Roman house

For wealthy Romans, family life unfolded in spacious luxurious houses whose rooms were arranged around open-air spaces.

bed chamber

Sleeping chamber whose only piece of furniture usually consisted of a bed made of wood or masonry.

mosaic

Collection of small fragments (e.g., stone, marble, terra-cotta) held together by mortar; it depicts a motif, and sometimes even very elaborate scenes.

latrines

Small comfortable room featuring a stone or marble bench with a crescent-shaped opening, connected to a waste channel with running water.

kitchen

Room where meals were prepared.

dining room

Dining area containing three beds arranged in a U shape that Romans would stretch out on while eating.

garden

Plot of land used to grow vegetables and decorated with flowers, shrubs, fountains and so forth.

peristyle

Colonnade surrounding the inner court.

shop

On the street side, the Roman house often included commercial spaces that were rented out to artisans and tradesmen.

impluvium

Basin in the central part of the atrium to receive rainwater.

atrium

The main room in the house; its central part was exposed to the open air to collect rainwater and let sunlight in.

vestibule

Entrance to the house that acted as the passage from public life to private life.

tile

Hard surface, usually made of baked molded clay, used as a covering for roofs.

fresco

Large mural painting that decorated the walls of houses during antiquity.

compluvium

Aperture built into the atrium roof to let rainwater pour into the impluvium.

tablinum

Hall separating the peristyle from the atrium.

timber

Framework of beams that supports the roof of the building and provides stability.