A HOUSE IN POMPEII

ATRIUM

• This was the centre of the roman house.
• It was the equivelant of a modern living room.
• It was very public.
• It often had a pool in the middle to catch rain, and was open air.
• It also served as a hallway.

PERISTYLIUM

• The peristylium was the roman garden.
• It was the most private place in their house.
• It was completely enclosed and surrounded by pillars.
• It sometimes had statues, fountains and even fish ponds in it!
• It was also open air.

TRICLINIUM

• The triclinium was the roman dining room.
• It was called triclinium because there were three couches for reclining in it.
• The triclinium was often the home to lavish banquets.
• The romans ate lying down on the couches.
• If a slave was allowed to 'recline' with their master, they were allowed to go free.

CUBICULUM

• These little rooms were used for all sorts of things.
• On the lower floor they functioned as meeting rooms or libaries.
• On the upper floor , they were used primarily as bedrooms.
• These were furnished very simply, often with only a bed and chest.
• However, the walls were often painted beautifully and painstakingly.

EXEDRA

• This 'garden room' was absolutely stunning.
• The walls were painted beautifully with exquisite paintings of gardens.
• It also had a mosaic floor.
• It was used for dinner parties.
• It was often located off of the peristyle.

CULINA

• The culina was the roman kitchen.
• It was often in some remote corner of the house.
• It was only for slaves, so it didn't matter if it was smoky.
• The ovens were also used as a device for heating plates.
• The toilets were in the corner of the kitchen so that the flies would be attracted away from the food.

TABLINUM

• The tablinum was the roman study.
• It was used primarily for writing.
• It is the origin of the word tablet because people used to write on tablets.