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almeria | 4 years ago

The room was lit by a small upper window, and shows no evidence of having had any wall decorations.

So even slaves at Pompeii had a window to get light from, we see.

discuss

order

iasmseanyoung|4 years ago

Roman plasterwork was applied in layers, and in first layer (which is quite rough) a diamond pattern is scratched. This is to increase the adhesion of the next layer (also known as the key). This is also true of lime plasterwork done through the ages.

As far as I can see only the first layer with the diamond pattern is visible one the left wall. The other layers may have not survived. Why would you bother to create a diamond pattern if you're not going to put more layers on?

In fact, the wall at the far end does show more layers, and also some decoration right in the the middle.

Tronno|4 years ago

> Roman plasterwork was applied in layers, and in first layer (which is quite rough) a diamond pattern is scratched.

I don't think that's correct. I'm pretty sure the pictures actually depict opus reticulatum, which is a style of brick-lined cement work.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_reticulatum

I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

_jal|4 years ago

Probably for the same reason you sometimes see unfinished drywall in basements and attics.

supperburg|4 years ago

Because different stages could have been handled by different teams or contractors.

TheCoelacanth|4 years ago

That would have been an absolute necessity at the time. Artificial lighting was obscenely expensive in antiquity[1].

[1] https://www.statista.com/chart/10567/the-cost-of-light-throu...

User23|4 years ago

I wonder how they came up with that 1750 BC figure of 400 hours of work for one hour of light. Any ideas? It sounds ridiculously high, so I assume I'm missing something. What are they even talking about? Olive oil or tallow lamps? Firewood? Something else?

Kaibeezy|4 years ago

You can just barely make it out in the corner there:

CAROLVS MVNGER ARCHITECTVS

soylentbeige|4 years ago

I really don’t understand this reference

rexreed|4 years ago

I thought he was anti-window?

brazzy|4 years ago

Probably cheaper than providing them with candles or oil lamps.

bluGill|4 years ago

Roman salves in some case could become full citizens. Slavery was different for different cultures treatment varied greatly from situation to situation. The closer the slave was to the rich the better they were treated in general

kingkawn|4 years ago

Better than attending USC