Peristyle and Garden

The first important room in a house was the atrium, the center of early Roman homes. Atriums had a hole in the roof, called a compluvium (rain hole), and beneath the compluvium was the impluvium, a sunken pool to collect water. Beyond the atrium was usually the garden of the house--a colonnaded court called a peristyle. Designed for relaxation, the garden was similar in function to modern family rooms. It contained foliage, statues, pools, a dining alcove, benches, and wall paintings.