A glimpse of teenage life in ancient Rome - Ray Laurence
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Welcome to the world of Lucius Popidius Secundus, a 17-year old living in Rome in 73 AD. His life is a typical one of arranged marriages, coming-of-age festivals, and communal baths. Take a look at this exquisitely detailed lesson on life of a typical Roman teenager two thousand years ago.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
According to Laurence, Lucius would participate in an arranged marriage to a girl 10 years younger than him. http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/Ancient_Roman_Marriage.htm
Liberalia is a particularly important Roman festival. This feast celebrates the maturation of young boys to manhood. Roman boys, usually at age 14, would remove the bulla praetexta, a hollow charm of gold or leather, which parents placed about the necks of children to ward off evil spirits. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalia
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. He was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty. http://www.roman-emperors.org/domitian.htm
Roman baths were part of ancient Roman culture. They were vast facilities shared by members of similar peer groups. Based on your social standing, you bathed at specific times of the day and in varying conditions. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Balneae.html
A strigil was a small, curved, metal tool used in Rome to scrape dirt and sweat from the body before effective soaps became available. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strigil
The Forum of Augustus is one of the Imperial forums of Rome, Italy, built by Augustus. It includes the Temple of Mars Ultor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Augustus
Patrons, clients, slaves, and Freedmen -- one of the main institutions of Roman life was the dependent relationship established between a patrons and his client. http://romans.etrusia.co.uk/roman_patrons.php
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Meet The Creators
- Animator Cognitive Media
- Educator Ray Laurence
- Narrator Ray Laurence