A Roman house garden is referred to as a hortus or peristylium. These gardens, located at the back of a domus, were spaces of tranquility and beauty.
Roman house gardens provided a serene retreat within urban settings.
1. Hortus served as functional spaces for growing fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
2. Peristylium featured columns surrounding a central garden, adorned with statues and fountains.
3. Both gardens offered a connection to nature and opportunities for leisure activities.
4. Rainwater collected in the atrium was often redirected to nourish these lush green spaces.
Domus (townhouse) This free-standing structure was usually one story, containing multiple rooms for everyday activities and an atrium toward the front of the house to collect rainwater and illuminate the area surrounding it. Toward the back of the house was often a hortus (garden) or peristylium (an open courtyard).
What is an ancient Greek courtyard called?
An ancient Greek courtyard is called a peristyle. In Greek temples, the peristyle, known as a peristasis (περίστασις), was a prominent feature. In Christian ecclesiastical architecture, influenced by Roman basilicas, a courtyard with a peristyle and garden was referred to as a cloister. This architectural element served as a central outdoor space for both Greeks and later for Christians, providing a serene and functional area for various activities.
What were bedrooms in Roman houses called?
Surrounding the atrium were arranged the master’s family’s main rooms: the small cubicula or bedrooms, the tablinum, which served as a living room or study, and the triclinium, or dining-room. Roman homes were like Greek homes.
What did poor Roman houses look like?
Poor Romans in the countryside lived in small villages of wooden huts with thatched roofs. Poor Romans in towns and cities lived in Insulae. These were like apartment blocks built of wood, mud bricks and, later on, concrete.
What do you call a house where nuns live?
A convent is a place where nuns live. Have you decided to dedicate the rest of your life to serving God? Well, then, maybe it’s time for you to consider moving into a convent.
What is the difference between a villa and a domus?
Beyond the city, wealthy citizens of ancient Rome lived in villas, which were larger than a Domus because there was more land to occupy. The really rich had both a domus and a villa, and they could show both off to all their regular house guests.
What were large Roman homes in the countryside called?
The Romans built many kinds of villas and any country house with some decorative features in the Roman style may be called a “villa” by modern scholars.
What is a monk house called?
A monastery is a sacred building and a home to men called monks. Monks spend their time and their lives worshipping God. There are monks still living in monasteries across the world today. During the Middle Ages there were monasteries throughout the land.
What is a Roman courtyard called?
Beyond the atrium and tablinum lay the more private part (pars rustica) of the house that was often centered around an open-air courtyard known as the peristyle (no. 11 in the diagram above). The pars rustica would generally be off limits to business clients and served as the focus of the family life of the house.
What were Roman courtyards called?
Beyond the atrium and tablinum lay the more private part (pars rustica) of the house that was often centered around an open-air courtyard known as the peristyle (no. 11 in the diagram above). The pars rustica would generally be off limits to business clients and served as the focus of the family life of the house.
What were Roman gardens called?
Roman houses were built around a peristyle courtyard that contained a planted garden. The word peristyle is derived from greek: peri meaning surrounded and style meaning columns, thus a peristyle courtyard is a courtyard surrounded by columns. In Roman times, this type of courtyard garden was called a peristylum.
What did ancient Romans call bedrooms?
The bedroom in a typical Roman ‘domus’ or townhouse, was called a cubiculum. These were usually small, often cell-like rooms that opened off the home’s most public part, the central atrium. In addition to being on the small side, if cubicula had any windows, they were very often small and located quite high up.
What was a Roman bathroom called?
The word “latrine,” or latrina in Latin, was used to describe a private toilet in someone’s home, usually constructed over a cesspit. Public toilets were called foricae. They were often attached to public baths, whose water was used to flush down the filth.
What is a Roman columned porch called?
portico, colonnaded porch or entrance to a structure, or a covered walkway supported by regularly spaced columns. Porticoes formed the entrances to ancient Greek temples. Palazzo dei Principi: portico.
What was the courtyard called?
The central uncovered area in a Roman domus was referred to as an atrium. Today, we generally use the term courtyard to refer to such an area, reserving the word atrium to describe a glass-covered courtyard.
What is a Roman courtyard?
In Roman architecture The courtyard might contain flowers and shrubs, fountains, benches, sculptures and even fish ponds. Romans devoted as large a space to the peristyle as site constraints permitted.
In conclusion, the Roman house garden is known as a “viridarium,” reflecting the importance the Romans placed on nature and greenery in their living spaces. These gardens served as tranquil havens, blending architecture with the beauty of nature to create an oasis of relaxation and beauty within the confines of the city. By learning about the history and significance of the Roman house garden, we gain insight into the cultural values and lifestyle of the ancient Romans, showcasing their sophisticated appreciation for aesthetics and harmonious living environments. The viridarium stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Roman architecture and design principles that continue to inspire us today.