After she turned 14, a girl was considered eligible for marriage.
Many Roman's married for financial, social or political reasons, not love.
In wealthy families, marriages arranged by girl's father but consent had to be given to make the union official e.g. through holding hands in public.
When both families agreed to the wedding, the engagement took place and an informal contract was drawn up before witnesses.
Gifts exchanged and groom's family gave fiancée a ring, worn on third finger of left hand as believed a nerve ran directly from that finger to the heart.
Since the bride was accompanied with a dowry, marriage into a noble family could be a way of achieving wealth and social status.
A sponsalia (party) was held to celebrate the engagement.
However, as many of these weddings were based on social, financial or political purposes, they could quickly be broken off for the same reasons.
Emperor Augustus was engaged three times before his first marriage.
The day was carefully chosen as many dates were unlucky so most marriages took place in the second half of June (May and February were forbidden).
1 of 3
The Wedding Ceremony
In older, traditional ceremonies, women were simply property that the husband would take over from her former paterfamilias.
As time went on and women played a more influential role in society, instead, women stayed in power of her own family (so she'd keep her own property).
The day before the ceremony, the bride dedicated her toys to the household god (lares) and changed her girls clothes into a bridal gown.
On the day itself, the house would be decorated with flowers and coloured ribbons whilst the mother helped the bride prepared herself.
First her hair was made into a special up-do with a headdress made of flowers.
The dress was a plain white tunic fastened at the waist with a special belt.
The wedding veil was yellow as were her shoes.
The guests assembled and the groom arrived.
Ceremony began with a sacrifice+signing a marriage contract, before witnesses.
The bridge led forward by pronuba (bridesmaid) joining their right hands.
When the words were said, the couple sat on stools, facing the altar, to make an offering (usually of cake) to Jupiter.
Then guests shouted good luck and the wedding feast began.
2 of 3
After The Ceremony
Celebrations were held and a banquet went on until the evening.
The groom seized the bride and led her to his house after the bride and the bride's mother would pretend to resist him.
Torchbearers and musicians would lead the way to his house which was essential to the completion of the marriage and anyone could join the procession - just for fun.
The bride carried a spindle+distaff (to symbolise new responsibilities) and was accompanied by three boys - one carried a hawthorn branch set alight.
Crowds followed shouting good luck/offensive jokes (thought to bring luck).
The groom would scatter nuts and coins to following children.
On arrival at the groom's home, nuts were thrown by participants and the bride smeared fat on the door posts and was carried over the threshold with the invited guests following.
The torch was blown out and thrown to guests (like a bride's bouquet).
In earlier years, divorce was virtually unknown but changes in the marriage law allowed women to keep control of their dowry. This made divorce and self-sustenance easier.
Not all marriages took this form, second marriages were quieter and many families could not afford the expense involved.
Comments
No comments have yet been made