Domus RomanaDomus Romana

Latin I Culture LessonLatin I Culture Lesson

Types of ResidencesTypes of Residences

Insula- Apartment complex. Could take Insula- Apartment complex. Could take up a city block, hence the relation to up a city block, hence the relation to “island.”“island.”

Villa- House in the country. Usually very Villa- House in the country. Usually very large, often attached to a farm. large, often attached to a farm.

Domus- City house. Could be one or two Domus- City house. Could be one or two stories tall.stories tall.

Rooms of the HouseRooms of the House

Tabernae- shops. Many houses used or Tabernae- shops. Many houses used or rented out this space, which would face rented out this space, which would face the street.the street.

Vestibulum- Entryway. Today, houses Vestibulum- Entryway. Today, houses have a similar part called a “vestibule.”have a similar part called a “vestibule.”

Atrium- first major room of the house. Atrium- first major room of the house. Originally the dining room, later just the Originally the dining room, later just the entry room.entry room.

Parts of the AtriumParts of the Atrium

Impluvium- a pool in the center of the Impluvium- a pool in the center of the atrium, used to collect rain water. A drain atrium, used to collect rain water. A drain leads to a basin underneath to hold the leads to a basin underneath to hold the excess water.excess water.

Compluvium- a hole in the roof over the Compluvium- a hole in the roof over the impluviumimpluvium to allow in rain water. to allow in rain water.

Lararium- shrine to the Lararium- shrine to the lareslares (household (household gods). Also found in the gods). Also found in the alae.alae.

Rooms of the HouseRooms of the House

Cubiculum- bedroom. Often in different Cubiculum- bedroom. Often in different parts of the house to separate males, parts of the house to separate males, females, and slaves.females, and slaves.

Alae- wings or alcoves. Could house the Alae- wings or alcoves. Could house the larariumlararium..

Tablinum- father’s study. Here he met Tablinum- father’s study. Here he met with his with his clientes clientes during the daily during the daily salutatio.salutatio.

Rooms of the HouseRooms of the House

Triclinium- literally means “three Triclinium- literally means “three couches.” Dining room of the house, couches.” Dining room of the house, often attached to the often attached to the culinaculina

Culina- kitchen. Usually in the rear of the Culina- kitchen. Usually in the rear of the house.house.

Peristylium- Garden with colonnaded Peristylium- Garden with colonnaded walkway surrounding it. Often very walkway surrounding it. Often very elaborate.elaborate.

Extra TouchesExtra Touches

Bibliotecha- libraryBibliotecha- library Balneum- small bathBalneum- small bath Fountains and small pondsFountains and small ponds Elaborate wall paintings, mosaics, Elaborate wall paintings, mosaics,

statuary, art, and furniturestatuary, art, and furniture Extra dining space in peristyliumExtra dining space in peristylium Indoor plumbing for bathroomIndoor plumbing for bathroom

Scenes of the AtriumScenes of the Atrium

This famous mosaic of Alexander the Great vs. Darius of Persia graces the floor of the entrance to a house in Pompeii.

Scenes of the AtriumScenes of the Atrium

A rather ornate atrium, you can see the elaborate mosaic floor and some remnants of the frescoes (wall paintings). In the center is the impluvium, and you can see light coming in from the compluvium above. Note also the stairs on the right leading to a second floor.

Scenes of the AtriumScenes of the Atrium

This view from the entrance of the house looks through the atrium and the tablinum and into the peristylium in the background. This view highlights the hole of the compluvium, opening over a very shallow impluvium.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

Artists rendering of a cubiculum. Note the colorful, detailed fresco on the back wall and the ornate mosaic floor. Also, this window would have been one of very few in the house. Most light came in through the compluvium and the open-roofed peristylium.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

Two types of lararia. The left one is a small niche lararium, possibly set into a wall of the atrium. The larger one on the right is in the peristylium of the house, an uncommon place for it. Here the family, led by their father, would gather daily for prayer to the lar, an ancestral spirit.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

The tablinum, the father’s office and study, often opened onto the peristylium to let in sunlight. Here it connects the peristylium to the atrium, seen in the background with its distinctive impluvium in the floor. This tablinum has some fresco work and a small mosaic pattern in the floor.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

This triclinium has raised platforms where the dining couches would go; the table (mensa) would go in the open space in the middle. This also features a step fountain and basin in the back of the room.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

A model of a peristylium. Notice the walkway in the background surrounded by columns. Many peristylia were very elaborate in their vegetation, showing off rare plants from all parts of the Roman Empire. Often they also contained birdbaths, fountains, and multiple statues.

The Rest of the HouseThe Rest of the House

An actual peristylium replanted with authentic vegetation