3/31/14

Instead of devoting his life to the city state of Rome he belonged first to a family or clan. They clans and fathers were held together by "fathers" or "paterfamilias"  meaning the family father who had unlimited power over his household. The only person who could not go under his rule is the wife but only if she was still subject to the authority of her on father or the "genius" of the family. A married women in Rome is known as a matron or "lady mother" she embodied worship in the house along side her husband's genius. The Romans believed in the power of fatherhood in their community as well. Roman community life was seen as a family but on a much larger scale.