How big was a Roman domus?

The size of a domus could range from a very small house to a luxurious mansion. In some cases, one domus took up an entire city-block, while more commonly, there were up to 8 domus per insula (city-block).

What was a domus in Rome?

domus, plural domus, private family residence of modest to palatial proportions, found primarily in ancient Rome and Pompeii. In contrast to the insula (q.v.), or tenement block, which housed numerous families, the domus was a single-family dwelling divided into two main parts, atrium and peristyle.

What was the name of the large houses that the Romans built?

Private Homes The wealthy elite lived in large single family homes called domus. These homes were much nicer than the insulae. Most Roman houses had similar features and rooms. There was an entryway that led to the main area of the house called the atrium.

What were domus houses made of?

marble
The elite classes of Roman society constructed their residences with elaborate marble decorations, inlaid marble paneling, door jambs and columns as well as expensive paintings and frescoes. Many poor and lower-middle-class Romans lived in crowded, dirty and mostly rundown rental apartments, known as insulae.

How did the Romans build houses?

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 was a Roman domus made of?

What kind of houses did the wealthy live in ancient Rome?

The wealthy elite lived in large single family homes called domus. These homes were much nicer than the insulae. Most Roman houses had similar features and rooms. There was an entryway that led to the main area of the house called the atrium.

Why was the size of a Roman domus limited?

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. A Roman domus was limited in size because of the confines of the city walls. In the older parts of the city the rich could not build out, so they built up.

What is the most famous Roman domus?

The most famous Roman domus is the House of Augustus. Little of the original architecture survives, only a single multi level section of the vast complex remains. Even in its original state, the House of Augustus is not a good representation of a typical domus, as the home belonged to one of Rome’s most powerful, wealthy and influential citizens.

What is the difference between Domus and insulae?

Ancient Roman houses mainly fell into two classes of Domus and Insulae. The Insulae were the houses of the poor people which consisted of one or two rooms mainly used for sleeping purposes. These houses were not very well protected against fire and water.