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Aa Latin/history suprset > Roman House > Flashcards

Roman House Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a vestibulum?

A

Open courtyard between the street and the door to the house

This area serves as a transition space from public to private.

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2
Q

Define östium/ianua.

A

Door or doorway; doors had one huge cylindrical hinge

This term highlights the architectural elements of Roman homes.

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3
Q

What are fauces?

A

Passage or entrance to the atrium

This area connects the outside with the main living space.

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4
Q

What is an atrium?

A

Main room or center of the house

The atrium is a crucial social and living space in Roman architecture.

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5
Q

What is an impluvium?

A

Large basin for collecting rainwater that fell from the compluvium

The compluvium is a hole in the roof that allows light to pass through.

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6
Q

What is a tablinum?

A

Master’s study; separated from atrium by curtains and the peristylum by folding doors

This space is dedicated to the master’s work and privacy.

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7
Q

What is an andron?

A

Passage between the atrium and the peristylum; avoids the tablinum

This design ensures privacy for the master.

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8
Q

Define peristylium.

A

Large open courtyard surrounded by columns

This area often serves as a garden or additional living space.

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9
Q

What is a taberna?

A

Shop where the household sold goods

These shops were often part of the household and served the local community.

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10
Q

What is a cubiculum diurnum?

A

Bedroom for midday siesta

This reflects the Roman practice of resting during the hottest part of the day.

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11
Q

What is a cubiculum nocturnum or dormitorium?

A

Small bedroom or sleeping quarter

This space is typically used for night-time rest.

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12
Q

What does ala mean in Roman architecture?

A

“Wing”; had no door between it and the atrium

This space often contained imagines, or wax busts of the family’s ancestors.

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13
Q

What is a latrina?

A

Bathroom; always next to culina

The proximity to the kitchen emphasizes practical design in Roman homes.

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14
Q

What is a culina?

A

Kitchen; place for slaves to cook, always on wing of peristylum on the side of the andron

This reflects the social hierarchy and organization of space in Roman houses.

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15
Q

What is a triclinium?

A

Dining room with three couches; customary to have several for the change of seasons

This space is designed for social gatherings and meals.

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16
Q

What is an exedra?

A

A large room on the side of the peristylum opposite the atrium that contained permanent seats for lectures.

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17
Q

What are oeci?

A

Extra rooms used as halls, saloons, parlors, drawing rooms, banquet halls, or reception rooms.

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18
Q

What are diaetae?

A

Outdoor rooms for relaxation.

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19
Q

What is a solarium?

A

A room for sun bathing.

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20
Q

What is a sacrarium?

A

A room or private chapel with a shrine to the gods for worship.

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21
Q

What is a hortus?

A

A garden.

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22
Q

What is a xystus?

A

A formal elaborate garden.

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23
Q

What are cellae servorum?

A

Slave quarters (usually on the wings of the peristylum).

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24
Q

What is a limen?

A

A threshold.

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25
Q

What is a maenianum?

A

An extension of story over another - a balcony.

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26
Q

What are pondera?

A

Stepping stones from the street to the house.

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27
Q

What is a Tuscanicum atrium?

A

An atrium with a roof formed by two pairs of beams crossing each other at right angles to form a square hole (compluvium) with no columns.

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28
Q

What is a tetrastylon atrium?

A

An atrium where beams of the roof were supported by four pillars or columns at each angle.

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29
Q

What is a Corinthium atrium?

A

An atrium where beams of the roof were supported by more than four columns.

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30
Q

What is a displuvinatum atrium?

A

An atrium with a roof sloped outward to gutters for catching rain water but still had a compluvium.

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31
Q

What is a testudinätum atrium?

A

An atrium with no impluvium or compluvium, probably used windows in the alae.

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32
Q

What is an ianua?

A

A door.

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33
Q

What is an ostium?

A

A front door.

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34
Q

What is a ianuarius/ostiarius?

A

A doorkeeper.

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35
Q

What are forēs?

A

Double doors.

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36
Q

What is the term for a back or side door?

A

posticum

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37
Q

What does ‘fax, facis, f.’ refer to?

A

torch of inflammable wood and oil kept near the door

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38
Q

What are ‘pessuli’?

A

bolts

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39
Q

What are ‘serae’ used for?

A

bars for fastening doors

40
Q

What is the Latin term for couch or bed?

A

lectus/torus

41
Q

What is a ‘fulcrum’ in the context of furniture?

A

bed post - detachable head or elbow rest

42
Q

What is a ‘lectus adversus’?

A

marriage couch in atrium opposite the ostium

43
Q

What does ‘pulvinus’ mean?

A

pillow or cushion

44
Q

What is the function of a ‘scamnum’?

A

foot stool used to reach the bed

45
Q

What is a ‘sedile’?

A

seat with four legs and no back

46
Q

What is a ‘sella’?

A

stool for one person

47
Q

What is the meaning of ‘subsellium’?

A

sella for more than one person (bench)

48
Q

What is a ‘sella curulis’?

A

“curule seat” with curved legs of ivory that could be folded up

49
Q

What does ‘solium’ refer to?

A

up-right, high-backed chair with solid arms

50
Q

What is the meaning of ‘cathedra’?

A

chair with a curved back and no arms

51
Q

What distinguishes a ‘cathedra supina’?

A

chair with no arms and a back that was slanted at a comfortable angle

52
Q

What is the Latin term for table?

A

mensa

53
Q

What is a monopödium?

A

A small table with one leg

This type of table is characterized by its single-leg structure.

54
Q

Define abacus in the context of Roman furniture.

