Customs: The Roman House

Question 1

tablinum

Answer 1

master’s study

Question 2

culina

Answer 2

kitchen

Question 3

valvae

Answer 3

folding doors separating the tablinum from the peristylum

Question 4

compluvium

Answer 4

hole in the roof of the atrium through which rain falls into the impluvium

Question 5

taberna

Answer 5

shop where the household sold goods to other citizens

Question 6

atrium

Answer 6

main room of the house

Question 7

imagines

Answer 7

wax busts of family’s ancestors

Question 8

alae

Answer 8

“wings” off the atrium

Question 9

hortus

Answer 9

garden

Question 10

ianua

Answer 10

door

Question 11

vestibulum

Answer 11

open courtyard between the street and the door

Question 12

andron

Answer 12

passage between the atrium and the peristylum

Question 13

triclinium

Answer 13

dining room with three couches

Question 14

cubiculum

Answer 14

bedroom

Question 15

latrina

Answer 15

bathroom

Question 16

solarium (room)

Answer 16

room for sunbathing

Question 17

peristylum

Answer 17

large open courtyard surrounded by columns

Question 18

Where were the imagines held?

Answer 18

in the alae

Question 19

bibliotheca

Answer 19

library

Question 20

ostium

Answer 20

front door

Question 21

impluvium

Answer 21

large basin for collecting rainwater in the atrium

Question 22

What were the characteristics of the displuvinatum atrium?

Answer 22

Roof sloped outward to gutters (imbrices) to catch water rather than into an impluvium; still had a compluvium

Question 23

What kind of seat was a sella curulis?

Answer 23

chair where magistrates would sit

Question 24

ianuarius

Answer 24

doorkeeper

Question 25

What kind of seat was a sella?

Answer 25

stool for one person

Question 26

How many lecti were in the triclinium

Answer 26

3

Question 27

mensa

Answer 27

table

Question 28

arca

Answer 28

chest kept in the tablinum with documents

Question 29

horologium

Answer 29

clock

Question 30

tegulae

Answer 30

roof tiles

Question 31

solarium (not the room)

Answer 31

sundial

Question 32

In what seat on what couch would the host sit during a dinner party in the triclinium?

Answer 32

locus summus on the lectus imus

Question 33

What were the characteristics of the testudinatum atrium?

Answer 33

No impluvium or compluvium

Question 34

pulvinus

Answer 34

pillow/cushion

Question 35

clepsydra

Answer 35

water clock

Question 36

Who were the households gods?

Answer 36

lares (cupboards) & penates (ancestors)

Question 37

What kind of seat was a cathedra?

Answer 37

chair with a curved back & no arms

Question 38

posticum

Answer 38

back/side door

Question 39

What were the characteristics of the Tuscanicum atrium?

Answer 39

No columns; square compluvium

Question 40

The guest of honor (usually the consul) sat in the locus consularis. What seat on what couch was the locus consularis?

Answer 40

locus imus on the lectus medius

Question 41

What kind of seat was a sedile?

Answer 41

seat with four legs & no back

Question 42

What were the characteristics of the Corinthium atrium?

Answer 42

It had more than four columns

Question 43

imbrices

Answer 43

gutters

Question 44

What were the characteristics of the tetrastylon atrium?

Answer 44

It had four columns

Question 45

fores

Answer 45

double doors

Question 46

ostiarius

Answer 46

doorkeeper

Question 47

lectus

Answer 47

couch (or bed)