NLE PrepNLE PrepHouses and Domestic LifeHouses and Domestic Life

House LayoutHouse Layout

Domestic NomenclatureDomestic Nomenclature Ianua = front door (from Ianus or Ianua = front door (from Ianus or

Janus, the two-faced god of Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, comings and goings)beginnings, comings and goings)

Fauces = foyerFauces = foyer Atrium = reception hall: This is the Atrium = reception hall: This is the

family and guest room where the family and guest room where the household gods, the Penates and household gods, the Penates and Lares, were kept in a shrine; here also Lares, were kept in a shrine; here also could be found the ancestral maskscould be found the ancestral masks

Impluvium = pool for rainwater that fell Impluvium = pool for rainwater that fell from the Compluvium, an opening in the from the Compluvium, an opening in the roofroof

Cubiculum = bedroomCubiculum = bedroom Triclinium = dining room so named Triclinium = dining room so named

because of the 3 dining couches arranged because of the 3 dining couches arranged around a small table. Here the around a small table. Here the paterfamilias (head of the family with paterfamilias (head of the family with absolute power) and eldest sons, guests absolute power) and eldest sons, guests and perhaps the materfamilias (“grand and perhaps the materfamilias (“grand dame”) reclineddame”) reclined

HortusHortus = garden: this was designed for = garden: this was designed for reflection, conversation with friends, reflection, conversation with friends, business deals, etc. Around the hortus was business deals, etc. Around the hortus was the the peristyliumperistylium, a colonnade of pillars. , a colonnade of pillars. Enter from the peristylium the surrounding Enter from the peristylium the surrounding rooms such as the …rooms such as the …

culinaculina = kitchen = kitchen LatrinaLatrina = toilet = toilet Summer triclinium Summer triclinium Slaves quarters and storage roomsSlaves quarters and storage rooms

Dining NomenclatureDining Nomenclature CoquusCoquus = cook; usually a slave or a freedman = cook; usually a slave or a freedman CulinaCulina = kitchen = kitchen MealsMeals (consolidated) (consolidated)

IentaculumIentaculum = breakfast – light with cup of water, = breakfast – light with cup of water, bread or some fishbread or some fish

PrandiumPrandium = light lunch, perhaps leftovers from = light lunch, perhaps leftovers from dinnerdinner

CenaCena = dinner; for the wealthy or fortunate diners, = dinner; for the wealthy or fortunate diners, this was a grand affair with many coursesthis was a grand affair with many courses

Ab ovo usque ad malaAb ovo usque ad mala = from the egg to the = from the egg to the applesapples

TricliniumTriclinium

Lectus triclinaris Lectus triclinaris 3 dining couches arranged around a small 3 dining couches arranged around a small

tabletable 3 diners to a couch; reclining [in lecto 3 diners to a couch; reclining [in lecto

recumbit]recumbit] Slaves brought in food; solid foods cut by Slaves brought in food; solid foods cut by

slaves and eaten with fingers by the dinersslaves and eaten with fingers by the diners Soups/liquid dishes served with spoons Soups/liquid dishes served with spoons

(obviously)(obviously) Diners engaged in topical talks, business Diners engaged in topical talks, business

transactions or watched performancestransactions or watched performances

Family NomenclatureFamily Nomenclature PaterfamiliasPaterfamilias: [pater = father] head : [pater = father] head

of household; held absolute authority of household; held absolute authority over family; patron to his clients whom over family; patron to his clients whom he met and greeted early in the dayhe met and greeted early in the day

MaterfamiliasMaterfamilias: [mater = mother] wife : [mater = mother] wife who maintained the house and who maintained the house and managed domestic slaves; arranged managed domestic slaves; arranged business deals for husband, etc.business deals for husband, etc.

NutrixNutrix: house nanny, usually an : house nanny, usually an elderly, long-term slave of the familyelderly, long-term slave of the family

Filius = sonFilius = son Filia = daughterFilia = daughter Frater = brotherFrater = brother Soror = sisterSoror = sister Uxor = wifeUxor = wife Maritus = husbandMaritus = husband Servus/-a = slave// Ancilla = slave girlServus/-a = slave// Ancilla = slave girl Canis = dog [cave canem = beware of Canis = dog [cave canem = beware of

the dog]the dog]

Types of Living QuartersTypes of Living Quarters Casa = small house, hut, cottageCasa = small house, hut, cottage Domus = generic term for house of Domus = generic term for house of

any ilkany ilk Insulae = apartmentsInsulae = apartments Villa = “mansion”Villa = “mansion”

Villa rustica = country farm houseVilla rustica = country farm house Villa urbana = large city estateVilla urbana = large city estate

Insulae Insulae illustrated illustrated in Romein Rome

An Atrium An Atrium SceneScene

Relevant SentencesRelevant Sentences ““Ubi est servus fratris mei?” rogavit soror.Ubi est servus fratris mei?” rogavit soror.

The sister asked, “Where is my brother’s The sister asked, “Where is my brother’s slave?”slave?”

““[Is]” inquit amica, “in culina dormit.”[Is]” inquit amica, “in culina dormit.” ““He is sleeping in the kitchen,” the friend He is sleeping in the kitchen,” the friend

replied.replied. ““Cur non in cubiculo dormit?”Cur non in cubiculo dormit?”

Why isn’t he sleeping in the bedroom?Why isn’t he sleeping in the bedroom? Interea frater culinam intrat et “Noli Interea frater culinam intrat et “Noli

dormire, serve!” clamat. “Surge!”dormire, serve!” clamat. “Surge!” Meanwhile, the brother enters the kitchen and Meanwhile, the brother enters the kitchen and

shouts, “Don’t sleep, slave! Get up!”shouts, “Don’t sleep, slave! Get up!”

33rdrd Declension Declension Frater, fratris, m., brotherFrater, fratris, m., brother

SGSG PLPL

NOMNOM frāterfrāter frātrēsfrātrēs GENGEN frātrisfrātris frātrumfrātrum DATDATfrātrīfrātrī frātribusfrātribus ACCACC frātremfrātrem frātrēsfrātrēs ABLABL frātrefrātre frātribus frātribus

An Unfortunate DinerAn Unfortunate Diner ““Domine, cibus est paratus et in mensa,” inquit Domine, cibus est paratus et in mensa,” inquit

servus.servus. ““The food is prepared and on the table, master,” says the The food is prepared and on the table, master,” says the

slave.slave. Dominus non est tristis sed laetus quod solus cenat.Dominus non est tristis sed laetus quod solus cenat.

The master isn’t sad but happy because he dines alone.The master isn’t sad but happy because he dines alone. ““Numquam cenam meliorem consumpsi,” inquit Numquam cenam meliorem consumpsi,” inquit

dominus.dominus. The master says, “I have never eaten a better dinner.”The master says, “I have never eaten a better dinner.”

Sed subito per triclinium sagitta volat et eum Sed subito per triclinium sagitta volat et eum vulnerat. Decidit exanimatus. Multus sanguis fluit.vulnerat. Decidit exanimatus. Multus sanguis fluit. But suddenly an arrow flies through the dining room and But suddenly an arrow flies through the dining room and

wounds him. He falls, unconscious. Much blood flows.wounds him. He falls, unconscious. Much blood flows.