Roman House & Family Roman House & Family LivingLiving

Sarah GuarascioSarah Guarascio

Period 3Period 3

FamiliaFamilia

TheThe typical typical familia familia of ancient Rome was not so much of ancient Rome was not so much a family, as we today think of the concept of family, a family, as we today think of the concept of family, but more of a household.but more of a household.

It consisted of the married pair, the It consisted of the married pair, the domusdomus (townhouse), holdings of land and properties, (townhouse), holdings of land and properties, children, married sons and the son’s children, children, married sons and the son’s children, daughters-in-law, slaves, and clients.daughters-in-law, slaves, and clients.

It was not so much a group of relatives, but a group It was not so much a group of relatives, but a group of persons and property which belonged to the of persons and property which belonged to the dominant male.dominant male.

PaterfamiliasPaterfamilias He was the head of Roman family life, the oldest living He was the head of Roman family life, the oldest living

male in a family, and the absolute ruler of the household.male in a family, and the absolute ruler of the household. Over his children, he had the power of life and death. Over his children, he had the power of life and death.

Those who displeased him could be disowned or sold to Those who displeased him could be disowned or sold to slavery. His offspring did not become independent until slavery. His offspring did not become independent until his death.his death.

He held absolute power over the slaves of the household He held absolute power over the slaves of the household and all female relatives, including his wife.and all female relatives, including his wife.

Everything- people and property, rights and power, were Everything- people and property, rights and power, were manicipiamanicipia, held in his hand., held in his hand.

PotestasPotestas PotestasPotestas was a Roman concept central in expressing was a Roman concept central in expressing

relationships within the household.relationships within the household. It was endowed upon the It was endowed upon the paterfamilias.paterfamilias. By giving By giving

the the paterfamiliaspaterfamilias virtually absolute authority and virtually absolute authority and power over all the members of the household up until power over all the members of the household up until the time of his death, the time of his death, potestaspotestas excluded any excluded any possibility that the possibility that the paterfamilia’paterfamilia’s capacity to manage s capacity to manage the family might be challenged.the family might be challenged.

Potestas Potestas was not a constitutional power, but rather was not a constitutional power, but rather refers to social relationships.refers to social relationships.

The The potestas potestas of a of a paterfamilias paterfamilias over his family was over his family was unquestionable.unquestionable.

MaterfamiliasMaterfamilias She was usually much younger than the husband due to She was usually much younger than the husband due to

the fact that Roman women generally married in their the fact that Roman women generally married in their early teens, and men waited till their mid-twenties.early teens, and men waited till their mid-twenties.

The wife oversaw the management of the household, and The wife oversaw the management of the household, and in higher classes, was expected to behave modestly, in higher classes, was expected to behave modestly, move gracefully, and to conduct herself in a manner move gracefully, and to conduct herself in a manner which would reflect well on her husband and her family.which would reflect well on her husband and her family.

Her household chores included spinning, weaving, Her household chores included spinning, weaving, cooking, ordering the slaves, and teaching the children cooking, ordering the slaves, and teaching the children during their first few years.during their first few years.

The The materfamiliasmaterfamilias could increase her status in society by could increase her status in society by having more children.having more children.

MatrimoniumMatrimonium The purpose of marriage was to carry on the family line The purpose of marriage was to carry on the family line

by having children and so the spirits of the dead could be by having children and so the spirits of the dead could be honored.honored.

The marriage itself was a custom to prove the couple’s The marriage itself was a custom to prove the couple’s intention to live together- intention to live together- affectio maritalisaffectio maritalis..

A true Roman marriage could not take place unless both A true Roman marriage could not take place unless both bride and groom were Roman citizens, or had been bride and groom were Roman citizens, or had been granted granted conubiumconubium, permission to enter into a Roman , permission to enter into a Roman marriage.marriage.

Marriages were arranged between the bride’s father and Marriages were arranged between the bride’s father and her husband to be. The father had the power to end it in her husband to be. The father had the power to end it in divorce.divorce.

For the Romans, a successful marriage was one that For the Romans, a successful marriage was one that produced children. produced children.

UsusUsus One of the three types of marriage in ancient One of the three types of marriage in ancient

Rome, literally meaning “cohabition.”Rome, literally meaning “cohabition.” Marriage by Marriage by usususus always required the woman to always required the woman to

be married with be married with manusmanus. In a marriage involving . In a marriage involving manusmanus, the father of the bride abandons his , the father of the bride abandons his control over his daughter to the new husband. control over his daughter to the new husband.

Usus Usus also required that the woman remain and also required that the woman remain and stay in her husband’s house for a year, living stay in her husband’s house for a year, living together with him, assuming the position of together with him, assuming the position of daughter in the family.daughter in the family.

ConfarreatioConfarreatio

A second type of Roman marriage, involving a A second type of Roman marriage, involving a religious ceremony.religious ceremony.

This type of marriage was usually reserved for the This type of marriage was usually reserved for the wealthy, being that religious wedding ceremonies wealthy, being that religious wedding ceremonies were expensive and included difficult rituals.were expensive and included difficult rituals.

A woman in this situation was married with A woman in this situation was married with manusmanus, , which after Augustus was a formal requirement which after Augustus was a formal requirement only, but was still required for the ceremony.only, but was still required for the ceremony.

CoemptiaCoemptia

Third type of Roman marriage, which symbolically Third type of Roman marriage, which symbolically was a “purchase” of a woman by her new husband was a “purchase” of a woman by her new husband from her father.from her father.

She did not become a slave to her new husband. But She did not become a slave to her new husband. But he had complete control over her- she was his he had complete control over her- she was his property.property.

In In coemptiacoemptia, the wife carried a gift, or a dowry, into , the wife carried a gift, or a dowry, into the marriage, but was ceremoniously bought by her the marriage, but was ceremoniously bought by her husband in front of at least five witnesses.husband in front of at least five witnesses.

ProlesProles The The prolesproles, literally meaning the “descendants”, or , literally meaning the “descendants”, or

“offspring”, were the children of the “offspring”, were the children of the familia.familia. Sons were preferred over daughters. Girls did not have their Sons were preferred over daughters. Girls did not have their

own names, instead, they had the feminine form of their own names, instead, they had the feminine form of their father’s name followed by the rest of the father’s name in the father’s name followed by the rest of the father’s name in the genitive case showing possession.genitive case showing possession.

After the birth of a child, it was laid at its father’s feet and if After the birth of a child, it was laid at its father’s feet and if the father took it in its arms, it was his and became part of the the father took it in its arms, it was his and became part of the family. Otherwise the child would be disowned and left on the family. Otherwise the child would be disowned and left on the street.street.

The training of children was conducted by their parents, with The training of children was conducted by their parents, with emphasis on moral rather than intellectual development. The emphasis on moral rather than intellectual development. The most important virtues for a child to acquire were reverence most important virtues for a child to acquire were reverence for the gods, respect for the law, unquestioning and instant for the gods, respect for the law, unquestioning and instant obedience to authority, truthfulness, and self-reliance.obedience to authority, truthfulness, and self-reliance.

ProprietasProprietas The property or ownership that the The property or ownership that the paterfamilias paterfamilias

was in charge of.was in charge of. Part of thePart of the proprietas proprietas of rich families was a of rich families was a

domus, domus, which was a town house where they which was a town house where they lived.lived.

Many of them also had a country house called a Many of them also had a country house called a villavilla..

But most people living in towns and cities But most people living in towns and cities rented an apartment called a rented an apartment called a cenaculum.cenaculum.