CCD HISTORY 101 - History of Western Civilization 1
priest of family gods worshipped at hearth
right to dispose of family members as he saw fit, either killing them outright or selling into slavery
sons subjected to his power until he died; only then did they come into majority
girls governed by paterfamilias unless his power transmitted to a husband through manus marriage
he could demand that a married child divorce a spouse if it served his purposes
Manus Marriage
a transference of power from the father to the husband which resulted in the marital subordination of the woman
Romans viewed manus marriage as a way of keeping women in line
provides a legal solution to Athenian problem of specifying exactly to whom the woman belonged, her natal household or that of her husband
change in domestic religion: the woman worshipped her husband's family gods, not those of her father
a woman not given in manus marriage excluded from husband's domestic cult
gave a woman access to her husband's property
men used marriage as a means to cement political ties between men (e.g. Octavia, sister of Augustus/ Octavian, married to Mark Antony)
both partners had to consent to the marriage but woman could only refuse to marry if the man proven morally unfit
manus marriage took place under the following circumstances:
sharing of bread
mock sale of the bride
continuous cohabitation for one year (three days absence from one's husband per year could rendered the marriage non-manus)
Divorce
only husband could initiate divorce
grounds for divorce included sterility and adultery
children remained with the father