Rome was the very essence of a male dominated society, being militaristic, proud, go-getting and determined on expansion.

The man of the house, the Paterfamilias, was the head of the family with absolute control over his wife and children, and in earlier times he even had the right to kill, in certain circumstances, without suffering punishment for it.

The Roman woman of status carried the feminine form of her family’s name, even if there were several daughters within that family.

The daughters would be differentiated by diminutives or by nicknames.

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This was further evidence of the lack of individuality allowed to women.

So where did the Roman woman fit in, both within the family unit and in the wider social world?

Continue here: Ancient Origins