By Melissa Cross

Roman Education and Childhood

At Birth Usually no doctors, instead a midwife Relatively public, but no males Father-Baby tradition (laid at feet) Eight Days of Religious Ceremonies Dies lustricus – naming Crepundia (child’s playthings) & Bulla (locket) Birth registration within 30 days Pater Familias

Toys and Games1st – Crepundia2nd – Rag, clay, or wax dolls3rd – Ivory Letters4th – Board games/Pebbles5th – Equivalent of « Blind Man’s Bluff », « Hide

and Seek », « Seesaw » and « Jackstones » Pets = Dogs/Cats

Toys and Games Cont.

Jackstones Blind Man’s Bluff

Crepundia Bulla

General Education Men vs. Women Upper-class vs. Middle-class vs. Lower-class Moral rather than Intellectual Revere Gods, respect the law, do not

question/disobey authority, be truthful, be self-reliant

First seven years taught by mother Pietas (devotion to duty) Not legally required

Upper-Class Boy 7+ boys taught by father – learning by examplePrivately tutored (often by Greek slave)Grammaticus: Writing & Speaking & Poetry (up to

15 years old) Rhetoric: Very few (orators); lawyer/politician;

public speaking, geography, music, etc.; most likely done through tutors

Two branches of Rhetoric: Judicial oratory (i.e. political career) & Deliberative branch (Roman Senate)

Philosophy

Middle-Class to Lower-Class Boy Primary (public) school - ludus litterarius Requirements of every day life, reading, and

writingFather taught to read and write (if he could) and

explained Roman law, history, customs & pushed physical training

Parents, not slaves

Girls Spin, weave, & sewSome left to school but not above primary

education

Roman Schools March 24th Sunrise – Siesta – Daybreak Method from Greeks Force Wooden tablets with wax; pebbles for math;

papyrus scrolls; stylus; Reading, writing, & counting Not free

Roman Schools (Cont.)

Styli

Wooden tablet

Roman Classroom

Paedagogus Trusted male slave « Child leader » Older Constantly monitored youth behavior Corporal punishment Ideally spoke proper Greek

Coming of Age Ceremony Boy lays bulla & toga before Lares Sacrifice offered Bulla hung up Dressed in white tunic Son of senator – two wide crimson stripes; Son of

knight – two narrow Toga Virilis Public ceremony (at Forum) Name added to list of citizens Feast

Coming of Age Ceremony (Cont.)

Toga VirilisLares (Pompeii)

Childhood Today vs. Then Coming of age ceremony Schools/Education Toys

Sourceshttp://www.classicsunveiled.com/romel/html/romechildren.htmlhttp://libary.thinkquest.org/26602/society.htmhttp://www.crystalinks.com/romeducation.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Ancient_RomeAncient Rome In So Many Words by Christopher Francesehttp://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/augustusaltar.jpghttp://www.quia.com/jg/1856016list.htmlhttp://goodnewsaday.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/23-most-influenti

al-toys-of-all-generations/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80490727/roman-reproduction-ceramic-rattle

http://www.mystudios.com/artgallery/A/Andre-Castaigne/Blind-Man's-Buff.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002606/AncientRome.html