The Roman Invention of Underfloor Heating
The ingenious Roman invention that sparked the ancient empire’s obsession with luxury was the hypocaust, a system of underfloor heating.
Beneath the mosaic floors of Roman villas, this system transformed warmth into a mark of power.
When thinking of Roman engineering, feats such as towering aqueducts, amphitheatres, and paved roads come to mind.
However, the hypocaust remains a recognizable feature of Roman domestic life, with archaeologists pointing to the distinctive stacks of bricks beneath villa floors as a mark of Roman sophistication.
"The hypocaust system is really important for us to think about when we consider Roman homes,"
explains Dr Hannah Platts on the HistoryExtra podcast.
Author's summary: Romans invented underfloor heating system.