FAM: Cultural Lesson - Roman Families

Roman Families

Let's take a moment to explore Roman families. We'll start by looking at the imperial family, then move on to other topics that families managed, like children and education.

Emperor Titus

Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus ruled as emperor of Rome from 79 to 81 CE. He was a member of the Flavian dynasty. Titus became emperor following the death of his father Vespasian. His younger brother was Domitian, who followed Titus as emperor after his death. Titus was considered a good emperor by many historians. Prior to becoming emperor, Titus was a military commander in Judaea and then served as Praetorian Prefect while his father was emperor. Titus is most well known for completing the Flavian amphitheater and his generosity toward Roman citizens following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE and the fire of 80 CE.

The Pater Familias

Titus was the eldest son of Vespasian and Domitilla the Elder. Titus had a younger sister named Domitilla the Younger and a younger brother named Titus Flavius Domitianus, also called Domitian. Upon the death of his father, Titus became the pater familias (father of the family) of the imperial household. Being the eldest male in a Roman family came with certain responsibilities: ownership of family property, authority over family members, obligation to raise good Roman citizens, overseer of the moral and religious duties of the household, and head of the political and social customs of the household. The control of the pater familias extended to all members of his household including his wife, unmarried daughters, unmarried sons, married sons and wives, grandchildren, extended family, freedmen, clients and slaves. Patria potestas (power of the father) gave the pater familias absolute control over their family. This allowed the father to accept a newborn into the family, arrange marriages, put to death a child, sell a child into slavery and adopt a new heir. The frequency by which a Roman father might implement such power depended on his own choice as well as familial sentiments and community customs. Roman fathers often arranged marriages and adopted an heir but rarely put a child to death.

Women and Marriage

Roman girls were often married at thirteen or fourteen years old and expected to bear children. Motherhood was greatly valued in Rome. The emperor Augustus passed laws encouraging families to have children to increase the birthrate. Tradition says that a Roman mother was to be morally upright and graceful, demonstrating an honorable character at all times. A Roman matrona (the eldest female member of the family) enjoyed a great deal of influence over her household. The mother's responsibilities included managing the household, overseeing the household slaves, weaving and spinning clothing and providing for the early upbringing of her children. Unlike her ancient Greek counterpart, a Roman woman often assisted her husband in the political, social and religious duties of the house as well. Some women even ran their own businesses. Regardless of wealth or social status, Roman women were not allowed to vote or hold public office.

Childhood and Education

The mortality rate for Roman children was high. To protect young children against evil, Romans gave boys and girls a bulla (see image). The bulla was worn by girls until their wedding, at which point they would dedicate it along with their toys to the household gods. Boys wore their bulla until age 16 or 17 when they formally became a Roman citizen. Additionally, children could be adopted, especially when a family did not have a male heir. Once adopted, the child would take on the new family name and become completely integrated with the new family. Children in ancient Rome enjoyed many of the same activities as modern children. They played with toys like dolls and tiny figurines.  They enjoyed traditional games, like knucklebones, and ball games. They also had family pets: dogs, cats and birds.

For the vast majority of Roman children formal education was not available, yet most were able to read and write. School was reserved for the wealthy and even then, only for boys. If a boy could not afford formal education, he generally studied a trade in the family business. Most girls studied household duties from their mothers in preparation for their own households. For the wealthiest Romans, a private tutor often taught advanced studies like rhetoric and Greek to the children at home, both boys and girls.

Key Terms:

• bulla - protective amulet that young children wore in ancient Rome.
• adoption - One of the most famous adoptions was that of Gaius Octavius, grand-nephew of Julius Caesar.  Octavius was posthumously adopted by a proviso in Caesar's will, and became Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus.  He later added the honorific title "Augustus", by which name he is well known as the first emperor of Rome.  Notice that Octavius was moved to the end, becoming a cognomen with the suffix -anus: this alteration indicated adoption.
• knucklebones - knucklebones was a game that was played with small pieces.  It was played in a manner similar to jacks, or pick-up-sticks.