--- title: "Houses of Paestum - Paestumsites" description: "Discover the houses of Paestum, from the earliest Greek dwellings of Poseidonia to Roman domus with atriums, impluviums and peristyles." url: "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum" date: "2026-08-13T18:49:25+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # Houses of Paestum: Daily Life in Ancient Poseidonia ![la casa con impluvium](https://www.paestumsites.it/images/discasa.gif) The great temples are the most famous monuments of Paestum, but the remains of the ancient city's **houses** reveal another equally important aspect of its history: the everyday life of its inhabitants. Residential buildings occupied the blocks defined by the city's street network and were repeatedly constructed, enlarged and transformed over the centuries. Beneath Roman houses, archaeologists have discovered traces of earlier Greek and Lucanian buildings. ## The earliest houses of Poseidonia Archaeological investigations in the residential areas have reached levels dating back to the **6th century BC**, when the first generations of Greek settlers lived in Poseidonia. These early houses were very different from the monumental stone temples being built in the city during the same period. Excavations have revealed traces of buildings constructed with wooden structures, posts and mud bricks, using simpler materials that were readily available locally. These discoveries are particularly important because they help reconstruct everyday life during the earliest phase of the Greek settlement. ## A Greek house between the 6th and 5th centuries BC One particularly interesting excavation uncovered a house dating from the late 6th to the early 5th century BC. The building consisted of three rectangular spaces. One appears to have functioned as a small courtyard, with the other rooms opening onto it. The foundations were built with large stone blocks, while the upper parts of the walls may have been constructed using lighter materials. Underground structures associated with everyday domestic activities were also discovered close to the house. ## Storing food and water Archaeologists have found wells and storage pits near the residential buildings. One pit, dating approximately between **525 and 450 BC**, was used for storing food supplies. It remained in use for a long period and was later filled with discarded material after it had lost its original function. Finds such as these are particularly valuable because they reveal aspects of ancient life that are rarely visible in monumental buildings: food storage, household organisation and the daily activities of the families who lived in Poseidonia. ## Houses during the Lucanian period When Poseidonia came under **Lucanian control** towards the end of the 5th century BC, its residential districts continued to be occupied and transformed. Archaeological excavations reveal a succession of different building phases. Older structures were modified, replaced or incorporated into later constructions. The residential areas therefore provide important evidence of continuity between the Greek and Lucanian periods of the city. ## The houses of Roman Paestum Another major transformation began after the establishment of the Roman colony of Paestum in **273 BC**. As the city gradually acquired Roman characteristics, its houses also changed. Several **domus**, the residences of wealthier families, have been identified within the urban blocks. As in other Roman cities, their rooms were often arranged around open spaces that provided light and ventilation. One of the most characteristic features was the **atrium**, often containing an **impluvium**, a basin designed to collect rainwater flowing from the roof. ## The House with the Marble Impluvium One of the best-known Roman houses at Paestum is the **House with the Marble Impluvium**, dating from the Imperial period. Its layout preserves many of the characteristic features of a traditional Roman domus. The main entrance opened onto a large vestibule leading to the atrium, where the marble impluvium collected rainwater. Bedrooms, or **cubicula**, opened along one side of the house, while the **tablinum**, the principal reception room, occupied an important position opposite the entrance. A passage beside the tablinum led to a **peristyle**, a colonnaded open space that became the centre of the more private part of the house. ## Houses built over earlier buildings The excavations clearly show that Paestum is a city made up of many overlapping archaeological layers. In one residential area, for example, archaeologists discovered that a Roman domus was built during the early 2nd century BC over an earlier craft area containing kilns. The construction of the new house modified and partly destroyed the previous structures while incorporating some of their remains. These overlapping layers allow archaeologists to reconstruct the gradual transformation of the city over many centuries. ## Everyday life beyond the temples The houses of Paestum may be less monumental than its famous Greek temples, but they are essential for understanding the history of the city. The temples, Forum and Amphitheatre primarily reveal the religious and public life of ancient Poseidonia and Paestum. The residential districts instead bring us closer to the everyday lives of the people who lived there. Their houses provide evidence about family organisation, building techniques, food storage and the way domestic spaces changed as the city passed from the Greek to the Lucanian and Roman periods. Details Written by: Paestumsites Parent Category: [Paestum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum?view=category&id=21) Category: [Paestum: Archaeological Area, Temples and Museum](https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum?view=category&id=22) Also available: [![Italiano](https://www.paestumsites.it/media/mod_languages/images/it.gif "Italiano")](https://www.paestumsites.it/it/paestum/la-casa) Last Updated: 12 August 2026 ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Paestum", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Houses of Paestum", "item": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum" }, "headline": "Houses of Paestum: Daily Life in Ancient Poseidonia", "description": "Discover the houses of Paestum, from the earliest Greek dwellings of Poseidonia to Roman domus with atriums, impluviums and peristyles.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/images/discasa.gif" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Paestum", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/images/paestum_logo.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tiberio Gracco", "url": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum" }, "datePublished": "2026-08-12T18:34:46+02:00", "dateCreated": "2026-08-12T18:34:46+02:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-12T18:36:09+02:00" } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.paestumsites.it/en/paestum/houses-of-paestum" }, "headline": "Houses of Paestum: Daily Life in Ancient Poseidonia", "description": "The great temples are the most famous monuments of Paestum, but the remains of the ancient city's houses reveal another equally important aspect of its history: the everyday life of its inhabitants. 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