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How did the homes of wealthy Pompeiians differ from the smaller shop houses?

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Ruins of ancient Pompeii with stone columns and walls in the foreground, and Mount Vesuvius rising in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — Pompeii Mount Vesuvius rising up over the ruins of the ancient Roman city Pompeii.

In ancient Pompeii, the homes of the wealthy, known as the domus, differed significantly from the more modest shop houses found throughout the city.

The Domus: Wealthy Residences

The domus was a single-family dwelling designed around interior spaces rather than an external facade, emphasizing privacy and luxury. Key architectural features included:12
* Atrium and Peristyle: These homes were typically divided into two main sections. The atrium served as a public area for family activities, while the peristyle—a colonnaded garden court—housed private quarters, including bedrooms (cubiculae), dining rooms (triclinia), and reception rooms (oecus).12
* Elaborate Decoration: Wealthy homes often featured sophisticated floor mosaics, wall paintings in various styles (such as the Architectural or Ornamental styles), and fountains.13
* Scale: Some residences, like the House of the Faun, were expansive, occupying entire city blocks with multiple atria and gardens.3

Shop Houses and Modest Dwellings

In contrast, Pompeii contained numerous smaller homes, many of which functioned as shop houses. While wealthy domus focused on internal courtyards, shop houses were often integrated into the street front, prioritizing commercial utility alongside living space. Unlike the sprawling, multi-room layouts of the elite, these dwellings were more compact, reflecting the daily lives of the city's humbler residents.32