Curiosities of ancient Rome (Society)

Under Roman law, the father was not only the head of the family but exercised absolute authority over it. The fact that his wife gave birth to a child did not yet mean that he would become a family member. This happened only after the completion of the so-called ritual of elevation. It consisted in placing the newborn at the feet of the master of the house and awaiting his decision. If the pater familias, as the omnipotent father was called, took the child in his arms and walked around the house with him, he officially recognized him as his offspring.

Although the Roman Empire was powerful and was inhabited by a huge mass of people, it still, like other countries of that period, had a high infant mortality rate. In ancient Rome, infant mortality ranged from 15% to 35%.

The wedding day in the Roman world was chosen with great care. This was done to avoid any ordinary omens that might adversely affect future life. For example, June was considered a successful month until marriage, while May was seen as very unlucky.

Children from rich homes were often fed by other women, the so-called mammals. Soranus of Ephesus in the 2nd century CE. He proposed to hire a woman between 20 and 40 years of age who has two or three children of her own.