An Archaeological Contribution to Hygienical Principles in the Roman Town-planing

Abstract

Greek and Roman ancient medical writers suggest hygienical rules whi-ch are strictly dependent on the orientation of towns, the direction of winds and the quality of waters. According to Vitruvius, architects and builders should have some medical knowledge, together with a strong new interest towards the improvement of enviromental conditions. Nor-ha, a little city never built up again after the Sillan distraction in 81 B.C., and Civitas Artena, quitted in the first century B.C., have been studied as significant exemples of this architectural behaviour. The construction of Villae - big country houses nearby the city - was conditioned by econo-mics, easily available water, sunshine light and proximity to fruitful soils.