life in Rome Flashcards
Delphi
Delphi was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. It was just like any city. With shops, restaurants and inns
the Oracle of Delphi
The priestess(Pythia) makes prophecies (predictions) about the future. People went there to ask questions of the god Apollo, who would answer through the Oracle.
How did the Oracle make the prophecies?
the Oracle of Delphi would sit in a cave on Mount Parnassus, which lay over a volcanic fault. Ethylene vapors would rise from underground and have a hallucinogenic effect on Pythia, who would enter a trance-like state. In this state, she would channel Apollo and provide her prophecies.
Where did the Oracle work?
underneath the great Temple of Apollo, it was very popular but only men could go see the oracle, women can’t.
Pompeii
Pompei is a city in southern Italy’s Campania region overlooked by the active volcano at Vesuvius. It’s known for its ancient city, Pompeii,
life in pompeii
just like the modern life, they also had Inns, restaurants, shops, bakeries etc. The rich would live in luxurious villas while the others in smaller eras (on top of a shop)
the forum
It became the center of public and political life in the city, the site of important ceremonies, trials and public speeches. A marketplace could be held and many things could be bought
the role of men and women
the roman society was heavily based of a social hierarchy and is very sexist, the men had to work, be the breadwinner while the women’s job was the give birth, do chores, cook and take care of children.
the children of ancient Rome
If the baby was not wanted (deformity) they would just be put out on the streets and left to die. Most children before the age of 1 also pass away due to things such as disease and starvation
paterfamilias
the head of a Roman family. The paterfamilias was the oldest living male in a household, and could legally exercise autocratic authority over his extended family.
the patron
Roman society also involved a system of patronage. Members of the upper classes – the patron – offered protection to freedmen or plebeians, who became their “clients.” Patronage might consist of money, food, or legal help. Traditionally, any freed slaves became the clients of their former owner.
the patron and their clients
The patron/client system can be defined as a mutual arrangement between a person that has authority, social status, wealth, or some other personal resource (patron) and another who benefits from their support or influence (client).
materfamilias
Roman women usually married in their early teenage years, while men waited until they were in their mid-twenties. As a result, the materfamilias (mother of the family) was usually much younger than her husband. As was common in Roman society, while men had the formal power, women exerted influence behind the scenes.
