PERISTYLIUM
The
peristylium was the garden space of the house. It was an open courtyard
surrounded by columns, which supported the covered portico. This cover
provided shade and shelter. Often this colonnaded area contained wall
paintings and the lararium or
shrine of the household gods. The courtyard was filled with flowers, shrubs,
benches and perhaps even fishponds.
The matrona or older Roman woman of the house would have used this area for formal entertaining in the evenings, visiting with close friends during the day or spending leisure time enjoying the flowers.