A work in progress.

The aim is to map out all the different aspects of Rome 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 City of Rome Reading List.

Glossary

• Aedes – A temple.
• Ala – Wing or alcove opening to left and/or right of the atrium of a Roman house.
• Amphitheatrum – An amphitheatre.
• Apodyterium – A changing room of a Roman baths.
• Aqua – An aqueduct.
• Ara – An altar.
• Arcus – An arch.
• Athenaeum – An intellectual school.
• Atrium – The main hall of a Roman house.
• Augustales – local officials, usually freedmen, appointed in various towns for the worship of deified emperors.
• Balneum – A small private bathhouse.
• Basilica – Colonnaded public hall on the Forum, used for commercial transactions and dispensing of justice.
• Bibliotheca – A library.
• Caldarium – The hot room of a Roman baths.
• Capitolium – A temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad; Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.
• Carcer – A prison.
• Castra – A fort, fortress or barracks.
• Caupona – An inn or tavern, which served hot food.
• Circus – A racetrack, usually for chariot racing.
• Cloaca – A sewer.
• Compluvium – An opening in the roof, which had below it, a water tank (impluvium) in the atrium floor.
• Columbarium – A tomb for storing cinerary urns, usually partially or wholly underground.
• Cubiculum – A bedroom.
• Curia – Senate house
• Domus – A house within a city.
• Fauces – Entranceway to a house, leading to the atrium.
• Fornix – A type of arch.
• Forum – A public square used for commerical and political purposes.
• Frigidarium – The cold room of a Roman baths.
• Horreum – A warehouse.
• Hospitium – An inn or lodgings.
• Impluvium – A water tank on the floor of the atrium, which had directly above it, an opening (compluvium) in the roof.
• Insula – An apartment block.
• Iseum – A temple to Isis.
• Lacus – A spring or lake.
• Lararium – A shrine to the household gods.
• Ludus – A school; a term often used for gladiator training schools.
• Macellum – A market.
• Mithraeum – A temple to Mithras.
• Murus – A wall.
• 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.
• Officina – A workshop.
• 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.
• Piscina – A pool.
• Pistrinum – A bakery or mill.
• Pons – A bridge.
• Porta – A gate.
• Porticus – A portico.
• Posticum – A house’s second entrance, or backdoor.
• Rostra – A speaker’s platform.
• Sacellum – A shrine.
• Sepulcrum – A tomb.
• Stadium – An area for athletics competitions.
• Taberna – A 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.
• Turris – A tower or turret.
• Ustrinum – A cremation area.
• Via – A street.
• Vicus – A neighbourhood.
• Villa – A house in the country.