The house of the ancient Romans: The more money you have, the lower you live, the poor live on the top floor

In its heyday, the ancient Roman empire was the place where the most noisy, bustling and bustling cities were gathered at that time. It was the residence of all citizens of different classes. It can be said that the house is the most specific expression of the financial situation of the people at that time. While the wealthy Romans lived comfortably in spacious villas, members of the same social class lived in dark, dangerous and unsanitary conditions.

Today, there are several well-preserved ruins located in Pompeii and Herculaneum, where people can actually observe how the ancient Romans lived. Through these sites, along with studies of less intact housing remains from parts of the former Roman Empire, archaeologists have painted a vivid historical picture of different types of houses. inhabited by the ancient Romans. Basically, houses of this period are divided into 4 types.

1. Domus

In the ancient Roman city, the nobility such as Emperors and nobles would often live in one-story houses, known as Domus. These houses are truly magnificent in size and layout, with marble columns, statues, mosaics and wall paintings everywhere. The Romans designed Domus buildings with two main parts - the antica in the front and the postica in the back.

In ancient Rome, the nobility used to live in a one-story house

Both parts will be connected by a large central courtyard, this courtyard is called the atrium, which is the connecting place, leading to the other rooms of the house. Atrium will have a shallow lake, with a skylight to store rainwater. The Romans also often used this area as a place to socialize and entertain whenever there was an event.

Postica will include an herb garden, dining area, kitchen and bathroom.

While the living room and bedroom both have access to the skylight, the postica area at the back of the house is a more private place. Postica will include an herb garden, dining area, kitchen and bathroom. This is also where the slaves who served the house lived. Their job is to cook, clean, keep the house clean and do what the owner instructs. In some houses, slaves had to stay by their master's side at all times, even sleeping outside the master's bedroom door without a bed of their own.

2. Insulae

The Roman working class would live in multi-storey apartment buildings.

The majority of the working class in Rome would live in multi-storey apartment buildings or apartment complexes, known as insulae. Insulae has a form quite similar to current apartment buildings, when the ground floor will sometimes be used to make business shops, the shop owner will live in the space above. These buildings are usually 7 stories or more high, and are often very dangerous and unsanitary. Fires, collapses, floods are very common problems in these places.

 Apartments on the first two floors are more expensive than the ones above.

Contrary to the concept in modern society, in ancient Roman society, people with more money would live on a lower floor. Apartments on the first two floors are more expensive than upstairs, these also have larger rooms, better windows, balconies and running water.

The upper floors were for the poorest classes of ancient Roman society.

In contrast, the upper floors were for the poorest class of ancient Roman society, living conditions were substandard, sometimes the whole family had to live and live in one space, no room, no room. natural light, water supply or bathroom amenities.

3. Country villa far from the center

These villas are larger in size than the Domus.

In addition to the city, wealthy citizens will own more villas. These villas are larger than the Domus, because they have more land. The really wealthy had both a Domus and a mansion, and they would often go back and forth between the two.

The really rich both a Domus and a mansion.

The villa will be divided into 3 main parts: urbana villa, where the owner's family lives, followed by rustica villa, where slaves and workers live. The third area is the fructuria, where agricultural products are grown, and sometimes a large private plantation. The feature of this type of house is that it is surrounded by large plots of land for farming, entertainment or private swimming pools.

4. Factory area, farm

The countryside of the Roman Empire was not really an ideal place for the poor. Although life in the city is also quite difficult, at least the workers have better living conditions. Farmers, livestock workers and other agricultural laborers lived in villages or farms. These are all primitive stone structures that are very small and cramped, but these living conditions are also fortunate. As for the less fortunate, they have to live for years in dark, dirty factories and industrial complexes, see no light and are exploited like slaves.