Descriptionary

area custodiae an ancient Roman prison cell.

archivium a building in which archives were kept in ancient Rome and Greece.

arena the sanded central area in a Roman circus or amphitheater.

arenarium an ancient Roman cemetery, crypt, or grave.

argurokopeion in ancient Greece, a place where money was coined; a mint.

athenaeum a Roman temple or place of scientific or literary studies, named after Athena.

atrium in a Roman house, a large inner hall with an opening in the roof for rainwater and a basin on the floor to catch it.

auditorium a place where orators, poets, and critics spoke.

baccha a Roman lighthouse.

baphium a Roman establishment for dyeing cloth.

bestiarium where wild animals were kept before their appearance in an ancient Roman amphitheater.

bronteum in Greek and Roman theaters, a heavy vase filled with stones and shaken to simulate the sound of thunder.

caldarium one of the three components of an ancient Roman bath, consisting of the hot water bath itself. See frigidarium, tepidarium.

capeleion a place where wine and provisions were sold in ancient Greece.

caprile a Roman structure used to house goats.

carnificina a Roman underground dungeon in which criminals were tortured or killed.

cartibulum a supported marble slab serving as a table in a Roman atrium.

catadrome a Roman racecourse used by chariots, horses, or men.

caupona a place where wine and provisions were sold in ancient Rome.

cavaedium an atrium or inner courtroom in a Roman house.

cavea cage for wild animals under the seats of an ancient Roman amphitheater.

cenatio a formal dining room in a Roman house.

choragic monument a Greek commemorative structure.

choragium in Greek and Roman theaters, a storage and rehearsal space behind the stage.

cinerarium a Roman depository for urns holding the ashes of the dead.

circus a Roman stadium for races and gladiator shows.

clavus in ancient Roman construction, a nail.

cloaca in ancient Rome, a sewer.

coenaculum any of the upper eating rooms in Roman houses.

colosseum any large Roman amphitheater.

Columna Maenia a column erected in the Roman Forum to which criminals and slaves were tied and publicly punished.

compitum any crossroads in ancient Rome where altars and shrines were erected.

compluvium in the atrium of a Roman house, an opening in the roof through which rain fell.

conclavium any rectangular room in a Roman house.

conditorium a Roman underground vault in which a corpse was deposited.

Corinthian a highly elaborate and ornate style of Greek architecture.

crepido on a Roman street, a raised sidewalk for pedestrians.

crypta associated with a Roman farmhouse or villa, a long, narrow vault, usually underground, for stor­ing grains and fruits.

cubiculum a Roman bed chamber.

culina a Roman kitchen.

cyzicene an apartment in a Greek house.

delubrum an ancient Roman temple or sanctuary.

deversorium a Roman inn for travelers.

Doric the oldest and simplest order of Greek archi­tecture, characterized by plain capitals and heavily fluted columns.

ekklesiasterion in a Greek town, a public hall.

elaeothesium where oil was kept in a Roman bath.

emblemata in Roman construction, a decorative, inlaid flooring.

emporium in Roman towns, a building housing imported merchandise for sale to local retailers.

ergastulum on a Roman farm, a prison where slaves worked.

farrarium a Roman grain barn.

favissa a Roman crypt or cellar.

ferriterion a Roman prison keeping chained slaves.

forica public toilets located throughout ancient Rome.

forum any Roman public square surrounded by important buildings.

frigidarium the third of the three chambers in a Roman bath, consisting of the final cold bath and some­times a swimming pool. See caldarium, tepidarium.

gymnasium same as a modern gymnasium.

gynaeceum the portion of a Greek church or house set apart for women.

hastarium a Roman public auction room.

hemicyclium a semicircular alcovelike structure providing seating for several persons in Roman plea­sure gardens or other public spots.

hippodrome a Greek racecourse for horses and chariots and considerably wider to accommodate more racers than a Roman circus.

hippodromus a Roman promenade or garden area used for equestrian exercises.

horreum a Roman barn or granary.

hortus a Roman garden.

hospitalium a guest room in a Roman house.

hypocaustum a Roman central heating system in which warm air was blown from a furnace through flues within walls and floors.

hypodromus a Roman covered walkway.

ianua the outer door of a Roman house.