With the abandonment of the cities in the Late Roman period, the rural villa became a self-sufficient centre of production and consumption thanks to a wide variety of economic activities. Its owner, the dominus, exercised economic, social, military and religious power over the people who lived there and reflected his ideology and intellectual activity in the decorative motifs of the various rooms, as can be seen in this mosaic, which probably belonged to a dominus involved in the arts.

The structure of an urban dwelling reflects the diversity of activities, as well as social and economic differences: the amenities of the house express the social status of its owner. The most characteristic house models are two: the domus or single-family mansion and the insula or block of neighbours.

From the 4th century AD, the great landowner, the dominus, abandoned the urban centres and settled in the countryside. At the same time, many citizens moved to the villages in search of work and a system of colonato was created.