What was Roman home life like?
The whole family would all live together in one house or apartment. The family included all unmarried sons and daughters, as well as married sons and their wives. Married daughters went to live with their husband’s family. The family was ruled by the paterfamilias.
What was daily life like in a Roman family?
They enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle with luxurious furnishings, surrounded by servants and slaves to cater to their every desire. Many would hold exclusive dinner parties and serve their guests the exotic dishes of the day. Poorer Romans, however, could only dream of such a life.
How did Romans decorate their homes?
Rich Romans decorated the floors of their main rooms with mosaics – tiny coloured stones (tesserae). These were stuck to the floor with mortar, a type of cement. Each mosaic used thousands of pieces to make a pattern. Mosaic floors were a statement of wealth and importance.
What are houses called in Rome?
the domus
The house type referred to as the domus (Latin for “house”) is taken to mean a structure designed for either a nuclear or extended family and located in a city or town. The domus as a general architectural type is long-lived in the Roman world, although some development of the architectural form does occur.
How were Roman houses built?
Fine Roman homes were built with stone, plaster, and brick. They had tiled roofs. A “villa ubana” was a villa that was fairly close to Rome and could be visited often. A “villa rustica” was a villa that was a far distance from Rome and was only visited seasonally.
What were Roman family values?
Romans before Christ took the essential family unit to be father, mother and children. The central value binding that family together was pietas, which can be translated as affectionate devotion. Husbands and wives, parents and children, were supposed to love one another.
What did Romans do daily?
Romans valued their leisure time. Following dinner, adults and children were able to pursue other interests, such as music, art, dancing, reading, and sports. Many attended plays, while others enjoyed chariot races. There were many options for entertainment.
How were Roman houses heated?
The Hypocaust system of the Romans worked using the principle of heated hot air which was generated by burning fires. A system of hollow chambers was constructed between the ground and the bottom of the rooms to be heated. Hot air that rose from the fires would flow through these chambers and heat up the rooms above.
How much did a Roman house cost?
Many houses of immense size were then erected, adorned with columns, paintings, statues, and costly works of art. Some of these houses are said to have cost as much as two million denarii. The principal parts of a Roman house were the Vestibulum, Ostium, Atrium, Alae, Tablinum, Fauces, and Peristylium.
How were Roman homes built?
What did ancient Romans call their parents?
paterfamilias
At the head of Roman family life was the oldest living male, called the “paterfamilias,” or “father of the family.” He looked after the family’s business affairs and property and could perform religious rites on their behalf. The paterfamilias had absolute rule over his household and children.
What was the home like in ancient Rome?
Roman Villa. The Roman villa of a wealthy Roman family was often much larger and more comfortable than their city home. They had multiple rooms including servants’ quarters, courtyards, baths, pools, storage rooms, exercise rooms, and gardens. They also had modern comforts such as indoor plumbing and heated floors.
How can you tell the wealth of a Roman house?
Archaeologists can usually tell the wealth of an owner of a Roman house by simply looking at the size of the lead pipes that brought water to that house. Digging up the Romans Explore a virtual merchant’s house. Back to Romans Zone Houses index
What was life like for the Roman people?
Home life was revolutionised under the Romans. Also, as is well known, the army was an all-conquering juggernaut that took the old world by storm. To commemorate their affect on modern society and technology, we discover just how innovative and ground-breaking this civilisation really was.
What was the main room of a Roman house called?
Most Roman houses had similar features and rooms. There was an entryway that led to the main area of the house called the atrium. Other rooms such as bedrooms, dining room, and kitchen might be off to the sides of the atrium. Beyond the atrium was the office.