Family in ancient Rome

The entire life of Roman citizens revolved around the city on the one hand and around the family (familia) on the other. The word meant a little more than family. It included all the inhabitants of the house: parents, children, grandchildren, slaves, and even freedmen who stayed with their masters. They were all subject to the authority of the father of the family. It was in the family environment that the most important events in the life of a Roman and the rituals related to them took place.

Birth

The newborn was placed at his father’s feet, and he acknowledged him by taking him into his arms. If he did not do this, the child was abandoned on the street and could be adopted by someone who had no offspring or could be raised as a slave. The boy received his name after a few days, and the girl inherited her name from her father.

Roman education

The children were raised by family members until the age of seven. In wealthy families, infants were fed by wet nurses, and older children were entrusted to slaves. After reaching the age of seven, education began: girls learned from their mothers how to take care of the house, and some of them learned to read, write and count together with boys.

Women’s place

Roman women were always subordinate to some man: father, brother or husband, but they were not always submissive. They were the ones who managed the house and gave orders to the slaves. During the empire, they received more rights.

Marriage

Girls could be married off by their family from the age of twelve, boys from the age of fourteen; However, during the times of the Empire, people’s mentality changed and spouses more often chose themselves. During the ceremony, a sacrifice was made to the gods, and the next day the marriage was concluded in the parents’ house in the presence of ten witnesses. After the celebration, the husband took his wife to present her to the gods in his household.

At the wedding, the bride wore a long white shirt tied with a belt. She wore a saffron-coloured scarf or cloak, and a veil covered her hair, which was styled in a bun.