CLASSICS 2K03 Lecture 19: The Roman Family
23 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Artifact: relief of the vettii family: 20 b. c. Freedman relief panel- the parents were former slaves. Inscription- along bottom border- reveals that these are members of such a family- commemorates mother & the young boy- above daughter & father"s name are small v"s that mean live Hand gesture of young boy resembles that of the father- signifies freed status. Celebrating the birth of a child at rome. The hierarchy of the household: father, mother, children. Roman concept of pietas(i. e. reciprocal obligations between members of the family) Gained membership into the key social institution of the roman family. Required the confinement of the mother (within female quarters) & the father would have to excuse himself from public business. Placed a wreath of flowers at entrance of home. Made sacrifices to the household gods (lares) & ancestral gods (penates) Children received their name on the dies lustricus. Standard household comprised their slaves & freedmen but the family unit was the central component.
