Heraklia's Oikos - Part 1 - the Thalamos

The various rooms in my oikos are all describribed, if you would like to take a tour. Do not expect fancy furnishings - most of the time, only the Andron (the dining room) has fancy plaster or paintings, or a mosaic floor. We climb to the second story, where the Thalamos (bedroom) is, by a ladder, as you can see! But it fulfills the requirements Socrates noted: it is cool, built facing to the south, and all the necessary functions of family and friends can be taken care of in simplicity.

Part 1 - The Thalamos 

Welcome to the Master Bedroom 

Usually towards the rear of the house, up a flight of stairs, is the main bedroom of the house, the Thalamos. Why tucked away like this? In the old days, the men of Athens wanted their women in the most secure part of the house - where they would be protected. AND where they couldn't possibly sneak out to get into mischief unless the husband knew about it!

The first thing most Persians notice is how bare our rooms are in Athens, and this extends to the bedroom. You see my bed, larger than usual - I had it custom-made - covered with simple quilts and a luxury feather pillow I brought from Rome, where they are considered decadent. Other than the two storage chests on each side of the bed, a small table, and two chairs, it's the only furniture in the room besies the bag that holds my lyre. There are no closets; clothing is folded and stored in the chests. I have a rough woven-grass carpeting on the floor, but nothing else.