The vestibulum, also called fauces ("throat"), was a long, narrow hallway leading from the front door into the atrium. The rooms on either side had separate doorways opening into the street and did not communicate with the rest of the house; wealthy homeowners often rented these out as shops. The length of the hallway offered a buffer from the noise and smells of the street, and watchdogs like this one protected the family from unwelcome visitors.
