The Family in the Roman World

What did it feel like to be a member of a Roman family? How different was it being a daughter rather than a son? A husband rather than a wife? What role did grandparents play in the family? Did children matter? How did experiences differ among various classes and geographical areas of the Roman empire over time, especially with the advent of Christianity? This book examines modern debates and controversies that have made up the history of the Roman family. Looking at written texts (literary, epigraphical; and papyrological) and archaeological evidence (ranging from household items to house plans), it examines the interactions of ideals and social realities, and the issues and controversies that surround the history of the Roman family.