Pompeian Peristyle Gardens

The display of socioeconomic status was important in the Roman society. There were several means to do this, and one of the most significant was a private house with its fine architecture and decorations. In academic scholarship, the Roman house has been divided into public and private sections. The first mentioned fulfills the display function of the house. One of the largest and most important spaces in this part of the house was the peristyle, which often had a garden – particularly in Pompeii. Consequently, in the model of the Roman house, the peristyle garden is listed as one of the most prominent locations of socioeconomic display. Although this interpretation is not always incorrect, it is based on very selective source material, and the generalizing assumption that the peristyle was always built for this function is problematic. This book will for the first time examine all the Pompeian peristyle gardens, creating a disruptive view of how these spaces were designed, used, and perceived.This book examines how Pompeian peristyle gardens were utilized to represent the socioeconomic status of Roman homeowners, introducing fresh perspectives on how these spaces were designed, used, and perceived. Pompeian Peristyle Gardens provides a novel understanding of how the domus was planned, utilized, and experienced through a critical examination of all Pompeian peristyles – not just by selecting a few well-known examples. This study critiques common scholarly assumptions of ancient domestic space, such as the top-down movement of ideas and the relationship between wealth and socio-political power, though these possibilities are not excluded. In addition, this book provides a welcome contribution to exploring the largely unexamined middle class, an integral part of ancient Roman society.Peer reviewe