Hypocaust was the way to heat rooms and villas and in the public baths. A furnace outside of the building spewed hot air under the floors of the room. To do this, the floor was raised using mini columns. On of the challenges of creating this heated room was making sure the floor was thick enough to be walked on. The air would pass through box- like channels in the walls and leave through vents in the roof. The closer to the furnace, the hotter. Baths were usually the ones closest to the furnace. Today, our floors are heated and we have the luxury of air conditioning and heaters. The air conditioning and heaters use the same concept as hypocaust, cool or warm air in, and a vent to send other air out.The picture above is of the little columns used to raise the floor.
Picture Source:
Digital Image. Wikipedia Commons. Wikipedia Commons, 15 Aug. 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. http://coomons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%20Flavia_Solva_hypocaust.jpg
Information source:
Corbishley, Mike. "Hypocaust." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2004. 75-75. Print.
Beverley
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