Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Andron

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ANDRON (ἀνδρών). Properly speaking a Greek word, and therefore in its strict sense having reference to the customs of that nation. It designates the first of the two principal divisions into which the ground-plan (Andron/1.1) of a Greek house was distributed, appropriated to the sole and exclusive use of the male portion of the establishment. (Vitruv. vi. 7. 4. Festus, s. v.) It consisted of an open court (αὐλή), surrounded by colonnades (marked c on the plan), round which were arranged the various sets of chambers required for the service of the proprietor and his dependants (Nos. 1 to 9), and was separated from the other division contaning the women's apartments by a passage and door (marked d) between the two.

2. The Latin writers applied the word in a very different sense, to designate a mere passage which divides one house, or one part of the same house, from another; as for instance, the passage between the external wall of a house and garden adjoining (Plin. Ep. ii. 17. 22.); and the Roman architects made use of the same term most inaccurately to designate the corridor in a Greek house, which separated the men's and women's apartments from one another (marked d in the preceding plan), but for which the proper name was Mesaulae.

• 
  Andron/1.1