The atrium and models of space in Latin literature

Abstract

This report examines all the occurrences of the atrium in Latin literature and the context for each occasion. It begins with an overview of the etymology of atrium and the development of the atrium-house plan then analyzes the use of the word atrium in terms of theories of spatial conception. The results are that the atrium as a cognitive model is restricted to an upper class, elite mindset and that the space appears to be more multifunctional in nature than is usually thought.