How Is Impluvium Used?

The impluvium is the sunken part of the atrium in a Greek or Roman house (domus). Designed to carry away the rainwater coming through the compluvium of the roof, it is usually made of marble and placed about 30 cm below the floor of the atrium and emptied into a subfloor cistern.

What would be contained in the impluvium?

The “impluvium” house was built on the northern hill between the seventh and sixth century BC. Its walls are made of stone and clay, while the roof is of terracotta tiles. The house contained a basin called impluvium, used to collect the rainwater trickling down from the sloping roof, which was channeled to a cistern.

What does impluvium mean in English?

: a cistern or tank in the atrium or peristyle of a house of ancient Rome to receive the water falling through the compluvium.