Figure 1.--This is a modern depiction of ancient Roman children from an unidentified children's book. The boys are playing knucklebones (talus) a game very popular among both children and adults. The girls are playing ball (pila). The image gives a different rapresentation of boys and girls. Notice the bullas (amulets) the boys, but not the girls have. The boys seem to be lower class children. Differently from Greeks, among Romans bare feet in public were seen as inappropriate for well-to-do people. The girls seem better arranged, but of course that was common across cultures.

Ancient Rome was a pariarchial society. The father (pater familias) by law and custom had virtual absolute control over his family. The pater familias was the oldest living male in a household. The term is Latin for 'father of the family', but by law wasthe owner of the family estate. Married women did not have much say in private or public life although widows could own property and have some indeoendence. Roman children were under the authority of their fathers and until theboys established their own househols continued to yield considerable authority. The father decided just about everything for the children, especially after the child was beyond unfancy and todler age when he was cared for by the mother and/or her slaves. The father decided on clothing, activities, education, and basic lifestyle. The father even had the legal authority to kill a child which did not change until after the establishment of the principate (1st century AD). The Romans did have specialized clothing for boys. Very detailed information is available on Roman clothing. Information is available from paintings, statues and written documents. Rome during its early monarchy, republican, and imperial eras lasting nearly 1,000 years basically maintained the same clothing styles. Most clothes were made out of wool or linen, as was the case in Greece. Imported fabrics such as cotton and silk were very expensive. We have no detailed information informtion on Roman hair styles. As best we can tell, both men and boys wore short hair. The children of ancient Rome were the most educated and literate of all ancient socities. And considerable information is available onRoman education as it was so important to the Romans. And thanks to sculptures and survving texts, we also know about play activities and toys.

Family

Ancient Rome was a pariarchial society. The father (pater familias) by law and custom had virtual absolute control over his family. The pater familias was the oldest living male in a household. The term is Latin for 'father of the family', but by law wasthe owner of the family estate. Married women did not have much say in private or public life although widows could own property and have some indeoendence. Roman children were under the authority of their fathers and until theboys established their own househols continued to yield considerable authority. The father decided just about everything for the children, especially after the child was beyond unfancy and todler age when he was cared for by the mother and/or her slaves. The father decided on clothing, activities, education, and basic lifestyle. The father even had the legal authority to kill a child which did not change until after the establishment of the principate (1st century AD).

Clothing

The Romans did have specialized clothing for boys. Very detailed information is available on Roman clothing. Information is available from paintings, statues and written documents. Rome during its early monarchy, republican, and imperial eras lasting nearly 1,000 years basically maintained the same clothing styles. Most clothes were made out of wool or linen, as was the case in Greece. Imported fabrics such as cotton and silk were very expensive. In cold climates fur and felt were also used. Most garments were made up of large uncut pieces of cloth and they were folded and pinned with 'fivulate' or they were tied with belts. Garments requiring elaborate sewing were rare, as most needles were made of bone and therefore intricate sewing was difficult. Clothes were mainly the natural colors of their fibers, but some clothes were bleached white or dyed various shades.

Hair Styles

We have no detailed information informtion on Roman hair styles. As best we can tell, both men and boys wore short hair. An example is seen here in the sculpture (figure 1).

Education

Education was important in ancient Rome, but there were no free public schools for children, but most Roman boys attended the Ludi (primary) schools and apparently even some girls. The education a child received was very much deopendant on his social class and family wealth. During the early history of Rome, there were no schools. Children were educated at home by their parents or if the family could afford it by tutors. Poor children might learn their father's trade or agricultural skills. More affluent children might be taught to read if their parents were literate. A father might teach his son about Roman law, history, customs, and physical training, to prepare for military serevice. Values were an important part of the lessons and moral behavior and bravery were stressed. Girls were taught by their mother or female family member. Roman education changed dramatically in the 2nd century BC. Rome was becoming a more sophisticated city because after the deafeat of Carthage they found themselves in possession of an extensive empire. Rome also in the 2nd century acquired Greece and thus came into contact with Greek culture. It is at this time that formal schools along the line of schools in Greece appear in Rome. Younger children began school at about age 7 and studied reading, writing, and counting. They read both scrolls and books. They on boards covered with wax that could be easily resurfaced for new assignments. They used pebbles and abacusses to do math problems. Math of course was done in Roman numerals, which must have been complicated, especially division. The Romans did not have the concept of zero. Memory assignments were very important as Roman children were expected to do reciataions of the classics. Wealthy families might educate their children at home. Educated Greek slaves were in great demand. Girls who were educated were commonly educated at hime by their oparents and a household slave. Other children might be sent to tutors. Often tutors would work with a small grouop of boys. Patrician and wealthy plebian boys at about age 12-13 began "grammar" school or "schola", where they studied Latin, Greek, grammar. The curriculum was based around the study of literary classics, especually Greek classics. Many of the grammaticus or grammar school teachers were in fact Greeks. At about age 16, some talented boys from affluent families studied public speaking at the rhetoric or oratorica schools. Public speaking was very important in Rome.

Play

Children since time memorial have played. We do not know a great deal about how most ancient children played. But in the case of Roman children a great deal is known. Arceologsts have found Roman toys. And references togames and play have been found in a range of texts. Popular activities included flying kites, playing with balls, and rolling metal hoops that chimed like bells. Horace is a good source on Roman family life and children. He describes children riding hobby-horses, building playhouses, and making whelled carts. Feminists decry gender specific toys and games. But such toys games have been the case thrughout history. Roman girls played with dolls which were commonly made at home. Boys liked to play war games with their wooden swords and shields. War and making wars was at the top of the Roman value system. Boys imitated warriors in their play and wanted to great fighters. Boys played war with wooden swords and shields and mimicked their conception of war. There were many other games including still popular games, hide-and-seek and blind man’s bluff. Here the boys are playing knucklebones (talus) a game very popular among both children and adults (figure 1). The girls are playing ball (pila). We are not sure how accurate that was. There were ball games, but no rubber for the balls. Boys played various games involved with hitting a ball with hands or arms. Padding was used for protection. Girls also played ball games, but we suspect it was less common.

Social Class

A Roman child's life as strongly affected by social class. For the children of the well-to-do, their major activities were education and games. Children from well off families had tutors, often Greek slaves. Less well off children might be taught by their mothers. Working-class childrem commonly assisted their fathers in their work learnin their father's trade as they did. The children of ancient Rome enjoyed various games. War games were especially popular with the boysof all social classes. Boys had more freedom of mobility and education compared to girls. Tutors were mosky aquired for boys, but sisters often set in as the tutors instructed their brothers.

Created: 10:24 PM 2/25/2017
Last updated: 10:24 PM 2/25/2017