A

A rectangular table with a raised rim for holding plates and dishes

The raised rim helps to prevent items from sliding off.

55
Q

What is a mensa delphica?

A

A table with three legs

This design provides stability on uneven surfaces.

56
Q

What does sigma refer to?

A

A semicircular dining couch

This type of furniture was common in Roman dining settings.

57
Q

What is a lucerna?

A

A Roman lamp that used oil

The term ‘lampas’ refers to the Greek equivalent.

58
Q

What is a candelabrum?

A

Used to hold several lucernae

Originally meant for ‘candelae’ or candles.

59
Q

What is a lychnus?

A

A torch or lamp that usually hung from the ceiling

This type of lighting was common in ancient Roman homes.

60
Q

Define föculus.

A

A large metal stove that held coal

It had large handles for carrying from room to room for warmth.

61
Q

What is an armarium?

A

A cabinet or cupboard used as a closet

This piece of furniture was essential for storage.

62
Q

What does arca refer to?

A

A strongbox or chest kept in the tablinum

Typically used for storing valuables.

63
Q

What is a hörologium?

A

A clock

This device was used to keep track of time.

64
Q

What is a solärium?

A

A sundial brought from Greece in 268 BC

An early device for measuring time based on sunlight.

65
Q

What is a gnomon?

A

The staff on the sundial

It casts a shadow to indicate the time.

66
Q

Define clepsydra.

A

A water clock

It allowed water to pass through at a certain rate to tell time.

67
Q

What are laterēs crudi?

A

Unburned bricks used for walls

These bricks were common in ancient construction.

68
Q

What is opus quadratum?

A

Use of large dressed stone laid out in horizontal rectangular courses

This technique is still used in modern wall construction.

69
Q

What is opus africanum?

A

Use of massive horizontal and vertical dressed blocks of smaller blocks

This construction method was notable in Roman architecture.

70
Q

What does opus caementicium refer to?

A

Use of concrete mostly in Classical times

It was a significant advancement in building materials.

71
Q

Define lapis Putedanus.

A

Volcanic ash or lime used to make concrete

It was a critical ingredient in Roman concrete.

72
Q

What type of bricks are laterēs cocti?

A

Triangular burnt bricks

These bricks accompanied cement walls and formed the core of constructions.

73
Q

What is opus testaecum?

A

Use of a concrete core wall with brick or tile facing

This technique provided both strength and aesthetic quality to walls.

74
Q

What does opus reticulatum refer to?

A

Net-like work using bricks of equal shape and size

Opus reticulatum is a Roman building technique characterized by a reticulated pattern of bricks.

75
Q

Define opus vittatum.

A

Use of long and short masonry blocks on walls

Opus vittatum is a method of wall construction using alternating lengths of masonry.

76
Q

What is opus vermiculatum?

A

Mosaic on the interior of walls

This technique involves intricate designs created with small pieces of colored materials.

77
Q

What are tesserae?

A

Pieces of glass used in a mosaic

Tesserae are often used to create decorative patterns in mosaics.

78
Q

What does fenestra mean?

A

Window or hole in the wall

Fenestra refers to any opening that allows light and air into a structure.

79
Q

What are iunctae?

A

Closed shutters over tiny windows

Iunctae serve to cover and protect small openings in a building.

80
Q

What are tegulae?

A

Subrectangular, slightly tapering tiles for roofing

Tegulae are traditional roofing tiles used in Roman architecture.

81
Q

What are imbrices?

A

Tubes cut in half lengthways for covering flanges on the sides of the tegulae

Imbrices are used in conjunction with tegulae to create a waterproof roofing system.

82
Q

What do lacus/lacunae refer to?

A

Decorated roof tiles

Lacus or lacunae are ornamental tiles that enhance the aesthetic of roofs.

83
Q

What is pavimentum?

A

Floors of the poor made of stones, bricks, and tiles pounded together

Pavimentum represents the simplest form of flooring in Roman homes.

84
Q

What was the purpose of a furnace with pipes under the floor?

A

To heat rooms with chimneys

This heating system is an early form of central heating used in Roman architecture.

85
Q

What does opus sectile refer to?

A

Patterned floor surfacing

Opus sectile involves cutting and fitting pieces of colored stone to create decorative floor patterns.

86
Q

What is opus signinum?

A

Waterproof lining for cisterns

This technique was used to ensure that water storage systems remained watertight.

87
Q

Who are larēs et penates?

A

Household gods (lar: cupboard god; penates: gods of ancestors)

These deities were worshipped in the home for protection and blessings.

88
Q

What is opus signinum?

A

Waterproof lining for cisterns

Opus signinum is a construction technique used in ancient Rome to create waterproof structures.

89
Q

What do larēs et penates represent?

A

Household gods

Larēs are associated with the protection of the household, while penates are connected to the ancestors.

90
Q

What are dining couches in the triclinium called?

A

Lecti tricliniares

These couches were used during Roman dining to recline while eating.

91
Q

What does locus summus mean?

A

The highest place

This term refers to the most honored seating position in a dining setting.

92
Q

What does locus medius mean?

A

The middle place

This term refers to the intermediate seating position in a dining setting.

93
Q

What does locus imus mean?

A

The lowest place

This term refers to the least honored seating position in a dining setting.

94
Q

What is locus consularis?

A

Place of honor for the consul

This refers to the locus imus of the lectus medius, indicating the consul’s respected position.

95
Q

In a dining setting, where does the host sit in relation to the consul?

A

Next to the consul in the locus summus of the lectus imus

This arrangement signifies the importance of both the host and the consul during meals.

Aa Latin/history suprset (33 decks)

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