

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 10.

Answer 23

taberna

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 24

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 6.

Answer 24

ala(e)

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 25

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 13.

Answer 25

posticum

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 26

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 5.

Answer 26

impluvium

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 27

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 7.

Answer 27

trīclinium

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 28

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 9.

Answer 28

exedra

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 29

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 12.

Answer 29

andron

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 30

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 2.

Answer 30

peristylium

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 31

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 14.

Answer 31

latrina

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.

Question 32

Identify the part of the house marked with the number 1.

Answer 32

Ātrium

Fun Fact: Here are all of the locations listed.