The private life of the Romans: Everyday life & culture of antiquity

The book *The Private Life of the Romans* offers an authentic glimpse into Roman society by presenting Joachim Marquardt's standard scholarly work on everyday Roman life in antiquity. It covers specific topics such as housing, leisure, family, education, work, trade, and religious and social structures. A comprehensive overview also illuminates aspects such as diet, clothing, upbringing, and the organization of public life in the ancient metropolis of Rome.

Joachim Marquardt describes Roman family life as a strictly hierarchical community ordered by the father (pater familias), in which the upbringing of children primarily aimed at preparing them for public life and imparting traditional values ​​(mos maiorum). Slaves are portrayed as an integral, yet legally subordinate, part of the household, playing a vital role in production, childcare, and administration.

In Joachim Marquardt's portrayal of Roman private life, burial rituals and the cult of the dead occupy a central position, as they were considered essential duties of the bereaved and an expression of social communication. He describes in detail the process from the festive funeral procession (pompa) through the forms of burial (cremation or earth burial) to the regular maintenance of the graves and the ancestor cult, whereby ideas about the afterlife varied between the dark realm of Hades and the hope of a paradisiacal continuation of life (Elysium).

In his work, Joachim Marquardt offers a detailed account of everyday Roman life. Regarding food culture, he explains the evolution of meals from simple flatbreads to lavish banquets, as well as the use of typical foods such as grains, vegetables, eggs, and wine. Clothing is described as a means of self-expression and a marker of social status, while in his discussion of domestic culture, he addresses the architectural design, spatial layout, and interior furnishings of Roman houses.