Curiosities of ancient Rome (Society)

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Society is a collection of curiosities dedicated to the daily life, customs, and social structure of ancient Rome. This category includes lesser-known facts and interesting information about interpersonal relationships, family, social status, work, and the functioning of various social strata of the Roman Empire.

Toga – typical Roman garment

The toga was a garment that distinguished Roman citizens, consisting of a 3- to 6-meter piece of cloth that was wrapped around the arms and body. Usually, the toga was made of wool (thicker or…Więcej

Nicknames and names of Romans?

In ancient Rome, to the first name (praenomen) and family name (nomen) in the first century BCE was added nickname (cognomen). It happened because at the end of the republic’s existence the families began to…Więcej

Pater familias could decide on death of family member

In ancient Rome, the father of the family (pater familias) was a person with exceptional social rights. Among other things, he had the right to decide even about the lives of other family members. It…Więcej

Romans decided whether to accept infants

In ancient Rome, the very birth of a child was a solemn event for the household. When the boy was born, the door of the house was decorated with olive branches. When the girl was…Więcej

Roman women were educated

In ancient Rome, it was appropriate for a woman in upper and middle social classes to be able to read and write. Sometimes the family invested in girls even more and provided private Greek or…Więcej

Breastfeeding in Roman times

The rich Roman matrons did not breastfeed their children. For these purposes, slaves or freedmen were usually used. Soranus – Greek philosopher and doctor from the 2nd century CE – in his work De arte…Więcej

Structure of Roman family

A typical Roman familia consisted of all family members and their slaves slaves. To put it in legal matters, everyone who was subject to the legal control of the head of the house belonged to…Więcej

Brushing teeth in Roman times was routine

Brushing teeth in Roman times was an inseparable element of personal hygiene. However, modern people would not use the substances used by the Romans. They believed, for example, that hard ingredients allowed teeth to maintain…Więcej

Subligaculum – Roman underwear

Subligaculum was underwear, worn e.g. under a toga, which was formed by a linen loincloth. Both men and women wrapped in a belt of material around the waist to cover intimate places. This type of…Więcej

Did Romans wear rings as sign of love?

In the Roman world, there was no distinction between the wedding ring and the engagement ring. Roman on the occasion of the wedding was donating a ring to his chosen woman. However, this was not…Więcej

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