roman Flashcards
what are the two ideal qualities for a roman man
- upper class men expected to take part in politics
- public speaking was critical (taught as the last stage of a boy’s education)
what are the four ideals for a roman woman
- Pudicitia (chastity) was a key concept of importance
- expected to be virgins when first married
- expected to take a strong role in running the household
- frugile and capable
what was important in the roman republic and the roman empire
civitas (citizenship) and munera (duty)
what could women not do in rome
hold public office
vote
serve in military (although some important generals brought their wives on campaigns)
name 3 women who played an influential role on the men in political offices
Livia
Agrippina
Messakina
what do paterfamilias and kyrios mean
greek and roman heads of household
what would happen if a roman man died without male heirs
his wife would take over the role of paterfamilias although she would have a male relative advising her
what could women do business wise in rome
could inherit and had a right to property
could have their own business and their own profits
how did a woman demonstrate modesty and virtue to the husband
expected to be in the house when her husband entertained guests
what is a sine manu marriage in rome
advantageous, a women would still inherit on her fathers death and could keep and acquire her own property
what was the point of marriage in rome
production of legitimate heirs and political alliances
what is a cum manu marriage
with power - a marriage where the husband gains legal power over a wife
what was the betrothal period in rome like
a time for the families to get to know each other, this period could be broken at any point with no reprocutions
what was the intent of marriage in Rome?
The intent of a couple to live together as husband and wife and divorce was the lack of that intent
what does Suetonius say about Tiberius as being a political match
“Tiberius was forced to divorce, Agrippina, and immediately Mary, Augustus‘s daughter, Julia“
what was the Lex Julia (Julian laws, 18 BC)
there were legal benefits for married, couples and families with three or more children. E.g. unmarried people could not accept legacies from wills
He encouraged remarriage (Livia was his third wife, and he her second husband)
Women expected to wait between marriages to avoid issues of paternity
why could I man engage in sexual relations with the infamies?
They did not hold legal standing
Why are women not allowed the same sexual freedom as men?
It would cause issues around paternity of children
what are the attitudes to same-sex relationships in Rome
they were not allowed between Freeborn Roman males
There was no stigma attached to her moronic relations with a slave or infamies
It was more about status than gender
why was sex about status not gender?
sex consisted of dominant or penetrative and passive or penetrated
As long as a citizen took the dominant role, his vurtis was not questioned
What do we know about female same-sex relationships?
Last well documented, evidence from cursed tablets, graffiti and artwork. Suggest relationships of this kind did occur.
What are the expectations around hard men and soft women
Effeminate man we refer to as molle (soft/girl) - massive insult close to a homophobic slur
Strong women were characterised as ultra-masculine lesbians
what were the Roman attitudes to adultery?
Augustus is Lex Iuliae set punishment for adultery. Both parties could be exiled to separate islands in property confiscated, a man was expected to divorce his cheating wife
what was good conduct in Rome
Women and men were expected to live modestly
Sexual promiscuity was banned
What was illegal in Rome?
incest, Polygamy, intercourse, marriages, and adultery
What was the difference between Greek and Roman statues for men?
Greek culture celebrated with a naked male figure, but tended to avoid direct phalli
In Roman culture, male statues tended to be closed in order to show citizenship by wearing a toga, the conquered were shown naked and stripped of their clothes however, phallic images were common in the Roman world
Why were phallic images common in the Roman world?
The evil I could be awarded off by laughter and phallic images were funny even back then