In ancient Rome, the domus was the type of house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It could be found in almost all the major cities of the Roman territories. The upper classes of Roman society built their residences with extravagant marble decorations, inlaid marble panels, door jambs and columns, as well as expensive paintings and frescoes. The vestibule was the main room of the domus. The atrium was the most important part of the house, where guests and customers were welcomed. The ancient Romans of the upper class had luxurious indoor and outdoor homes. The lifestyle of these wealthy Romans also corresponded to their homes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The domus included multiple rooms, internal courtyards, gardens, and beautifully painted and elaborately arranged walls. The vestibule (entrance hall) led into a large central hall: the atrium, which was the fulcrum of the domus and contained a statue of an altar dedicated to the domestic gods. In front of the atrium were cubicula (bedrooms), a dining room triclinium where guests could recline on sofas and eat dinner while lying down, a tablinum (living room or study), and tabernae (outdoor shops , overlooking the street). In cities throughout the Roman Empire, wealthy homeowners lived in buildings with few exterior windows. Glass windows were not readily available: glass production was in its infancy. Thus a rich Roman citizen lived in a large house divided into two parts, and connected to each other through the tablinum or study or a small corridor. To protect the family from intruders, it would not face the street, but only the entrance would provide more space for the living spaces and gardens behind. The main rooms of the master families were arranged around the atrium: the small cubicula or bedrooms, the tablinum or study, and the triclinium or dining room. Roman houses were like Greek houses. Only two objects were present in Caecilius' atrium in Pompeii: a small bronze box containing precious family objects and the lararium, a small sanctuary dedicated to the domestic gods, the Lares. In the master bedroom there was a small wooden bed and a sofa which usually consisted of light padding. With the development of the domus, the tablinum took on a role similar to that of the study. In each of the other bedrooms there was usually only one bed. The triclinium had three sofas around a table. The triclinium was often similar in size to the master bedroom. The study was used as a disengagement. If the householder was a banker or merchant the studio was often larger due to the greater need for materials. Roman houses lay on an axis, so that the visitor was provided with a view through the maw, atrium and tablinum to the peristyle.