12.2 Domestic life and housing

Domestic life in Graeco-Roman Egypt revolved around the home's design and layout. Central courtyards, like the atrium or peristyle, provided light and outdoor space. Rooms for dining, sleeping, and cooking were arranged around these central areas.

Houses were built with affordable materials like mud-brick, plastered and painted for durability. Urban areas saw the rise of multistory apartments. Inside, homes featured religious shrines, functional furniture, and decorative elements that reflected daily life and cultural practices.

House Design and Layout

Central Courtyard Designs

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Top images from around the web for Central Courtyard Designs

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  Peristyle - Wikipedia View original

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  Habitation romaine - Vikidia, l’encyclopédie des 8-13 ans View original

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  Habitation romaine - Vikidia, l’encyclopédie des 8-13 ans View original

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  Peristyle - Wikipedia View original

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• Atrium house centered around a partially roofed courtyard (atrium) that allowed natural light and rainwater to enter the home
• Peristyle house featured a colonnaded garden courtyard surrounded by rooms on all sides, providing a tranquil and secluded outdoor space within the home
• Impluvium, a shallow pool in the atrium, collected rainwater from the opening in the roof (compluvium) for household use and added a decorative element to the space

Dining and Sleeping Quarters

• Triclinium served as the dining room where guests were entertained, typically featuring three couches arranged around a central table for reclining while eating
• Cubiculum functioned as a bedroom or private chamber, often located off the atrium or peristyle, providing a space for sleeping and relaxation

Kitchen and Food Preparation

• Culina, the kitchen, was usually located near the back of the house to keep smoke and odors away from living areas
• Kitchens were equipped with a hearth or brazier for cooking, as well as storage areas for food and cooking utensils

Construction Materials and Techniques

Affordable and Durable Building Materials

• Mud-brick construction was common in Graeco-Roman Egypt due to the abundance of mud from the Nile River and its affordability compared to stone
• Sun-dried mud bricks were used to construct walls, which were then plastered and painted to protect against weathering and provide a decorative finish

Urban Housing Solutions

• Multistory apartments, known as insulae, were built in cities to accommodate growing populations and maximize limited urban space
• These apartment buildings were typically constructed with a combination of mud-brick and timber framing, with shops or businesses on the ground floor and living quarters above

Household Features and Items

Religious Spaces within the Home

• Domestic shrines, such as the lararium in Roman houses, provided a sacred space for honoring household gods and ancestors
• These shrines often featured small altars, statues, or paintings of deities and were used for daily offerings and prayers

Furnishings and Decor

• Furniture in Graeco-Roman Egyptian homes included wooden beds, chairs, tables, and chests for storage
• Decorative elements such as wall paintings, mosaics, and textiles (curtains and cushions) added color and comfort to living spaces
• Everyday household items included pottery for storage and cooking, oil lamps for lighting, and tools for various domestic tasks (weaving, grinding grain)