AnCiEnT RoMe C. Life in Rome


The population of Rome was divided into two groups: the patricians, the rich aristocrats who did not work, and the plebeians, who made up the rest of the Roman population. The plebeians were all the workers and tradesmen of the city. The more educated of these worked as doctors or lawyers. Others worked as bakers, butchers or carpenters.


The centre of the city was the Roman Forum. The ruins of this building still stand in the centre of Rome today and are a popular tourist site. The forum was the city’s main marketplace and many of the most important temples and government buildings were close to it. This marketplace was where people bought their fruit, vegetables and meat. The Via Sacra (the Sacred Way) ran through the middle of the market. The armies of returning victorious generals passed along this road so that everyone could see them return after another victory.


1. Houses


Peristylium – This was the garden within the house.


2


Lararium – The shrine to the gods of the household.


Culina – A small, often dark, kitchen where meals were prepared by slaves.


Cubicula – Rooms off the atrium. These rooms could be used as bedrooms, libraries or meeting rooms.


Thermopolium – Some Roman households rented out their front rooms as shops, e.g. food takeaways.


Fig 2.10 A Roman domus. 35


Impluvium – This collected the rainwater that fell in the atrium. It was used both as decoration and as a practical way to collect and store water.


Atrium – This was the main room of the house. Guests were greeted here. It had an open roof that allowed rain to fall directly into it.


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