UNIT A351: ROME Checklist
The focus of this option is the everyday life of an ancient Roman citizen in the capital
of the empire. Candidates should have a basic understanding of Rome’s status as the
ruler of a vast empire.
Candidates are required to have knowledge and understanding of three main areas of
Roman life:
• religion – its role and importance in the lives of the Romans;
• the family in Rome – the roles and duties of its individual members;
• entertainment and recreation in Rome – the appeal of these leisure activities in the
context of Roman society and their value to the emperor in the control of its people.
The gods.
Their responsibilities and how they are typically represented in Roman art.
o Jupiter.
o Pluto (Hades)
o Juno.
o Ceres.
o Neptune.
o Apollo.
o Diana.
o Minerva.
o Venus.
o Mars.
o Ceres.
o Mercury.
Temples
o Religious functions.
o The position of the altar.
o The cult statue.
o Use by worshippers.
Sacrifice.
o Its purpose.
o Surroundings.
o Officials.
o Animals.
o the ritual from the selection of the animal to the disposal of the remains.
Life in the home
The paterfamilias:
o His rights over family members and slaves
o His involvement in the education of his son
o Duties connected with religion and family finance
o His responsibilities towards his clients.
The wife:
o Her status, rights and duties.
o Daily activities such as spinning and weaving.
o The supervision of slaves.
o The wife as mother.
The dinner party (cena):
o Organisation.
o Guests.
o Entertainment.
o Purposes.
Slaves:
o Skilled and unskilled
o Ways to become a slave.
o The purchasing of slaves.
o Duties inside and outside the home for both male and female slaves.
o Opportunities for freedom.
Education:
o Subjects studied
o The litterarius
o The Grammaticus
o school equipment (stilus, wax tablet, pen, ink, papyrus).
o The education of boys and girls in preparation for their adult roles.
A typical day at the Colosseum
o The Colosseum: the arena, size, access, seating, structure.
o Animal shows: types of animal
o the bestiarius,
o men versus animals
o performing animals
o fights between animals
o hunts.
o Executions.
o The Gladiators
 The origins of gladiator shows as funerary honours
 The types of gladiator and their armour and weaponry
 retiarius
 secutors (samnite, myrmillo)
 Training for fights and the ludi gladiatorii
 Oaths.
o Audience involvement.
o The significance of the shows for both the Emperor and his citizens.
A typical day at the races.
o The Circus Maximus
 The arena, its structure, size, the seating, the track
 the spina
 The metae
 The carceres.
o The day’s events.
o The teams and colours
o The dangers of the races.
o The status of charioteers and horses
o Public attitudes to the games
o Audience involvement including betting
o The social significance of such events.