An expert debunks the top gladiator myths
Being born and raised in the birthplace of the Roman Empire was an experience like no other. Ancient Rome was indeed a special place, and Roman citizens grew up in a unique environment.
In this gallery, we take you through the phases of a person born in Rome, from birth to adulthood. Click on to learn all about them.
When babies were born, they were welcomed into a family led by the pater familias (“father of the family”). In Roman tradition, the pater familias was the oldest man in the household.
The newborn had to be accepted by the pater familias, who also had the power to disown and even sell his children.
While this position was often occupied by the child’s father, it wasn't always the case. If the father were to die, and the child was the oldest male in the household, he’d become the pater familias.
Child mortality rates were high back then, so parents would wait for a week before they named their baby. After a week, the dies lustricus (“day of purification”) would take place. The celebration involved visits from friends and family, and babies would receive their respective pendants.
The bulla was a pendant, used to signal the boy as a freeborn citizen of Rome. It was also used to ward off evil spirits. Boys would wear it until they reached adulthood.
Girls would wear a pendant called a Lunula. The pendant would be worn by girls until their wedding day. There is, however, still some debate about whether girls also wore bullas.
Infantia (“infancy”) was the first stage of a child’s life. It would last from birth to age seven. Under Roman law, these children were considered doli incapax, or incapable of criminal intent (a concept still used today).
The next phase occurred from seven to 12 in girls and 14 in boys. Inpuberes were essentially children who had not yet reached puberty. Those close to reaching it were said to be in pubertati proximus.
During this phase, children were still considered doli incapax, but if strong enough evidence was presented, they could be tried under Roman law. At this stage, kids would start to leave the house more often and spend time with people outside their families.
Boys would reach manhood by age 15. After age 12, girls would be suitable for marriage. However, under Roman law, both boys and girls were considered adolescents until they turned 25.
For many years, getting an education was reserved for wealthy families. Most knowledge would be passed down from parents to children, so illiterate families wouldn’t have much to teach their kids. This changed after the conquest of Greece in 146 BCE, and education became more widespread across the empire.
Kids aged seven would go to school, where they’d be taught by a litterator. This teacher would teach children reading, writing, some arithmetic, and Greek.
Advanced education would take place when children reached the age of 12 or 13. By then, they’d leave their litterator and would be taught by a grammaticus. Subjects would include rhetoric, arts, and poetry.
Kids played around with toys, like many do today. Girls would play with dolls and puppets, whereas boys would play with things such as carts with wheels, wooden swords, or balls.
Board games were also popular among children and adults alike. Kids would also play traditional games such as terni lapilli (similar to tic-tac-toe), hide-and-seek, and leapfrog, among others. Pictured is a pair of Roman dice made from carved bone.
Many households had pets, so kids would grow up around animals. Cats were very popular, but some families owned animals such as monkeys.
Snakes were also kept by some families, as were birds, which were a sign of status in Ancient Rome.
And just like today, dogs were the most popular pets in Rome. They’d be used as pets, but also for hunting and as watchdogs. Some houses even displayed a cave canem (beware of the dog) sign.
Finding a job was expected of teenagers. The top of the hierarchy was politics, which was usually filled by the kids of wealthy families. But there were also other good jobs, including tax collectors, notaries, clerks, lawyers, and teachers, etc.
Many young men would join the army. This was especially true for kids from poorer families. A military role would give them a steady income and some land after a 25-year service.
As the empire grew, new jobs became available. Adolescents could now become artists, merchants, and entertainers.
Girls were expected to remain virgins until they married, but boys celebrated the coming of age at a festival called the Liberalia.
Liberalia was a party where boys could eat, drink, and dance. At age 16, Roman boys were encouraged to sleep with slaves or sex workers.
Young men would marry in their early twenties, but girls could do so as soon as they reached 12. Those from wealthy families tended to marry at younger ages, when compared to those from poorer families.
Girls didn’t have a choice when it came to choosing their husbands. The decision would be made by the pater familia, who had the responsibility of finding a suitable husband. He would contact their families and make all the arrangements.
Some Roman wedding traditions are still used today, such as the bride wearing white and the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.
There were two main types of housing to be found in Rome: a domus and an insulae.
The domus was essentially a villa: a large house with multiple rooms, often with an interior courtyard. These would be the pick for wealthy families.
Those who could not afford a domus, would have to settle for an insulae. These were essentially apartment blocks. The floor where the family lived reflected their social status. The first couple of stories were usually the more spacious ones and thus more expensive.
Sources: (Listverse)
What it was like to grow up in Ancient Rome
From birth to adulthood
LIFESTYLE History
Being born and raised in the birthplace of the Roman Empire was an experience like no other. Ancient Rome was indeed a special place, and Roman citizens grew up in a unique environment.
In this gallery, we take you through the phases of a person born in Rome, from birth to adulthood. Click on to learn all about them.