Romanitas in Classical Studies

CLA160 Introduction to Classical Studies

Course Information

• Date: Wed. March 5, 2025

• Focus: Romanitas

• Instructor: Dr. Matt Ludwig

Understanding Romanitas

Definition of Romanitas

• Romanitas refers to the essence of 'Roman-ness', a concept that varies based on different historical contexts and evidence.

• Later Romans looked up to their early ancestors for inspiration on how to live.

Mos Maiorum

• Term means "the way of those greater than us" or ancestors.

• Represents a traditionalistic approach, valuing customs from the past.

• Not an official code, but reflected in literature, art, and cultural practices.

• Statues of moral exempla (models) were widespread in Rome.

• The toga: a traditional garment enduring for centuries due to its historical significance.

Romanitas in Literary Examples

Key Authors and Works

• Cato the Elder (234-149 BCE)

  • Novus homo; conservative figure and moral exemplar in Roman history.

• Vergil (70-19 BCE)

  • Renowned poet under Emperor Augustus.

  • Authored the Aeneid, which reinterprets Homeric themes to narrate the founding of Latium.

• Seneca the Younger (4 BCE - 65 CE)

  • Stoic philosopher and tutor to Nero.

Marks of Ideal Romanitas

Ideological Markers

• Rusticitas: Emphasis on simplicity and traditional rural values.

• Frugalitas: Concept of temperance in consumption.

• Religio: Respect and reverence for divine matters.

• Simplicitas: Valuing directness and frankness.

• Dignitas and Fama: Reputation in both life and posthumously; correlates with kleos (glory).

• Aequitas: Fairness and justice in dealings.

• Imperium: Authority and power achieved through military conquests, law, and colonization.

• Pietas: Duty towards the gods, homeland, and family, prioritized by gender (males first).

Roman Familial Structure

Family Dynamics

• Paterfamilias: The male head of the family with complete legal power (patria potestas).

• Matrona: The mother within the family arrangement.

• Importance of the gens (clan) and genius (spiritual essence of the paterfamilias).

Roman Naming Conventions

• Structure of names:

  1. Praenomen: Given name (only about 25 options available, e.g., Publius).

  2. Nomen: Indicates family or gens (e.g., Cornelius).

  3. Cognomen: Personal nickname or branch within the family (e.g., Cicero, Scipio).

• Occasionally, an agnomen is added to commemorate victories (e.g., Africanus).

• Female names derived from the nomen, e.g., Cornelia.

• The epigraphic habit: The prevalence of inscribing names on monuments.

Domestic Religion

• Emphasized ancestor veneration:

  • Imagines: Wax masks of ancestors.

  • Lares and Penates: Deities representing family spirits and protection.

Roman Slavery

Pervasiveness of Slavery

• Demographics: Approximately one-third of Rome's population consisted of slaves in the 1st century CE.

• Chattel Slavery: Total ownership with no rights; identifiable by specific dress codes: short tunics, no togas, and distinctive hairstyles.

Legal and Social Dynamics

• Some slaves, such as overseers, showed a hierarchy of skills.

• Opportunities for manumission, the process of gaining freedom.

  • Freed slaves adopted a tri-partite name consisting of their master's gens plus their original name and occupation.

  • Ceremonial hat (pileus) awarded at freedom.

• Freedmen faced societal stigma but also pride in their achievements.

  • Quote from Horace emphasizing loyalty and honor towards his father (a freedman).

Contracts and Examples

• Slave contracts illustrate legal relationships, such as:

  • Sale of a female slave named Dioscorous, contractual obligations, and stipulations of ownership.

Experiences of Slaves

• Varied relationships between masters and slaves, as seen in Cicero's letters.

• Instances of intimate connections; examples of care and concern for slaves.

• Contrasted by the prevalence of abuse and harsh conditions in agricultural or industrial work.

• Historical evidence of slave revolts, notably Spartacus (73-70 BCE).

Concepts of Otium and Negotium

Definitions

• Otium: The pursuit of leisure and personal growth valued by Romans, often associated with the ideal country house (villa rustica).

• Negotium: Represents business and affairs, the responsibilities preceding otium.

Cultural Importance of Otium

• Emphasis on leisure activities:

  • Spectator events, religious festivals, games (ludi), social dinner parties, and public baths.

Relationship to Negotium

• Core activities linked to negotium:

  • Patronage system (client-patron relationships).

  • The process of clients (plebeians) being supported by their patrons (patricians).

  • Rituals associated with this relationship included salutatio, fides, and sportula.

• Connection of freedmen to their previous masters as clients.

• Economic structure centered on agriculture (olives, grains, grapes), with land ownership being crucial to wealth and stability.