Analysis of Roman epitaphs alters concept of 'family' February 11, 2004 If ancient Romans observed Family Day, their celebrations would have included wet nurses, slaves and possibly many others who had no blood relationship, according to new University of Calgary research. A landmark analysis by classicist Dr. Hanne Sigismund Nielsen of more than 4,500 inscriptions on Roman tombstones shows that our concept of the Roman family needs to be broadened to include much more than just parents, grandparents and children. "Roman families did not at all look like our family structure today," says Nielsen, who spent more than 10 years...