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The daddy from the Roman household (paterfamilias) exercised complete and lifelong power about all other members of the family (patria potestas): his wife, children, and slaves. If The daddy’s father was alive – then he was the supreme authority inside the house. Fathers have been even allowed to execute their developed sons for serious offenses like treason.

Just about every property maintained a cult of ancestors and hearth gods as well as the paterfamilias was its priest. The spouse and children was believed to posses a “genius” (gens) – an internal spirit – handed down the generations. The dwelling and the dead members of the family shared the gens and have been certain by it.

Authentic offspring belonged to the father’s loved ones. The daddy retained custody When the couple (almost never) divorced exclusively with the husband’s initiative. The daddy had the right to disown a new child – typically deformed boys or girls. This led to a significant shortage of ladies in Rome.

The father of your bride had to pay a sizable dowry towards the loved ones on the groom, So impoverishing one other family members. Moreover, daughters shared Similarly while in the estate of the father who died without a will – thus transferring belongings from their family members of origin to their husband’s household. No wonder girls were being decried being an economic legal responsibility.

In the beginning, slaves ended up considered to be Section of the spouse and children and ended up nicely-addressed. They had been am dao gia allowed to save cash (peculium) and to invest in their flexibility. Freed slaves grew to become complete-fledged Roman citizens and typically stayed on Together with the household as employed aid or compensated laborers. Only Significantly afterwards, in the large plantations amassed by rich Romans, have been slaves abused and viewed as inanimate assets.