Ancient Roman Houses

Many of the wealthy Romans lived in villas that sprawled the countryside during the Republican period. Many of these houses belonged to landowners who lived in theses houses to work their farms and vineyards. Other houses were brilliant architectural complexes that were decorated with sculptures and paintings, and were embellished by elaborate gardens. Houses of the upper classes were much better documented than the houses of the poor. The plan of a prosperous Roman urban house from the first century BC showed that he layout was often symmetrical. …