Which part of the Roman house is designed to carry away rainwater?

The correct answer is the impluvium. In ancient Roman architecture, the impluvium is a shallow pool or basin located in the atrium of a Roman house, specifically designed to collect rainwater that falls through the compluvium, which is an opening in the roof. The primary purpose of the impluvium was not only functional, allowing for the collection of water for drinking and other household uses, but it also contributed to the cooling of the interior spaces of the home. Rainwater would flow from the open roof through the compluvium, into the impluvium, demonstrating the Romans' advanced understanding of integrating natural elements into their building designs for practical and aesthetic purposes.

The compluvium, while related, is the architectural feature referring to the opening itself in the roof through which the rainwater enters, rather than the area that collects it. The tablinum serves as an office or reception area within the house, and the peristylium is a colonnaded porch or garden area, neither of which plays a role in water collection. Understanding the function of the impluvium provides insight into Roman domestic architecture's ingenuity in managing rainwater and sustaining household needs.