Roman Civilisation

Describe the roman domus' tabernae.

-Shops facing the streets-could be rented to local craftsmen or be run by slaves.

What was the ianuar?

-means 'double doorway'.

-Could be lightly decorated with a mosaic on the floor.

-main entrance to the domus.

What was the atrium?

-Main room of the domus

-The dominus would do/receive business here.

-Had no roof

open to the sky.

What was the impluvium?

-Collected rainwater in the centre of the atrium when it rained.

What was the cubiculum?

-Commonly decorated with red

-may have chest for storage-small

wasn't considered a private room.

What was the ala?

-Room contained busts(sculptures) of the dominus' ancestors.

What was the culina?

-the household cook would prepare meals here: not decorated due to smoke.

What was the tablinium?

-Office where work would be done.

-Could be decorated with wall paintings.

What was the peristylium?

-Enclosed garden inside the domus- contained a colonnade of pillars.

-Elaborately decorated to make an impression.

What was the Triclinium?

-Dining room- dinner parties would be held here.

What was the Fauces?

-Entrance passage to the house.

What are the negatives of a Roman domus?

-Small bedrooms

-House wasn't considered to be a 'private' place as it is in modern day.

What are the positives of a Roman domus?

-Incredibly spacious

-Tabernae served as extra income.

-Indoor leisure garden(peristylium)

-How could one become a slave in Roman times?

-Sold into slavery by parents.

-Born into slavery.

-Children rescued

brought up as slaves.

-Debt

-Prisoner of war

-Convicted/punishment for crimes.

What were the roles of household slaves?

-Cooking -Entertainment

-Caring for children -Supervising school children.

-Cleaning the domus

-Doing woman's hair

-Tying man's toga

-What evidence shows slaves were treated badly?

-had no legal rights(familes weren't recognised by the law

-masters could be cruel(domestic slave could be whipped

mutilated at owner's whims)

-Eg Pliny the Elder writes how Emperor Augustus would throw condemned slaves to lamprey eels.

-What evidence shows slaves were treated well?

-Most masters treated fed

-Household slaves who lived with a sympathetic master could be treated relatively well: could even be freed eventually.

-Guaranteed food and shelter

unlike impoverished Roman citizens.

Why could a slave be freed?

-Provides an incentive to work hard-in the hope that one day

-As a boast of generosity/wealth- freeing slaves seemed wealthy/kind.

-To marry a slave- for example

slave-girls could be freed by their master to be married.

-They like a slave: a personal relationship between a slave and their master could encourage them to free them.

-For master's own gain-eg slave was too sick/elderly to work

cheaper to just let them die.

How could a slave be freed?

-via manumission: slave and master would appear before magistrate

-in a will: in the master's will

certain slaves could be freed after death.

What rights did a freedman gain?

-could make business deals

-could legally get married

-could vote

-could own property.

What rights did a freedman not gain?

-couldn't run for public office

-couldn't be part of the senator or equestrian class.

-couldn't serve in the legions

What is a vernae?

-A slave born into slavery.

What does manumission mean?

-Act of freeing a slave.

What is the peculium?

-Small amount of money slaves could own-eventually enough to buy their own freedom.

What was the pileus?

-Cap a freedman wore to symbolise freedom.

What is a libertus?

-Freedman.

Who were the Vettii brothers?

-2 very rich and powerful freedmen who lived in Pompeii owned a magnificent house in it.

Who were the seviri Augustales?

-Six priests appointed to to worship Emperor Augustus: position of honour and prestige

Give a brief overview of the 3 types of slaves.

Domestic: lived in the household with family

Industrial: employed in mines/factories or on large farming estates called latifundia.

Often lived/worked in the harshest conditions of the three-may have a harsh overseer who worked them hard for the farm's productivity.

Public: owned by the state

performed roles for the city such as maintaining public aqueducts

What is a patronus?

-Someone who sponsors a cliens

What is a cliens?

-Receives aid from a patronus

What obligations did a freedman have to their ex-master?

-Couldn't bring any harm to their ex-master.

-Supposed to leave money to ex-master in their will.

-Had to do certain number days work for their master a year or pay them a sum of money.

What is cum manu?

'cum manu': with hand- bride was no longer a part of her father's family

-Wife couldn't divorce husband

but husband could.

-All of wife's property goes to husband.

-Had to be done with the official ceremony.

What is sine manu?

-means 'without hand'.

-Bride remains part of father's family.

-Bride could divorce husband.

-Informal: bride and groom only had to live together.

Describe the wedding procession.

-Marriage contract signed in front of 10 witnesses

-Bride and groom would join hands

symbolising relinquishing of control from the bride's father to the groom.

-Bride is mock-snatched from her mother

traditionally girls were meant to be unwilling to leave their parent's household.

-Bride would say to the groom 'ubi tu Gaius

ego Gaia' (where you are Gaius. I am Gaia) symbolising how no matter what she would always be his wife.

-The groom would carry the bride into her new home.

-Observers would shout congratulations(fortune/talassio

good luck) and rude jokes at the couple.

What was a common cause for divorce?

-A woman's infertility.

What may a bride wear in a wedding procession?

-Garland of flowers

-Bright yellow wedding veil: she was now an adult woman expected to cover her head in public.

Who was Cornelia

and why was she important?

Who was Sulpicia?

-A woman poet

Who is Livia?

-Third wife of Emperor Augustus

-After Augustus' death

she became his priestess and gained similar rights to magistrates-the honour and privilege was unheard of at the time.

Who is Agrippna the Elder?

-Wife of general Germanicus. Famously known for making sure troops held their nerve during a barbarian tribe attack: first in the line of impressive imperial women.

Who is Eumachia?

-Daughter of Lucius Machia.

-Eumachia had a large amount of wealth left to her- she was able to use her wealth and standings ot obtain position of the priestess of goddess Venus Pompeinia.

What is an auspex?

-A soothsayer