Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Atriensis

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

ATRIEN'SIS. A domestic slave, or one who belonged to the familia urbana in all the great Roman houses, to whose especial charge the care of the Atrium was committed. He occupied a position not unlike that of maitre d'hotel in the present day; for he exercised a control over all the other slaves of the household, took charge of the busts, statues, and valuables exposed in the atrium, set out and arranged the furniture, and saw that it was kept clean, and nothing damaged. Plaut. Asin. passim, and especially Act. ii. Sc. 2. and 4. Cic. Parad. v. 2.