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The Town House
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Most townspeople lived in multi-storey apartment blocks. Richer people lived in the lower stories. These were built of brick and had large, comfortable rooms. Poorer people lived in the higher stories. These were built of wood and the rooms were small and draughty. None of the apartments had kitchens, water, or toilets. The ground floors were rented out as shops. Only rich people owned their own homes. This picture shows the kind of house that a rich Italian family might have lived in.
(A) SHOP
Shopkeepers often rented out the front rooms and lived in small rooms above the shop.
(B) ATRIUM
The atrium was the biggest room. It had a hole in the roof to let light in and a basin in the floor to collect rainwater.
(C) WORKROOMS
Slaves' quarters and workrooms were at the back of the house.
(D) WINDOW
Windows were very small to stop burglars.
(E) PERISTYLE
The peristyle was an open courtyard with a covered walk around the edges. The peristyle was laid out with flower beds, fountains and statues.
(F) TABLINIUM
The tablinium was the main living room of the house. It was usually built between the atrium and the peristyle. Guests were entertained there.
(G) BEDROOM
Bedrooms were small and simply furnished.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
The Romans
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Section:
The Romans
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Chapter:
The Town House
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