Parts Of An Ancient Roman House! Flashcards
Where did most patricians live?
In a domus or a villa
Where did most plebians live?
In insulae
What were domus?
Large houses in the city
Where were villas?
Large houses in the countryside
What were insulae?
Compact apartment blocks in the city
How many main parts did a domus have?
11
What was a facade?
The white, outside walls of a domus. It had a coloured panel along the bottom and windows above street level to block burglars, sun, smells and noise.
What was a vestibulum?
This was a long narrow corridor between the front door ,used by the owner and guests, to the atrium. The floor was decorated with mosaics, with phrases such as “greetings”.
What was an atrium?
The atrium was an area where the master would greet clients, guests and host family events.
What was a compluvium?
An opening in the atrium ceiling that let in light and directed rainwater through animal shaped spouts, the water would fall into a shallow pool.
What was an impluvium?
A shallow pool in the floor of the atrium that collected rainwater and cooled the room. Once the water reached a certain height it was drain into tanks to be used later.
What were tabernae?
These were two rooms at the front of the domus, typically rented out as tabernae or shops. There was access to these rooms from inside the house, instead they had separate doors on the street.
What was the cubiculum?
These were rooms around the atriums usually used as bedrooms, they often had no windows and were furnished with only a chest and bed.
What were alae?
Beyond the atrium and cubiculum, there were two “wings” called alae.
What was the tablinum?
This was a room at the end of the atrium that was open on two sides, that could be closed with curtains. Family records and money was stored here. The paterfamilias also met clients in this room. It had the most beautiful mosaics.
What was the culina?
This was the kitchen in a domus, it had no set location. The culina was dark and smoky so only slaves cooked there. It hada sink, oven and metal grids with embers for heating pots.
Where were toilets?
Usually beside the kitchen, it was a wooden seat built over a pit which led to a section under the house or in the street.
What was the triclinium?
This was the dining room, it had three couches, each holding three people, around the three sides of a table. The couches were wooden, cushioned and often decorated with bronze. They had mosaic floors. Most houses had a winter one and a summer one opening to the garden.
What was a peristyle?
This was a garden inside the domus. It had shaded colonnades on all sides. These gardens often featured flowers, shrubs, statues, fish ponds, fountains and marble discs that spun in the breeze, reflecting sunlight.
What was an exedra?
This was a large elegant room located off the peristyle. It was used for formal entertainment and lavish dinner parties.
What was hypocaust?
A central heating system which heated air under the floor using a furnace, it kept the house warm for hours.
How was lighting provided?
Through candles or oil lamps
How did oil lamps work?
Oil was pored through a hole, so it soaked the wicks, fueling the flame. Many of these were needed to light a room.
What was an apartment in an insulae called?
A cenacula
