Coupe architecturale stylisée d’un hypocauste, un système de chauffage romain.

Stylized architectural section of a hypocaust, a system of central heating used by Romans.

Annotations :

1. A hypocaust is a central heating system for ground and pools used in roman times.
2. A fireplace fuelled from an adjoining room warm up the air in a free space beneath the ground and the pool.
3. Heat is spreading under the ground and is stored then given by small piles of terracotta. These piles are also used to support the suspensura.
4. Ground and pool are over a level called “suspensura”, composed of an impermeable hydraulic mortar.
5. Heat is also diffused through walls thanks to a system of terracotta pipes called “tubuli”