Roman Civilisation - men and women

Who was Caecilius?

A Pompeiian banker and rich man in Pompeii: full name Lucius (first name) Caecilius (member of the Caecili clan) Icundus (family, meaning pleasant). He had full rights under Roman law and could punish slaves how he wished, except kill them for no good reason.

What did people do day to day?

Dress (men wore a tunic and toga and women wore a stola and if they were going out, a shawl). They would wear makeup and then people ate breakfast (typically just some water and bread)

What would Caecilius do throughout the day?

Meet his clientes as their patronus, do any further business and visit the forum. Midday involved lunch of meat/fish and fruit and then a small nap and dinner (cena). They would recline on couches and often eat for a long time

What would Metella (wife of Caecilius) do?

Manage the house with slave support. Women would go out for things and a small number managed their own businesses

What were the rich’s Roman houses like?

No proper garden, designed for light but no heat from the sun. They often bordered shops. Upon entering through the ianua (door), the atrium was revealed with a lararium for family gods and around the atrium a tablinum (study) and hortus (garden).

How were slaves taken and treated?

Generally captured in war or by pirates, and a child born to a slave became one. They were treated awfully and the law didn’t regard them as human with most owning slaves. They did many kinds of work such as in fields, stadiums, but were quite similar to poor freemen. Some slaves could be freed but they still faced challenges: forbidden from standing for election or as rising the ranks too much and still having to do some work for their ex masters.

How were slaves in mines treated?

It was the worst job of all and often killed slaves. Owners were technically bound by law such as it being illegal to kill a sick slave, but this was often ignored

What legal restrictions did slaves face?

Children considered owners’ property, stripped of identity, testimony only accepted if given under torture, young slave girls often slept with their (much older) masters by force

Who was Epaphroditus?

Nero’s slave and very important, eventually fell out of favour with Domitian, executed for helping Nero carry out suicide 27 years earlier

What was the life of a freedman like?

They became citizens and could buy their fellow slaves out but had limitations discussed earlier (the Emperor could overrule this) and they had to help their old master either through money or through work. The ex master might give some money and many skilled freedmen made a good life

What were matrona (married women) expected to be like?

To produce children (boys carried the family on while girls could be used for marrying into other families), raise them and manage the household. If her husband was away, she would often take some of his roles like managing businesses. However women couldn’t sell property, free a slave or take to court.

What power did the paterfamilias (man heading the family have)?

Would arrange marriages, and had near unlimited power: could punish a son in any way up to death