Hypocaust

ancient rome · heating · engineering

Hidden heat pipes. A hypocaust worked by channeling hot air from a furnace through pipes and spaces under the floor, warming the rooms above like an ancient version of modern central heating.

Roman luxury system. Wealthy Romans loved hypocausts because they made buildings toasty warm in winter and even helped dry out moisture, which kept people healthier and more comfortable.

Word from Greek roots. The name hypocaust comes from ancient Greek words meaning 'under' and 'burnt', perfectly describing how fire beneath the floor did all the heating work.

Possibly older origin. The Temple of Ephesus may have used a hypocaust system as early as 350 BC, though a man named Sergius Orata got credit for inventing it around 80 BC.

Brilliant invention. Hypocausts were so good at their job that they became the great-great-grandfather of all modern central heating systems we use in homes today.