Marriage in Ancient Rome - 1448 Words

The Roman institution of marriage has been lauded as being the first purely humanistic law of marriage, one that is based on the idea of marriage being a free and freely dissolvable union of two equal partners for life. (Schulz, 1951;103) This is quite a simplistic view, as there were many differing forms of marriage in Rome, from the arranged marriages of the elite to the unions of slaves and soldiers. As we shall see, the Romans actual expectations of married life and the gains they envisioned they would receive from the experience depended greatly on their age, sex and social status. Unlike our contemporary society, no specific civil ceremony was required for the creation of a marriage; only mutual agreement and the fact that the†¦show more content†¦Cornelia took the care of the household all upon herself, as well as the education of the children. She was a discreet and noble hearted woman. (Plutarch Life of Tiberius Gracchus 1.2-2) Arria, when hearing of her husbands ordered suicide, was said to have grabbed the sword from his hand and, plunging it into her chest, reassured her husband that it did not hurt. (Pliny the Younger, Letters 3.16.3-6) It was Arrias loyalty and fidelity to her spouse that was praised. By having children, the wife could only increase her status in society; on epitaphs alongside her conjugal virtues came a listing of the number of children she had borne. (Readings 134,141, 1982;137) More respected was the woman who looked after her children personally, as did Athenodora whose relatives inscribed this for her. She bore children and nursed them when they were infants. Earth took this young mother and keeps her, though the children need her milk. (144) Women in the Augustan age had an added incentive to bear children. Once a woman had three offspring, she was released from all guardianship and was free to conduct business by herself. For a slave woman the quota was four children. (Dio Cassius, Roman History 54.16.1-2) There were incentives for men to have larger families as well, such as the decree by Augustus that priorityShow MoreRelatedMarriage and Ancient Rome Eras782 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as adolescent sex or youthful sex is a sexual activity that is practiced by people who are not yet married. The term â€Å"premarital sex† is referred to any sexual relations among people prior to marriage. During the 1950s, Western societies consider men and women of age 21 as a legal basis for marriage, as such there were no considerations that one who had sex would not marry. Thus, the case was not clear whether sexual intercourses between individuals legally forbidden from marrying, or one uninterestedRead More Marriage in an cient Rome Essay1408 Words   |  6 Pages The Roman institution of marriage has been lauded as being the first purely humanistic law of marriage, one that is based on the idea of marriage being a free and freely dissolvable union of two equal partners for life. (Schulz, 1951;103) This is quite a simplistic view, as there were many differing forms of marriage in Rome, from the arranged marriages of the elite to the unions of slaves and soldiers. As we shall see, the Romans actual expectations of married life and the gains they envisionedRead MoreAncient Roman Civilization And Modern Times936 Words   |  4 PagesThe ancient Roman civilization had many enduring contributions to modern times. Many of the ancient structures survived the ravages of time. This leads the modern tourist to experience the ancient civilization through much of what Ancient Rome’s engineers enduring achievements, namely, temples, baths, aqueducts and roads (Temin, The economy of the early Roman Empi re, 2006). Beyond the physical structures that survived the millennia, there are numerous modern cultural influences that are readilyRead MoreWomen During The Ancient World1445 Words   |  6 PagesIn the ancient world, women were generally discriminated and deemed inferior to men. As a result, women in various civilizations were expected to uphold sexist stereotypes, which limited their freedoms and abilities. Two such civilizations were Ancient Rome and Early Modern England. England during the 15th and 16th centuries supported the Anglican faith. Women, by divine belief, were created as subordinates to men; the rationale for this constitutes the creation of Eve from Adam’s rib,Read MoreRole of Women in Ancient Roman Society Essay1341 Words   |  6 PagesThe role of women in ancient Rome is not easily categorized; in some ways they were treated better than women in ancient Greece, but in other matters they were only allowed a very modest degree of rights and privileges. One thing that does seem clear is that as the city-state of Rome evolved from its early days into a more complex society; women were not always limited to secondary roles. In some areas of Roman society, women were allowed more freedoms than in many other ancient civilizations. Research: Read More Women in Rome Essay678 Words   |  3 Pages Most women in ancient Rome were viewed as property of the men who they lived with. Basically they were handed from their father to their new husband at the time of their marriage and surrendered any property they owned, or dowry they were given, to their husband (Document 1). There were however two types of marriage in ancient Rome, manus and sine manus. Under the first type, manus, the woman and all of her property and possessions were placed under the control of her husband and he could do withRead MoreThe Religious And Social Differences Between Ancient Greece And Rome Essay1423 Words   |  6 PagesThe Religious and Social Differences between Ancient Greece and Rome In modern day, everyone tends to think of the Roman gods when they think of Greece, or when they think of the ancient gods in general. Juno versus Hera, Jupiter versus Zeus, and Mars versus Ares are some examples of their different and separate deities; not just their names, but their personalities as well. There are many differences between the two religions, as well as differences between each culture’s social standings. NotRead MoreWomen Of The Roman Empire1022 Words   |  5 PagesIn the Roman Empire, and in most ancient societies, the role and status of woman has been obscured by the bias of ancient male writers. Just as women are viewed in ancient Greece, and Imperial China, women in the Roman Empire were viewed as inferior to men. In the Roman Empire it was believed that women should be under the control of a guardian, which controls the aspects of her life. This guardian could be her father, husband, or a male relative (Nystrom). Marriage in the Roman Empire was not romanticRead MoreWomens Roles in Ancient Greece and Rome Essay1138 Words   |  5 PagesWomens Roles in Ancient Greece and Rome Women have played important roles throughout history. They have been responsible for the rise and fall of nations, sustaining families, and have been the focal point of worship in ancient religions. Moving forward in history, womens roles have continually changed. Their status as matriarchs changed as the more advanced ancient civilizations rose. The patriarchal societies of ancient Greece and Rome viewed women differently from some societies of past erasRead MoreAncient Rome s Influence On The Modern World965 Words   |  4 PagesAncient Rome’s culture has existed throughout the almost 1200- year history of the civilization of Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome adapted most of their culture from their neighbors the Greeks and Etruscans. Ancient Rome culture has been affecting our modern world from colosseums and satre, for entertainment, to the name of Roman gods, for constellations. In Ancient Rome their entertainment included gladiator fighting and Roman Theater. Ancient Romeâ₠¬â„¢s arts were greatly influenced on the art Ancient Greece