Belle89's Blog

In my society, we strongly believe in a number of gods and goddesses as we practiced polytheism. Among those number of gods and goddesses, I personally worshipped a few of them; for my own good and for my kingdom.

Bacchus

He is known as the God of Wine. I worshipped Bacchus not because I have a big favor of the drink but because I adored his character of deep thoughtfulness.

Ceres

Ceres is a goddess of vegetation. From what I heard from Antonia, Ceres is an ancient Latin Goddess. Each time I pay my worship to her, I always prayed that she will improve my people’s crops and plants.

Diana

Goddess Diana is one of my favourite goddess. She is known among our people as the goddess to unity of peoples. In my father’s weekly praying, he would prayed to Diana several times to ensure the kingdom’s unity among the citizen.

Juno

Goddess Juno is known as the goddess of women. I also learnt that she is also known as Hera in Greek.

Jupiter

In Greek, Jupiter is known as Zeus. He is considered as ‘the father of the Gods’. As he is the most powerful god of all, he is worshipped the most by our people. Even father has built a temple especially for the great Jupiter to show his loyalty.

Lar

Lar, on the other hand, is not a god or goddess. Lar is a spirit’s of our ancestors. A small figurine of Lar would be kept in each houses for safety and guardian. I have one figurine in my room as well, I placed it next to my bed.

Minerva

Minerva is a goddess of arts, industry and workcrafts. I have to say that I do not have any specialty in those fields, but I worshipped Minerva because she is known for her wisdom and intelligence. I always prayed that she will help me in my studies that father had assigned to me.

Mars

Mars is the god of war. He is one of my father’s favourite god. Father will give extra attention of praying time to Mars as he needs Mars blessings to make his army strong and fearful.

Venus

Venus is my favourite goddess of all. She is the god of love and beauty. Once, I had a dream about Venus where she came to me and patted my hair. I feel so blessed, and I believe one day Venus will generously give me her blessings and bless me with new love.

Sources:

http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/pantheon.html

http://www.roman-empire.net/diverse/pictures.html

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/index.htm

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/venus.htm

Credits:

http://www.roman-empire.net/videos/index.html

As I awoke from my restful slumber, I had an overwhelming feeling of joy. I was very excited. Today, father promised I could go around the forum, where the best shops are. It has been awhile since I walked around and see Rome. Agatha and 4 other servants would be accompanying me. Sometimes I find it a little uncomfortable to be walking around with a servants and guards around me. I feel concious of my looks and surrounding as everyone would be staring at me. I had often wondered what it would be like for a normal Roman citizen. I reckon they would be freer and would have more fun. It gets pretty lonely for me, I have no siblings and father and mother have not much time to spend walking around the forum all afternoon. Agatha is the foreman of the servants that serves me. There are around 12 slaves that she leads. She has been wonderful to me since I was born. She would tell me stories of her childhood and the country she was from, her family, and how she entertains herself. She would also comfort me when I am sad or when I get scared.
Agatha is a 45 year old woman from Asia Minor (Turkey). She was brought here as a slave when she was just 12. A provincial tax-collector named Hamed, acted as a supplier of slaves from the provinces had transported her and a group of 10,000 other slaves to the provincial slave market where they were bought by wholesale buyers who had shipped her to Rome. She said she would never forget the day she left her country. It was her worst nightmare come to live. She never saw her mother since and she accepted that. She said, they would see each other again in heaven so, she doesn’t feel so sad anymore.
She said she was very thankful to have been purchased by my father. He had always treated her well. At least, he acknowledges the fact that she was human and had always been fair with her. She was also thankful that father and mother were very kind to her husband and 2 children. They are all slaves in my household, even the children. Agatha told me that a marriage between 2 slaves were not legalize at first but not long after they were married, the office announced that the contubernium (slaves marital union) became legal and no masters were to sell any partners of the contubernium separately. So, she is very thankful that she would never be separated from her family, again. And even though her children were made slaves of my father too, she one day hopes to buy them their freedom. My father, like most Roman masters allow their slaves to earn money (peculium) of their own. This is done by selling wares of providing any particular service. Agatha and her family hope that one day they could be free and acquire full citizenship. And though they may not be able to join the public office, they hope to make a living like every other Roman.
She said to me once, that maybe her mother has always been looking over her. She had been lucky to serve the imperial household and kind masters such as my father and mother. She had seen worse masters that treated their slaves like animals or property. Punishments towards the slaves were merciless. Hard labour, whippings, branding, breaking of the joints or bones, branding of the forehead with letters denoting the slave as a runaway, liar or thief (FUG, KAL, FUR) and crucifixion were all punishments which were inflicted upon slaves. So too, being thrown to the wild beasts in the circuses or even being burnt alive in a cloak soaked in pitch.
Many gruesome tales of torture inflicted on slaves were told. And my sweet Agatha would only have stories of kindness and loyalty to tell.

