WEBQUEST – ROMAN HOUSES

I. Go to:
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/greecer
ome/Romearch1.html to answer the following questions.

1. On which floor of apartment buildings did the poorest people live? Why
do you think that is true?

2. Out of what material were Roman villas constructed (walls & roof)?

3. How were walls decorated?

4. Why didn’t most houses have bathrooms?

II. Go to: http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/DarleneBishop/rome/PompVettii.html

1. When entering a city house from the main street one came into the inner
courtyard, also called the __________________.

2. Why didn’t ground floors normally have windows facing the streets?

3. What was the name of the pool found in the atrium?

4. What type of heating system did the Romans use?

5. Where did Romans go for water?

III. Go to: http://www.roman-empire.net/society/soc-house.html

1. How did the atrium and peristylium provide fresh air/water for the house?

2. Each Roman room was designed for how many purposes? _______ What
was the purpose of the triclinium? __________________The cubiculum?
____________________

3. Explain the following terms:

a. fauces –
b. posticum –
c. vestibulum –
d. lararium –
e. tablinum-
 f. peristylium –
g. taberna –

IV. Go to: http://www.romansims.com

1. The house of the Valernius family depicted in this Roman Sims site has
shops in front of the home for what reason? (house for lot 4)

2. For what purpose did they use the second floor of the house?

3. What were some of the hazards of living in an insula?

4. Based on what item was the house for lot 1 copied? What type of home is
it and where would it have been located.

5. Explain what a compluvium was and describe its function.

6. What type of furniture would be found in the cubiculum?

7. Describe the eating arrangement in the triclinium.

8. What was stored in the tablinum? _______________ What would be the

modern equivalent of these items? ___________________

9. What other room, besides the latrina, sometimes had a toilet?

___________ Why was it placed there?

10. What was the function of the culina?