life in the home

Question 1

who was the Paterfamilias

Answer 1

the oldest male in the family

Question 2

what were the 5 main roles of the Paterfamilias

Answer 2

1. looked after their business affairs
2. control over the family, (life and death)
3. decided whether to accept or reject new babies into the family
4. would perform religious rites on behalf of the whole family
5. lead family worship in the morning(to the Lares, ancestors) and before meals(to the Penates, the spirits of the family larder)

Question 3

who was the Patron

Answer 3

a Patron was a wealthy Roman Paterfamilias, who would have less wealthy clients, they would meet them in the morning in the Patrons atrium. the Patron had a legal duty to give gifts to the clients of Money and or food.
in return, clients would accompany the Patron in public to improve the Patrons status.

Question 4

what where the two main roles of wealthy Roman women

Answer 4

1. to educate her daughters

2. to run the household/ supervise the slaves

Question 5

when did Roman women marry and how was it decided

Answer 5

at the age of around 14, the Paterfamilias would decide a partner

Question 6

what was a wealthy women’s appearance

Answer 6

she would be well dressed, perfumed and bejewelled to display the wealth of the family

Question 7

what did the women do in their spare time

Answer 7

spin and weave clothes, this is important because families would produce their own clothes

Question 8

where did Roman dinner parties take place

how many guests

Answer 8

in the Triclinium, held up to 8 guests

Question 9

how was the room/dining area designed

Answer 9

there would be 3 couches (covered in mattresses, cushions and blankets) around a small circular table, the people attending would recline to the left

Question 10

what time did the dinner start

Answer 10

between 3 and 5 pm

Question 11

what did the first course consist of

Answer 11

eggs, olives or salad. this would be followed by honey sweetened wine

Question 12

what did the main course consist of

Answer 12

meats and fish, with vegetables and source

Question 13

what did desert consist of

Answer 13

fruits, nuts or sweet-cakes

Question 14

what happened after food

Answer 14

drinking would start, and entertainment may commence

Question 15

what was the dinner party entertainment like

Answer 15

slaves or trained slaves would perform, guests would gamble with dice games. wealthy dinner parties might even have poetry recited

Question 16

3 ways to become a slave

Answer 16

1. born into slavery
2. sold yourself into slavery, paying off a debt
3. captured prisoners

Question 17

why were educated slaves worth more

Answer 17

Educated slaves, especially greeks were worth more as they could do more important jobs in the household, for example helping the Paterfamilias with the accounting.

Question 18

What was the importance and roles of the slaves in a house?

Answer 18

1. entertainment at diner parties
2. cooking
3. cleaning
4. gardening
5. educated ones could do the masters accounting