THE IMPERIAL ATRIUM OF THE SECOND PERIOD. 27 
though inclosed regularly at both ends by walls, is without either front or 
back. The bottom of the basin, which like the ends was lined with opus 
signinum, slopes noticeably towards the back, where it drains directly into 
the sewer below. This basin, or rather drainage sink, was probably for 
the washing of the vessels used in the temple service, which were cleansed 
by pouring water over them directly from the amphore in which it had been 
brought.” By this method the water as well as the basin was kept free from 
all impurities, which were carried immediately into the sewer behind. The 
room* or rooms next to the temple area were probably for the servi publici 
attached to the temple. 
Architectural Details and Construction: The height of the various rooms 
can not be determined. In the central court as well as in the corridor sur- 
rounding it traces of the pavement of several periods still remain. The 
earliest of these, which is of opus spicatum, is, however, not older than the 
second century. No pavements have been preserved in the rooms on the 
north or on the south. In the group of rooms on the west and southwest‘ 
the larger room and the smaller ones adjoining it are paved with white and 
black mosaic. The pavement in the smaller rooms is probably original, 
since above it have been found remains of a pavement of opus sectile of the 
style popular in the time of Hadrian.’ The pavement in the larger room 
belongs probably to a later period.® In the rooms on the north’ hypocausts, 
or at least double floors,’ were built. In several of the rooms these have been 
preserved. Hypocausts of this period remain also in the smaller rooms on 
the southwest. That in the larger room on the west was inserted at a later 
time. In one of the rooms on the north remains of a stairway have been 
found. It is probable, therefore, that a second story extended over the whole 
house, with the exception possibly of the rooms on the southwest,° though no 
traces of it are left. But little change took place, probably, in the purpose 
to which the various rooms of the Atrium were set apart. The sleeping- 
rooms were without doubt transferred to the upper story, if this had not 
already been done in the preceding period. 
As in the other buildings of the period of Domitian,” the walls are clearly 
distinguishable from those of the preceding period, both by their methods of 
construction and by the materials used. The outer walls, especially those on 
the southwest, while not free from restoration, have in no case been rebuilt 
newer rooms. In one of these there is also 
evidence of the presence of fire. Professor 
1 On account of the lowering of the level of the 
room by the removal of the ancient pave- 
ment, the basin at present resembles a low 
platform. Mau holds that the use of such floors is not 
2 See p. 23, n. 7. sufficient proof of the existence of hypocausts, 
3 Plan B, 28. 9 The character of the rooms makes the existence 
4 Plan B, 16-23. of a second story improbable. 
* See p. 33. 10Of the buildings of Domitian, those of especial 
6 The pavement is of a much coarser type than 
that in the adjoining rooms. 
7 Plan B, 2-7. 
interest are the Domus Augustana and the 
so-called Stadium on the Palatine, the 
temple of Augustus, and the villa at Albano. 
