The aim of this article is to deal with the problem of cataloging the remains of the wealthy Roman townhouse from the imperial period indifferently between the wealthy peristyle house and the porticated court house. Architectural and typological differences of these two circulation and distribution areas are shown. The historical origins of the peristyle and the porticated court are used to clarify the differences between these two house typologies and why it is necessary to document and differentiate them in order to obtain more accurate conclusions about domestic and social life of the High Empire.