Hypocaust Illustration

Archaeology (Verulamium Museum)

Illustration showing a cross section of the Roman mosaic and hypocaust which can be seen in Verulamium Park, St Albans. A hypocaust was a Roman under-floor heating system. The floor was supported on brick or stone pillars, called pilae. A fire would be lit and the heat from the fire could circulate around the pillars and heat the floor. There would be flues or channels in the walls through which the heat and smoke of the fire could escape. Because the fire needed constant attention, a hypocaust was expensive to run and they were mostly found in public baths and private villas owned by wealthy citizens.

HypoXsection.tif

CD 897

Amy Cooke

[Not applicable].

30/04/2008