View source for atrium

{{Lewis
|lshtext=<b>ātrĭum</b>: ii, n. acc. to Scaliger, from αἴθριον, subdiale, [[since]] it [[was]] a [[part]] of the [[uncovered]] [[portion]] of the [[house]] ([[but]] the [[atrium]] of the Romans [[was]] [[always]] [[covered]]); acc. to Varr. L. L. 5, § 161 Müll., from the Tuscan [[town]] Atria, [[where]] this [[style]] of [[architecture]] originated; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 13 Müll.; and Müller, Etrusk. 1, p. 254 sq.; [[but]] [[better]] from [[ater]], acc. to the [[explanation]] of [[Servius]]: ibi [[etiam]] [[culina]] erat, [[unde]] et [[atrium]] [[dictum]] est; atrum [[enim]] erat ex [[fumo]], ad Verg. A. 1, 730.<br /><b>I</b> The [[fore]]-[[court]], [[hall]], [[entrance]]-[[room]], [[entry]]; [[that]] [[part]] of the Roman [[house]] [[into]] [[which]] one [[first]] came [[after]] [[passing]] the [[entrance]] (janua); cf. Vitr. 6, 4; O. Müller, Archaeol. III. § 293, and Etrusk. [[above]] cited. In earlier times, the [[atrium]] [[was]] used as a dining-[[room]], [[Cato]] ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 726. [[Here]] stood, [[opposite]] the [[door]], the [[lectus]] [[genialis]], Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 87; here sat the [[housewife]] [[with]] her maidens [[spinning]], Arn. adv. Gent. 2, 67; here clients were in [[attendance]], Hor. Ep. 1, 5, 31; Juv. 7, 7 and 91; and here hung the [[family]] portraits and [[other]] paintings, Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 55; Mart. 2, 90; Val. Max. 5, 8, 3; Vulg. Matt. 26, 58; ib. Marc. 14, 54; ib. Joan. 18, 15 al.—Poet. in the <[[number]] opt="n">plur.</[[number]]>, of a [[single]] [[atrium]]: Apparet [[domus]] [[intus]] et atria longa patescunt, Verg. A. 2, 483; so Ov. M. 14, 260; Juv. 8, 20 al.—[[Meton]]. for the [[house]] itself: nec capient Phrygias atria nostra [[nurus]], Ov. H. 16, 184; id. M. 13, 968.—So of the [[entrance]]-[[room]] in the [[dwelling]] of the gods: dextrā laevāque deorum Atria nobilium (as it were clients,<br /> v. [[supra]]) valvis celebrantur apertis, Ov. M. 1, 172; Stat. Th. 1, 197.—<br /><b>II</b> In [[temples]] and [[other]] [[public]] buildings [[there]] [[was]] [[often]] an [[atrium]], a [[hall]], [[court]]: in atrio Libertatis, Cic. Mil. 22, 59; Liv. 25, 7; 45, 15; Tac. H. 1, 31; Suet. Aug. 29: Vestae, Plin. Ep. 7, 19, 2; also called [[atrium]] regium, Liv. 26, 27; cf. Ov. F. 6, 263; id. Tr. 3, 1, 30: [[atrium]] tabernaculi, Vulg. Exod. 27, 9; ib. Lev. 6, 26: in atriis Domūs Dei, ib. Psa. 91, 14; 134, 2; Smith, Dict. Antiq.—So [[atrium]] auctionarium, an [[auction]]-[[hall]], [[auction]]-[[room]], Cic. Agr. 1, 3; so Inscr. Orell. 3439; and absol., atria: cum desertis Aganippes Vallibus esuriens migraret in atria [[Clio]], Juv. 7, 7. Such halls were the Atria [[Licinia]], Cic. Quinct. 6, 25: ATRIVM SVTORIVM, the shoemakers' [[hall]], a [[place]] in [[Rome]], Calend. Praenest. Inscr. Orell. II. 386.
}}