Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Impluvium

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

IMPLUV'IUM. A large square basin sunk in the floor of the atrium in private houses, intended as a receptacle for the rain water which flowed in through the compluvium, or opening in the roof of the same. Varro, L. L. v. 161. Festus s. v. Plaut. Amph. v. i. 59. Liv. xliii. 13. Cic. Verr. ii. 1. 23.) The illustration (Impluvium/1.1) represents the impluvium as now seen in the house of Sallust at Pompeii; a roof is restored to the apartment in order to show the manner in which the rain would enter through the compluvium above.

2. In some passages the word appears to be used in the same sense as compluvium (Plaut. Mil. ii. 2. 4. Ter. Eun. iii. 5. 41. Vitruv. vi. 3. 6.); but there is good reason for doubting the accuracy of these readings, and most of the best editions have adopted compluvium in its place.

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  Impluvium/1.1