VIL: Lesson - Roman Culture: Buildings and Houses

Major Buildings

Pompeii was a vibrant Roman city. The heart of the city was the forum which contained bascilicae, (municipal buildings) and templa (temples, ie. honoring Jupiter, Apollo and Isis to name a few). Nearby the forum, there were balneae (baths), a macellum (food market), a pistrinum (mill and bakery), thermopolia (bars for quick meals) and cauponae (inns). There were also entertainment areas including two theatra (theaters), a palaestra (gymnasium) and an amphitheatrum (an arena). At the time of Decimus's visit to Pompeii, the population was close to 20,000 residents. There were numerous villae, some quite luxurious and large. The economy prospered due to the fertile land and the nearby seaport which supported trade. Accompany Decimus and Flavia around Pompeii as you learn more about Latin verbs.

The cards below contain an illustration for each of the bolded terms above.

The House of the Faun

Next Decimus accompanies Flavia to the home of her friends, Gaius and Cassia Saturninus, in Pompeii. 

Today the villa is called The House of the Faun, named for a statue found in the house. It is one of the largest and most affluent houses in Pompeii. Taking up an entire street block, the villa contained four shops, a private bath, kitchen, beautiful peristyles and gardens, several bedrooms, and dining rooms for summer and winter weather. The residence also contained many impressive works of art from mosaics to wall paintings. During excavations, archaeologists located an inscription of the name Saturninus and a ring engraved with the name Cassius, suggesting that owners were from these distinguished families.

The cards below contain an illustration for each of the bolded terms above.

Layout of a Roman House

Decimus and Flavia visit the House of the Faun.

The typical Roman house contained front public rooms and rear private rooms. It is important to be familiar with the layout and functions of the various rooms and features of the villa. The public areas included tabernae, a vestibulum, the atrium, and the tablinum. Guests and clients had access to these public areas of a patron's home. The areas reserved for family and close friends include peristylium, hortus cum piscina (garden with fishpond), culina, cubicula and triclinium. Roman homes also included a lararium (shrine to household gods).

The cards below contain an illustration for each of the bolded terms above.

The following illustration shows one possible layout for a Roman house:

Abbreviation Guide for the Illustration:

• T- tabernae: shops (singular: taberna)
• C- cubicula: bedrooms (singular: cubiculum)
• Al- alae: wings (an open area off of the atrium)
• Ta- tablinum: study or office
• P- peristylium: colonnade (a series of columns surrounding an outdoor area, which would sometimes include a fish pond)
• V - vestibulum: entryway
• A - atrium: central court which included an impluvium (a hole, into which rainwater fell)
• Tri - triclinium: dining room
• Cu - culina: kitchen
• E - exedra: a semicircular architectural recess

Roman Interior Design

Decimus and Flavia are now going to explore some of the artwork inside the House of the Faun.

Romans houses were decorated with fresco paintings, statuary and mosaics. The House of the Faun was richly decorated with art work. As previously mentioned, the bronze statue of the Faun found near the impluvium is an excellent example of Roman statuary. The faun comes to life as he is depicted dancing with perfect grace and skill. Statuary was found not only in private homes but also in public spaces including the forum. Fresco paintings also decorated the walls of public and private spaces in Pompeii. There were four styles of wall painting each with unique features ranging from the imitation of marble blocks to those with more ornate, architectural designs. Finally the Romans also created mosaics from small pieces of glass or stone called tesserae.

The cards below contain an illustration for each of the bolded terms above.