Transcript Some Fun Parts of Roman Culture and Life

Some Fun Parts
of Roman Life
& Culture
Kristen Slattery, M.A.
&
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
Roman Religion
No moral component.
No absolute concept of gods.
They were expected to provide for the gods
with sacrifices.
**quid pro quo (something for something)
Contract with gods: if you protect me, I will...
Pan-theon
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Jupiter (Zeus):
Juno (Hera):
Minerva (Athena):
Mars (Ares):
Venus (Aphrodite):
Ceres (Demeter):
Proserpina (Persephone):
Neptune (Poseidon):
Mercury (Hermes):
Apollo (Apollo):
Diana (Artemis):
Vesta (Hestia):
Vulcan (Hephaestus):
Hercules (Heracles):
everything, lightning and heavens
marriage and childbirth
wisdom and warfare
war
love
grain, fruits of the earth
fertility, seasons
sea, waters
messenger of gods, travelers
sun, music, the arts
hunt
home and hearth
forge and fire, crafts
strength, drink, wrestlers
Temple
of
Vesta
Roman Religion (cont.)
• No canon, things passed by word of mouth
• Festivals, temples, sacrifices
• Communication with the gods done thru:
• Oracles (at shrines to specific gods where
something interpreted the future)
• Augurs (folks who knew what the gods are
thinking from the flights of birds)
• Haruspices (folks who examined the entrails of
sacrificed animals)
Mithras / Mithraism
The Mithraeum
Roman Virtues
Women’s
Chastity, modesty
Piety, loyalty
Men’s
Bravery
Piety, loyalty
Affection, harmony
Moderation
Fertility
Joyfulness, happiness
[[childbirth]]
Clemency (savagery)
Severity (cruelty)
Justice
wisdom
The Roman Family
• Familia included extended family, slaves, and
freedmen
• paterfamilias = father of the family (oldest man); he has
manus (literally, “hand”; figuratively stands for power)
• Rights of the paterfamilias:
• Right of life and death over his children
• Right to punish or kill slaves
• Owns all property within the family
• Parricide (murder of parents) was seen as very
bad, as a violation against the state and gods.
The Roman Family: Marriage
• Typically wife is young (13–15 years old);
husband is older (35 years old)
• Requirements for a legal marriage (i.e., a marriage
that produces legitimate heirs with the legal right
of inheritance):
• Both parents have the “right of marriage”
• Non-consanguinity (relationship must not be
incestuous)
• Marital age (i.e., both must have reached puberty)
The Roman Family: Marriage
Three types of marriage:
1. Concubinage
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2.
Man and woman are of unequal social rank
A form of marriage in manu
2. In manu
1.
2.
If a man lives with a woman for a year, then they are married
and she goes into his manus, his possession
Marriage ceremony where bride leaves her family and is
transferred to the family of her husband; she takes dowry,
and husband pays “bride price” to her paterfamilias
3. Sine manus (woman is sui iuris)
1.
2.
Woman stays in her own family and does not become the
property of her husband
Must live apart three nights/year to maintain this status
A Day at the Games
(in an amphitheater)
Morning: VENATIO (hunt)
animal hunts
animal fights
animal tricks
**exotic animals from around the empire; levels of symbolism
Noon: PUBLIC EXECUTIONS
criminals killed by beasts, fire, the cross, etc
**later included Christians
Afternoon/evening: GLADIATOR FIGHTS
number and quality of pairs depends on what the munerarius
(sponsor of the games) can afford
Games Ad
Come see THE spectacle at
Capua on April 22. Quatruus
to die by the flames he used to
destroy the great temple in
Alba Fucens. There will be a
venatio with deer, zebras,
gazelles, boars, bears, and
others going against mighty
hunters and each other. Six
pairs of gladiators, including a
female provocateur! Free
beast-ka-bobs and beer for all
in attendance!
Gladiators
• Ludus: gladiatorial training school, lanista is one
who owns/runs a school (accurate in Gladiator)
• There was no such thing as just a “gladiator.”
There were specific types of gladiators, each with
a unique armor and fighting technique. A
gladiator could not fight any other gladiator; there
were set rules on what types of gladiators could
fight each other.
• Gladiators had slave status. If a gladiator fought
well, he could eventually earn his freedom (again,
see Proximo from Gladiator)
Gladiatorial contests
• Each pair fights for about 35 minutes.
• Fight ends when one surrenders, or could go
to a draw.
• Referees make sure they break apart when
one surrenders.
• Thumbs up vs. thumbs down
• Winner receives palm and monetary prize
Common Gladiator Match-ups
Common Gladiator Match-ups
Common Gladiator Match-ups
Common Gladiator Match-ups
Chariot Racing
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Took place in a circus
12 teams in each race (3 from each faction)
Factions: red, blue, green, white
Gates were spring loaded; race began when
munerarius dropped a white napkin, then
somebody threw a switch to open the gates. 7 laps
to a race; crashes were a regular occurrence.
• Charioteers also had slave status.
How Romans viewed Christians
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Christians’ anti-social behavior was viewed
very negatively.
They typically were accused of 3 crimes:
1. Atheism; misanthropism
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Roman religion was a part of life
Christians refused to participate in public sacrifices, therefore,
They were seen as refusing to contribute to the welfare of the
state, which meant that
They were viewed as wishing public harm by angering the Gods
of Rome
2. Incest (always calling each other “brother” and “sister”)
3. Cannibalism (eating body and drinking blood of Christ)
Roman Names
Praenomen
Nomen
Given name
Family name
Cognomen
Nickname
The Praenomina (~ 18 common for men):
Appius, Aulus, Decimus, Gaius, Gnaeus,
Lucius, Marcus, Numerius, Publius,
Quintus, Servius, Sextus, Tiberius, Titus
Aristocratic Roman Names
Praenomen
Nomen
Cognomen
Marcus
Publius
Gaius
Titus
Tullius
Ovidius
Julius
Flavius
Cicero
Naso
Caesar
Caesar
Legal adoption adds another name:
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus
Public acclaim may add yet others:
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus Imperator