The sunlight and ventilation to the ancients was given
through empty spaces in the roofs.
. . . Hoofs knocked under the weight
of materials thrown out by Vesuvius; it is undoubted, however, that
roofs were provided with covers or supported terraces. In the middle of
the roofs was cut an ouerture through which air and light brought their
benefits to the underlaid ambients. . . . Proprietor disposed the locals
according to his own delight. . . . So that, there were bed, bath,
dining, talking and game rooms." In the peristyle "the ground was
gardened, the area shared in flower beds, had narrow paths; herbs,
flowers, shrubs were put with art well in order on flower beds,
delighted from time to time by statues of various subjects," as may be
noted in the actual restorations of some of the Pompeian houses,
As for their spiritual life, "Pompeian's religion, like by Roman people,
was the Paganism. Deities were worshipped in the temples with prayers,
sagrifices, vows, and festivities. . . . Banquets to the Deity were
joined to prayers. In fact, dining tables were dressed near the altars,
and all around them on dining beds, _tricli-nari,_ placed Divinities
statues as these were assembled to own account to the joyous banquest."
Auspices or auguries "gave interpretation to thunders, lightnings,
winds, rain crashes, comets, or to bird songs and flights. . . .
Horuspices inquired the divine will on the animal bowels, sacrificed to
the altar; they took out further indications by fleshes and bowels
flames when burnt on the altar."
An important feature of Pompeian social life was the bath, which "was
one of the hospitality duty, and very often required in several
religious functions.
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