Abstract
This article concerns the distribution of fire as light and heat source within the insula investigated by the ongoing Swedish Pompeii Project. Here the author suggests that fire installations as kitchens, ovens and baths were clustered in specific areas within this insula, and the installations were not efficiently used to heat the dwelling areas of the house. It is also proposed that the surfaces of the interior walls and floors of the Roman atrium house were polished in purpose to reflect and distribute light and, which is emphasised in the article, to soften the transition between brightly lit areas and areas in dark shadow. This contrast had to be eliminated for the human eye to adopt to the light conditions in the room and by that, to make the light as efficient as possible.
Highlights
The aim of this article is to present a preliminary synthesis of the use of fire in an insula in Roman Pompeii
Stationary installations for fire, such as kitchens, ovens and baths within the insula V 1, are examined in the study. By setting their distribution in relation to the areas supplied with natural light and areas where portable objects were needed, an alternative suggestion emerges for the appearance of a Roman atrium house
Together with Dr Monica Nilsson, the author of this article is responsible for the documentation of the buildings Caupona (V 1,13), the 'bakery' (V 1, 15) and the Tavern (V 1,20-21)' in the insula, which were investigated by the Swedish Pompeii Project in 2000-2004
Summary
This article concerns the distribution of fire as light and heat source within the insula investigated by the ongoing Swedish Pompeii Project. It is proposed that the surfaces of the interior walls and floors of the Roman atrium house were polished in purpose to reflect and distribute light and, which is emphasised in the article, to soften the transition between brightly lit areas and areas in dark shadow. Stationary installations for fire, such as kitchens, ovens and baths within the insula V 1, are examined in the study By setting their distribution in relation to the areas supplied with natural light and areas where portable objects (oil lamps and braziers) were needed, an alternative suggestion emerges for the appearance of a Roman atrium house. Epigrammi greci (V 1,18) and Casa Grande (Vll 14,5.17-19)
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