Ancient Rome FAQs
By: Vitus Rossi
Writing
What did the Romans use to write? The Romans used a variety of materials to write. Some include wax tablets, papyrus paper, and parchment. To write on papyrus and parchment, they would use ink made of soot and vegetable gum. To write on wax tablets, they would make impressions using a stylus.
Family
What did Roman parents do that is different from modern parents? In Roman times, the mother would rule the home, the slaves, and teach the children. The paterfamilias would hold all legal power over the family. In modern times, both mother and father are usually equal, or have the right to be.
Are Roman names different from modern names? If so, how? Roman names are different from modern names, but they also share similarities. In Roman times, male names would end in -ius. Female names would end in -ia. Sons would take the name of their father and daughters would take a variation of their father's name. In modern times, there is a great variety of names, but, males still carry on the family name, like in Roman times.
Clothing - Men's and Boys'
Did ancient Roman boys wear jewelry? Explain. Ancient Roman boys would wear a bulla, which is a neck chain with a round pouch containing protective amulets. Upper-Class boys wore bullas made of gold.
Clothing - Women's and Girls'
Citations
"Books and Manuscripts." Ancient Greece and Rome: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Carroll Moulton. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. 98-100. World History in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
"Names, Roman System of." Ancient Greece and Rome: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Carroll Moulton. Vol. 3. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. 66-67. World History in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
"Clothing." Ancient Greece and Rome: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Carroll Moulton. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. 148-153. World History in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
McManus, Barbara F. "Roman Clothing, Part I." Roman Clothing, Part I. VROMA, Aug. 2003. Web. 14 Sept. 2015.
"The Dress of Roman Women." Arts and Humanities Through the Eras. Ed. Edward I. Bleiberg, et al. Vol. 2: Ancient Greece and Rome 1200 B.C.E.-476 C.E. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 106-109. World History in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.