The Roman home, according to Shelly Hales`s interesting thesis, was not so much a man`s castle as his forum. As head of the familia or household, his home played a vital part in establishing and maintaining status and honour. This is demonstrated in the layout and plan of high-status homes as well as in the many domestic rituals that took place inside. This study is an insightful exploration of the relationship between the design and decoration of the domus and the promotion of its owners` identities. It is based on archaeological and architectural evidence from across the empire with many surviving villas photographed, accompanied by plans. Not surprisingly the emphasis is on the heart of the empire and the well-preserved remains of Rome and Pompeii. Sections discuss imperial villas, including the houses of Augustus, Hadrian and the `mad houses` of the `bad emperors`, the urban landscape and prosperous, well-decorated houses of Pompeii, and evidence from the western provinces, including Britain, and the east. A discussion on the intricate Roman relationship between public and private begins the book. Well-illustrated throughout.