Childbirth and Growing up Flashcards
What is an obsterix
professional midwives
What help did women have when giving birth
- obsterix
- birthing amulets
- praying to birthing goddesses
Which goddesses are associated with birth
Juno Lucina and Geneta
Why would a child be exposed (4 reasons)
- financial instability
- questionable paternity
- being a girl
- disability
Who made the decision to expose a child
Paterfamilias
What is a famous roman story of children being exposed
Romulus and Remus
What were the sites where babies could be abandoned
Lactaria
When did a roman child receive their name and what is the celebration called
8th day girl
9th day boy
Dies Lustricius
Other than a name what else did a child receive at the dies lustricius
a protective amulet
Bulla- for a boy (gold/leather amulet)
Lunala- for a girl (crescent shaped)
When was the coming of age ceremony for a girl
her wedding
What was the coming of age ceremony called for a boy and when was it
The Toga Virgillis
Around his 16th birthday
Describe what happened at the toga Virgillis
- a boy replaced his childhood toga with a ‘manly’ one
- registered as a citizen
- have a feast then parade round town with phallic statues and brawdy sonsgs
- removed his bulla
What were mortality rates like for mothers
1 in 2 died in childbirth
What were mortality rates like for babies and children
3 in 10 died in their first year
1 in 2 died before the age of ten
What were roman attitudes to newborns
- welcomed and celebrated as it was a dangerous process
- however sometimes unwanted so were exposed
Why were female children less desireable
they have to have a dowry in order to marry and they cant continue a family business
