Note 20 — Chapter III · THE HOMES OF THE LOWLY AND OF THE MIGHTY

This heating by hypocausts was used much more in Roman villas in Gaul, the Rhinelands, and Britain, where winters were severe, than in Italy. In Rome itself people ordinarily managed to shiver through the relatively short cold spells by means of portable charcoal braziers, placed in the more important rooms, and by piling upon themselves extra tunics.