Culture: The Roman Home and Family

The Roman Home: The Domus

• The Roman home, or ‘domus’, is normally a single-storey structure, with rooms arranged around an open courtyard, the ‘atrium’.

• The entrance to the Roman home typically leads directly to the atrium. The atrium is often embellished with artworks and decorations, conveying the wealth and taste of the homeowner.

• The ‘cubicula’ (bedrooms) are usually small, functional areas, where privacy is not prioritized.

• The ‘tablinum’ serves as the master’s study and is strategically located to supervise the activities in the atrium.

• The ‘triclinium’ is the dining room, designed to accommodate three couches for guests during meal sharing, a key social activity in Roman culture.

• The Roman home also features kitchen, bathroom and servant quarters, as well as a garden or ‘hortus’.

Roman Family: Structure and Roles

• The father, or ‘paterfamilias’, has an authoritative role in the Roman family. His power, known as ‘patria potestas’, even extends over adult children and grandchildren.

• The mother is responsible for managing the household, including finances, and educating the children.

• Children gain an education mainly at home and boys often follow in their father’s profession. Daughters are trained in domestic skills in preparation for marriage.

• Slaves play a critical role in the functioning of a Roman household. Some slaves are trained to become teachers, cooks or nurses, while others carry out menial labour.

The Roman Family: Marriage and Divorce

• In a Roman marriage, love is not the main consideration and marriages are often arranged for political or economic reasons.

• Daughters are usually married off in their early teenage years, and men are typically much older than their brides. The bride brings a dowry into the marriage.

• Divorce in Roman society is relatively easy and can be instigated by either partner. Following divorce, the wife’s dowry is returned and children often stay with their father.

Religion in the Roman Home

• The household Gods or the ‘Lares’ and ‘Penates’ are worshipped in a shrine in the home, the ‘Lararium’. The family performs regular rites to ensure the Gods’ blessing and protection.

• The Genius, the guiding spirit of the paterfamilias, is also worshipped along with the household Gods.

• Other festivals and rites are observed, like the Parentalia, which honours ancestors, and the Matronalia, a celebration of marriage and motherhood.