Engineering · Roman Empire Daily
Wealthy Romans heated their homes and baths with a hypocaust, an early central-heating system under the floor.
Deep dive
A furnace pushed hot air through a space beneath raised floors and inside hollow wall tiles, warming rooms from below and around. The system was especially important in the great public baths and in villas in colder provinces like Britain.
Source: Vitruvius, 'On Architecture,' 5.10.
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