Windows and light in Roman housing in Italy (IInd century B.C.E. – Ist century C.E.)

Studies in the history and archaeology of construction have developed significantly in recent years, providing new information about Roman architecture. This concerns not only the layout of buildings but also their elevation, construction, and roofing. All these elements now give us a better idea of the interior of buildings, and therefore a closer picture of what life must have been like inside Roman houses. However, windows and openings in houses have sometimes been overlooked. Although several studies have already been carried out on specific buildings, many aspects of this architectural element remain to be explored. Windows are a fundamental feature of any living space, especially a domestic one: they are the primary source of natural light within the home and provide a frame for looking outwards. Furthermore, in the 1st century C.E., Roman architects and craftsmen had the technology necessary to produce window glass. This technological innovation significantly and profoundly changed the way buildings were constructed and, therefore, the perception of interior space. To study all these elements, the Roman world nevertheless had a privileged observation point: the Vesuvius region. Occupied by the Romans since the beginning of the 2nd century B.C.E., it became an important laboratory for Roman construction during the 1st century B.C.E. and the 1st century C.E. This unique situation was sealed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 C.E., thus offering a unique window of observation on Roman construction of that period. This thesis set out to highlight various aspects of the study of windows. By studying construction techniques, shapes, measurements, but also orientation, landscape, and light within the Roman house, it was possible to highlight construction and organisational logic according to spatial organisation rules, which relate to ideas of social organisation and perception of space that go beyond construction. It was also possible to test different closing systems for Roman windows. This work also provided an opportunity to test different tools that can be used to overcome technical difficulties. All in all, through a window opened onto the past, it was possible to glimpse for a moment the house as it was perceived by the Romans of the 1st century C.E.