The role of doors in history, between religion and practicality

The role of doors in history

On our blog, we often stop to talk about internal and external doors not only referring to their task of furnishing homes and offices. For example, we have explored what it means to dream of a door. Or we have made a little journey in search of the largest doors in the world.

Today, however, we want to talk about the role of the door in history. From the first uses to religion, from the birth of the idea of ​​decorative furniture up to more recent times. Surprises, as you will discover, are certainly not lacking.
The Roman Empire and the first gates

The concept of door has no concrete evidence in the very first civilizations known to us. To have a direct testimony, it is necessary to refer to the archaeological excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Obviously simple doors, which however have come down to us through the tragic eruption that in 79 AD. buried the two cities of Campania.

The role of the door, already in antiquity, was evidently that of screening the rooms, while guaranteeing privacy and shelter at the same time. Excavations and findings have certified that iron locks already existed in Roman times, with keys that from time to time could be hung around the neck, or even placed in pockets or bracelets.

The feature that differentiates the Roman doors of that period from the others - for example those of the Greeks - is their use. The Romans, in fact, also used the windows inside, to separate above all the day environments from the nocturnal ones.

The role of religion

It is with the affirmation of Christianity in Europe, in any case, that the door takes on its highest meaning. The fixture, therefore, was used above all in environments such as churches and cathedrals, with a care in execution certainly much higher than those that could be found in humble houses.

In this case, the fundamental discriminant is linked to the historical period. In the Romanesque period, characterized by a sober rigor, the door was often made up of a simple glass window, or little worked wooden slabs. Everything changes with the gothic. Where the door becomes elaborate, and full of geometric motifs. A vehicle of communication that already at the entrance of the religious building had the task of transmitting a message and impressing the faithful.
The door as a decorative and structural element

Over time, thanks to research and the use of new materials, the door has continued to change its role. No longer an element belonging only to sumptuous environments, but an object that can also be purchased by a large portion of the population. Wood, aluminum, iron and PVC are used in increasingly original ways, to ensure that every environment can be protected to the fullest.

From here on, the wooden door, or any other material, is seen not only as a structural element of confined spaces, but also as a support capable of unleashing a stylistic potential where it had never dared before. That is, the houses of "normal" people. A sort of democratization of style and beauty, which today allows everyone to be able to purchase certainly safe and technologically advanced fixtures. But also beautiful to look at.
And finally, the doors in video games!

Our journey that started from the ruins of Pompeii takes us into the world of video games. Also in this context, in fact, the doors have a very important role. They allow the passage from one level to another, but their construction is anything but simple.

The design problems of "virtual" ports are diverse, and often give developers serious headaches:

    Doors that open by themselves;
    Wrong proportions;
    Wrong shots;
    High number of animations.

In short, doors also seem to be protagonists of new technologies, confirming their central role in human history.

FIP offers interior and exterior fixtures

In our own small way, we at Porte Italiane carry on the history of fixtures. A story that, as we have seen, starts from afar and continues to evolve with new styles, materials and uses.

To buy your next window, please consult our catalog of doors. For any doubt or information, however, do not hesitate to take advantage of the assistance service via WhatsApp. Or call the numbers 0941 901172 and 0941 912335.