Analysis Of Roman Epitaphs Alters Concept Of 'Family'

University Of Calgary ^ | 2-11-2004 | Dr Hanne Sigismund

[Esther Ruth]

I would suspect someone trying to "build a case" here - definitely, they aren't just giving us a history report, they are up to something - and that would be control of the children - plain and simple. Who gets to decide what the children learn? Mom and dad, uncles, grandparents, the neighbors across the street, Hillary, the leaders at present, or JUST the parents. They have been working on this "case building" for awhile, making parents feel guilt for imposing their private views on their children. Those phrases like, "our children don't belong to us, they belong to the future" etc. Daytime soaps have been preaching this community village stuff for 30 years or so, everyone on the darn soap takes care of the children, they are never with their parents, their moms have remarried 3 or 4 times, have 86 step dads and 92 steps sisters and brothers, all one big global community, and the mom and dad don't seem to believe they have the ultimate say on what happens in that child's life, or they bring it up for a vote at a town meeting or something, sort of communist.

[Yeti]

In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission. And I observed that he had overcome all passion for boys; ...

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book I

Just regular folks, those latter Imperial Roman ruling class families.

[reed_inthe_wind]

Scholars have known this for a long time.

[Burkeman1]

You seem fixated on the Emporers and their truly decadent lifestyles. We know about these rather torrid stories of total depravity because that is what survives and what most people were writing about. They were not writing about the regualr Pedestrian citizen in the street. But we do have every day records which paint a far more conservative picture of the average Roman Citizens life. Mr. Average Roman citizen was not having orgies with boys- far from it. He most likely wasn't even aware (much less cared) what the emperor did. There was no CNN and no printing press even.

Just as Bill Clinton is not a proper indicator of our nation's morality - by no means were the actions of the "God kings" of Rome that most of the Roman world would never hear about.

[Yeti]

But we do have every day records which paint a far more conservative picture of the average Roman Citizens life. Mr. Average Roman citizen was not having orgies with boys- far from it.

And Mom was the wet nurse.

[sirchtruth]

I am a practicing Roman pagan, and live with my exwife, her husband, and two children with one on the way. We do not practice polyandry/polygamy, but family chores are split. It is practical, and I recommend it.

Does anyone else find this quite strange?

[ffusco]

very strange, but how is it Roman?

[longtermmemmory]

(/s)?

[Burkeman1]

Do you have any concept on what life was like for people 2000 years ago? Half of all children born died before their 3rd birthday. A women stood about a ten percent chance of dying every time she gave birth.

Cicero- Great Roman statesman grew up in a small town outside of Rome and his family were the local laundry mat- that is they washed clothes with coal pitch and goat urine. But as humble as his family was-his dad had "Clients" that followed him. Cicero was lucky enough to be taken aboard to a higher family in Rome as a "client". But Cicero is truly a "self made man" in Roman Times.

Sorry- did I interupt your viewing of "Spartacus?"

[Yeti]

I am a practicing Roman pagan

Practice makes perfect : )

[Sci Fi Guy]

and suspect it's intentional- the agenda being to eliminate all Christian references from our daily lives.

No, it's done so that scholars and researchers can use a common frame of reference in research. Different religions (cultures) have different calenders. In the Muslim and Jewish calenders it's not 2004, they measure from different starting dates. So it makes a lot more sense to have a common neutral frame of reference that everyone can use regardless of their religion.

[Yeti]

Silly, pompous ass: first decide which side of which point you want to argue, then argue it consistently.

For one thing, it's been 10+ years since I had a TV in my house, and I have never seen Caligula OR Sparticus.

For another, you keep citing emperors and senators, then saying that's how the common man was. Then you say we have no writings about the common man, but its okay, because we have a wealth of written records about day-to-day life and the common man.

*Now* you're babbling irrelevant crap about mortality rates as if showed anything but your own pompous propensity to bluster loud wet farts from your mouth!

Shut up! Read Pliny the Elder or Plutarch or someone and *decide* what you think, or just have another scotch and go to freaking bed.

[Burkeman1]

OK- we are done.

[Burkeman1]

See how I am not that bad anymore?

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - SOCIOLOGY - FAMILY

[Admin Moderator]

Thank you!

[ApplegateRanch]

I, too ignore it when I can.
When I'm in a situation that demands I not use BC/AD, I pointedly spell it out as CHRISTIAN ERA & BEFORE CHRISTIAN ERA.

Look out for the foaming spittle that flies from them if you do it. It is worth carrying a towel, though, just to watch them froth & foam at the mouth.

[ApplegateRanch]

No, it's done so that scholars and researchers can use a common frame of reference in research. Different religions (cultures) have different calenders. In the Muslim and Jewish calenders it's not 2004, they measure from different starting dates. So it makes a lot more sense to have a common neutral frame of reference that everyone can use regardless of their religion.

...which just happens to have the same starting point as AD/BC.

IF that were the real reason, then a 'neutral', but equally earth shattering, starting point would have been picked...say, August 6, 1945.

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[Modernman]

CE = Christian Era

BCE = Before the Christian Era

That's not really accurate, since the Christian Era doesn't begin with the death of Jesus- if anything, it would begin when Christianity became the dominant religion in the Empire, centuries later.