The Mos Maiorum
MR . CUMMINGS
WORLD HISTORY
Investigative Question
How did Rome’s lifestyle
reflect Roman values
contained in the Mos
Maoirum?
Background
The unwritten code from which the Romans derived their social
norms.
“Time-honored” principles and behavioral models and social
practices that affected private, political, and military lie in ancient
Rome.
Mos Maoirum revolved around strict hierarchical values
These unwritten laws were complex and evolved over time.
Values of The Mos Maoirum
Fides
Pietas
Religio
Disciplina
Gravitas
Virtus
Dignitas
Fides
Encompasses trust/trustworthiness, good faith/faithfulness,
confidence, reliability, and credibility.
Because oral contracts were common in the Empire, it was an
important concept in Roman law.
The concept of fides was personified by the goddess Fides, whose
role in the Mos Maiorum is indicated by the antiquity of her cult.
Pietas
The Roman attitude of dutiful respect towards the gods, homeland,
parents and family
Cicero defined pietas as "justice towards the gods.”
The most important virtue of the Roman hero Aeneas in Vergil's
Aeneid.
Religio
Related to the Latin verb religare, “to bind”, religio is the bond
between gods and mortals.
Important in preserving the pax deorum (“peace of the gods”).
Religio and Cultus became one in the same, requiring Romans to
actively observe and correctly perform rituals.
Disciplina
The military character of Roman society suggests the importance of
disciplina as related to education, training, discipline and selfcontrol.
Gravitas
Dignified self-control, while the word Constantia was usually attached
to Gravitas, meaning steadiness or perseverance.
In the face of adversity, a “good” Roman was to display an
unperturbed façade. Roman myth and history reinforced this value by
recounting tales of figures such as Gaius Mucius Scaevola, who in a
founding legend of the Republic demonstrated his seriousness and
determination to the Etruscan king Lars Porsenna by holding his right
hand in a fire.
Virtus
Virtus constituted the ideal of the true Roman male.
The writer Lucilius discussed virtus in some of his work, stating that
it is virtus for a man to know what is good, evil, useless, shameful, or
dishonorable.
Dignitas
Dignitas was the end result of displaying the values of the ideal
Roman and the service of the state in the forms of priesthoods,
military positions, and magistracies.
Dignitas was reputation for worth, honor and esteem.
Thus, a Roman who displayed their gravitas, constantia, fides, pietas
and other values becoming a Roman would possess dignitas among
their peers. Similarly, through this path, a Roman could earn
auctoritas (“prestige and respect”).
Investigative Question
How did Rome’s lifestyle
reflect Roman values
contained in the Mos
Maoirum?