Living Theatre in the Ancient Roman House

This book explores and illustrates how ancient Roman houses and villas, in their décor, activities, and function were highly-theatricalised environments.

The book will appeal to readers interested in Graeco-Roman visual-culture, life in Rome and Pompeii, and the use of 3-D visualisation to explore cultural heritage. Richly illustrated, it is the first major study exploring the crucial importance of theatre in ancient domestic practice, décor and architecture.For the Romans, much of life was seen, expressed and experienced as a form of theatre. In their homes, patrons performed the lead, with a supporting cast of residents and visitors. This sumptuously illustrated book, the result of extensive interdisciplinary research, is the first to investigate, describe and show how ancient Roman houses and villas, in their décor, spaces, activities and function, could constitute highly-theatricalised environments, indeed, a sort of 'living theatre'. Their layout, purpose and use reflected and informed a culture in which theatre was both a major medium of entertainment and communication and an art form drawing upon myths exploring the core values and beliefs of society. For elite Romans, their homes, as veritable stage-sets, served as visible and tangible expressions of their owners' prestige, importance and achievements. The Roman home was a carefully crafted realm in which patrons displayed themselves, while 'stage-managing' the behaviour and responses of visitor-spectators.