§190. The first change in the primitive house came in the form of a shed or "lean-to" on the side of the _ātrium_ opposite the door. It was probably intended at first for merely temporary purposes, being built of wooden boards (_tabulae_), and having an outside door and no connection with the _ātrium_. It could not have been long, however, until the wall between was broken through, and this once done and its convenience demonstrated, the partition wall was entirely removed, and the second form of the Roman house resulted (Fig. 37). This improvement also persisted, and the _tablīnum_ is found in all the houses from the humblest to the costliest of which we have any knowledge. [Illustration: FIGURE 38. PLAN OF HOUSE] §191. The next change was made by widening the _ātrium_, but in order that the roof might be more easily supported walls were erected along the lines of the old _ātrium_ for about two-thirds of its depth. These may have been originally mere pillars, as nowadays in our cellars, not continuous walls. At any rate, the _ātrium_ at the end next the _tablīnum_ was given the full width between the outside walls, and the additional spaces, one on each side, were called _ālae_. The appearance of such a house as seen from the entrance door must have been much like that of an Anglican or Roman Catholic church. The open space between the supporting walls corresponded to the nave, the two _ālae_ to the transepts, while the bay-like _tablīnum_ resembled the chancel. The space between the outside walls and those supporting the roof was cut off into rooms of various sizes, used for various purposes (Fig. 38). So far as we know they received light only from the _ātrium_, for no windows are assigned to them by Roman writers, and none are found in the ruins, but it is hardly probable that in the country no holes were made for light and air, however considerations of privacy and security may have influenced builders in the towns. From this ancient house we find preserved in its successors all opposite the entrance door: the _ātrium_ with its _ālae_ and _tablīnum_, the _impluvium_ and _compluvium_. These are the characteristic features of the Roman house, and must be so regarded in the description which follows of later developments under foreign influence. [Illustration: FIGURE 39. PLAN OF HOUSE]