Representations of Roman Children and Childhood

Abstract

Studies of aspects of ‘the Roman family’ have developed so quickly and so prolifically in recent decades that it is already possible to write of work of the 1980s as the accepted orthodoxy and to have new, vigorous debates which are stimulating and questioning and deepening our understanding of the complexities of that central institution of Roman society. Other social histories of Rome are now taking account of this, in ways that go far beyond earlier histories' legalistic or political approach to Roman families. The role of children can now be studied against that nuanced and variegated background. There is already one full-length study (Wiedemann 1989) and I expect to have another ready soon.

New Perspectives on Child and Infant Burial in Britain (100 b.c.e.–c.e. 200)

“…11 This is an understanding based in part on the finding of many younger bodies at boundary locations such 3 For juveniles in the Roman-period archaeological record, see among others : Gowland 2001;Norman 2003;Carroll 2011;Kay 2016. In literature and culture more generally: Gardner and Wiedemann 1991;Rawson 1997;Rawson and Weaver 1997. 4 Fleming 2021, 148-56;Moore 2009. 5 Gowland and Redfern 2010, 28-32;Redfern et al 2012. 6 Millett and Gowland 2015, 185-6. 7 See Gowland 2016, 304. 8 Lillehammer 2008, 104;Moore 2009.…”

“… 3 For juveniles in the Roman-period archaeological record, see among others: Gowland 2001; Norman 2003; Carroll 2011; Kay 2016. In literature and culture more generally: Gardner and Wiedemann 1991; Rawson 1997; Rawson and Weaver 1997.…”

Le choix de la non-maternité dans l’Antiquité tardive

“…La fille de Mélanie et Pinien meurt dans son enfance 71 . La mortalité infantile dans l'Empire romain a été évaluée à environ un enfant sur cinq à partir des inscriptions 72 , même si Rawson propose le chiffre de 50 % de mortalité pour les moins de cinq ans 73 : une mère de famille risquait donc de voir mourir un ou plusieurs de ses enfants. De surcroît, les appréhensions de la mère doivent aussi être morales quant au devenir de son enfant 74 .…”