Marriage in Ancient Roman Culture

Every culture has marriage rituals that help differentiate them from each other. Traditions and customs in ancient Roman wedding etiquette was not very different from bridal etiquette today. Their wedding customs have actually set the basis for many modern weddings today. However, there were some customs that were very important to the Romans that do not completely relate to modern customs. An engagement ring, the choice of which date and location, the dressing of the bride, and the legalizing of the marriage itself were all important to the Ancient Roman culture.

Before the actual wedding took place, several things had to happen. The bride had to get engaged. Engagement before the wedding was considered a good manner but wasn’t always required. The couple would then have to choose the date they would get married on. A lot of care went into choosing the date of the wedding because there were days that were considered both lucky and unlucky. When the wedding day came around many things took place. On the wedding day, the bride partook to many things, including the morning of preparation, which typically involved picking flowers for her hair and getting dressed.

Ancient Roman men offered their women a ring as a symbol of ownership. The circle was the symbol of eternity, with no beginning and no end. The hole in the center of the ring symbolized a gateway leading to events both known and unknown. These rings were called betrothal rings. They were made of iron, to symbolize strength and permanence. The more expensive the material was demonstrated the wealth of the giver, which was why iron was the most common ring material. The Romans were the first to wear the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, otherwise known as the ring ...

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Although modern weddings have similar customs to Ancient Roman weddings, they were still different. While there are many differences, there are still similarities. The elements of a marriage in ancient Roman culture consisted of an engagement, choosing the date, the preparation of the bride, and the location of the wedding. While the much broader subjects are similar, the way it is performed is changed.

Works Cited

Edmondson, J. C., and Alison Keith. Roman Dress and the Fabrics of Roman Culture.

Toronto: U of Toronto, 2008. Print.

Gill, N. S. "Matrimonium - Roman Marriage." About.com Ancient / Classical History. About.com, 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

"Roman Weddings." UNRV History: Roman Empire. UNRV History, 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

Treggiari, Susan. Roman Marriage: Iusti Coniuges From the Time of Cicero to the Time of Ulpian. Oxford: Clarendon, 1991. Print.