What was commonly seen on either side of a Roman house's front door? Many homes had businesses on each side of the entrance door. The lack of windows and the high walls made the dwelling unappealing. But there were other ways to attract customers or not offend neighbors.
The front of a house was important because it formed a first impression on visitors. So men and women would spend time decorating their home with color-coordinated furniture and accessories, adding warmth and life to the interior. They might also hire artists to do murals or sculptures in their homes.
In addition to looking good, the items on display at the front of a house could also help it stand out from its competitors. If one of the shops closed down, then the owner could easily change what was on display by replacing it with another sign or painting over the old one. This shows that they cared about their business and wanted to keep people coming back!
At the front of many houses you will see two things: a statue and some sort of label. Statues were usually placed outside households with enough money to afford them. They served as a mark of honor for the family who owned the house and showed what kind of gods they worshiped. Some statues were made of bronze while others were carved from stone or wood.
They were single-story residences that were built around an atrium courtyard. Atriums had chambers that opened off of them, but no roofs. A wealthy Roman home contained several rooms, including a kitchen, bath, dining room, bedrooms, and slave quarters. Water was delivered to the wealthy's homes via lead pipes. The Romans invented concrete.
They also used brick and tile as building materials. The bricks were stacked on top of each other with mortar between each layer. The tiles were used for roofing or in outdoor kitchens such as cenotaphs (tombs with living space over it).
The Romans constructed their homes out of stone if they could afford it; otherwise, they used wood. If the house was made of stone, the walls would be about two feet thick. In more expensive homes, the ceilings might be high with plaster decorations. The floors would be made of wood, marble, or granite. There would usually be one main room where people ate and drank together and any other rooms would be used for sleeping or storing things.
In less wealthy homes, the walls might be only half as thick but the buildings would still be strong enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. The doors and windows would be made of wood or metal depending on how rich the owner was.
Caecilius' dwelling, for example, was fairly prevalent in Roman times. Apartment buildings were frequently many floors tall. The lowest floor usually had commercial space, while the rest of the house was occupied by families or groups of families. These houses often had large open spaces where people could gather and enjoy the weather. They also tended to be well lit at night.
In addition to being relatively easy to build, apartment blocks made sense economically. There were no building sites to prepare (as there are today), so anyone who could afford a house would do well to get one built. Also, since tenants were generally expected to pay rent, it made sense for them to live as close to the ground level as possible so they could more easily reach their wallets.
The average life expectancy in Ancient Rome was just under 40 years old. People died all the time, so there was always a chance that your house might have been rented by someone else once you moved out. This is why most Romans lived in apartments, so there would be room for everyone who needed it.
Apartment buildings also made sense from a political standpoint. If you lived on a high floor then you had an advantage over those who lived below you. You could see what was going on and report it if necessary.
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