The aim is to map out all the different aspects of Herculaneum so that it can be used as a teaching aid or a guide for those interested in the site.

Any input or contributions are greatly appreciated.

For scholarship on the city see the Herculaneum Reading List.

Glossary

• Ala – Wing or alcove opening to left and/or right of the atrium of a Roman house.
• Apodyterium – A changing room of a Roman baths.
• Ara – An altar.
• Atrium – The main hall of a Roman house.
• Augustales – local officials, usually freedmen, appointed in various towns for the worship of deified emperors.
• Basilica – Colonnaded public hall on the Forum, used for commercial transactions and dispensing of justice.
• Caldarium – The hot room of a Roman baths.
• Caupona – An inn or tavern, which served hot food.
• Compluvium – An opening in the roof, which had below it, a water tank (impluvium) in the atrium floor.
• Cubiculum – A bedroom.
• Domus – A house within a city.
• Fauces – Entranceway to a house, leading to the atrium.
• Frigidarium – The cold room of a Roman baths.
• Hospitium – Inn or lodgings.
• Impluvium – A water tank on the floor of the atrium, which had directly above it, an opening (compluvium) in the roof.
• Lararium – A shrine to the household gods.
• Nymphaeum – A ornamental fountain.
• Oecus – The main living room of a Greek house, introduced to Roman architecture along with the peristyle. Often used for dining.
• Palaestra – An open area surrounded by covered porticoes used for wrestling and exercise, often forming part of a Roman bath complex.
• Peristyle – An open courtyard or garden surrounded by a colonnade.
• Pistrinum – A bakery or mill.
• Posticum – A house’s second entrance, or backdoor.
• Sacellum – A shrine.
• Taberna – A shop.
• Taberna Textorum – A fabric shop.
• Taberna Vinorum – A wine shop.
• Tablinum – A study.
• Templum – A temple.
• Tepidarium – The warm room of a Roman baths.
• Theatrum – A theatre
• Thermae – Roman bath complex.
• Triclinium – A dining room.
• Villa – A house in the country.

Back to Digital Maps