Sources:
http://www.roman-empire.net/society/society.html
http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture13b.html
http://www.worldhistoryblog.com/…/slavery-in-roman-empire.html
http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-slavery.php

I was born into this world as a little baby girl. I was brought up by two most beautiful people on earth, my mother and my father. As I grew up, I had come to many different stages of my life, from a small kid playing around freely to a quieter person as I approach my teenager life. Finally here I am, a young lady that got most of everything in her life that she could ever want. All of these different stages of life have brought many changes to my life. I do see the changes in me, I am more aware of my surrounding, I am more mature, and also I have greater responsibility on every action that I take.

 Women in Roman society are not given much power and have no rights to vote. The women in Roman have always been under the guardian of the head of the family. Before they were married, their father was the one who took responsibility over them. Later on, their husband will take the lead. Most of the women here don’t have much freedom. They are also not allowed to join the government.

 The lives of women here are greatly based on their position in society. Women from high societies are fortunate to lead a life of leisure. Most of their works are usually done by servants. Women from the lower class are mostly housewives. They are also an important role in the roman society.

 Women from the high society are always busy with their social life that they barely have the time to educate their children with the basic knowledge of life. Their housework is most of the time done by women from lower class. They also help the upper class women to wash their face and spend hours setting their hair into curls.

 However, women from the lower class have no option but to do everything by themselves. They are in charge of raising their children and also keeping their house in order. The responsibilities that are on them could be very stressful. They have to do the entire house cleaning, cook for the whole family, and also getting all the laundry done. On the other hand, they are also supposed to educate their daughter with all the knowledge that they have, such as cooking, sewing, washing clothes, and cleaning the house. All of this is done with great care and love for the family.

Sources :

http://www.roman-empire.net/index.html

http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-women.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Ancient_Rome

http://www.cornellcollege.edu/classical_studies/comedy/comedy1/images/women.jpg

What else could be better than having a nice cup of tea with some fresh baked chocolate cookies on a beautiful Saturday morning. The cookies are really delicious, they are usually baked by Antonia as she is good in baking. Well it has been a strenuous week for me though, with all the busy schedules I hardly have time to rest. This week, I had been busy with lots of religious ceremony.

Roman religion is divided into two. Spirit watched over people, families, and household, and the paterfamilias who is in charge of the household worship. Romans over here belief and worship in many gods and spirit. Every Roman has it own worship. Romans also had a set of public god, such as Jupiter. The very first and the largest temple in Roman Empire is the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus also known as the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. The temple is located on the Capitaline hill. The temple was built to honor Jupiter and also other gods such as Juno and Minerva. The temple is the most important temple in the Roman Empire.

Jupiter is the Father of the gods and the greatest god. He was the king of the gods and the god of sky and thunder. He was called Iuppiter Optimus Maximus (“Father God the Best and Greatest”). As the patron deity in the Roman Empire, Jupiter ruled over laws and social order. He was also the chief god of the Capitoline Triad, with Juno, who is his sister and also his wife. Jupiter is also the father of the god Mars.

Sources :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_(mythology)

http://www.unrv.com/culture/religion-of-rome.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jupiter_Versailles_Louvre_Ma78.jpg

      I awoke feeling fully rested this morning. After a dreamless and undisturbed sleep, a nice hot bath was in order. The maids drew a perfectly soothing bath for me as they undress my woolen tunic that kept me warm through the night. They are kind people. They treated me like their own child and had always spoilt me with love and care. As they peeled of the undergarment from my skin, they would tell me tales of their childhood and love stories. My exposed body emerged in the warm water filled with flowers that scented my skin after. After a relaxing shower, they dressed me and got me ready for breakfast with father and mother. I stood calmly on the pedestal in front of my own reflection as the maids braided my hair and wrapped the stola around my petit figure.

                I stared at my own reflection admiring the clothes of Roma. Other than my father’s impeccable taste, Rome is usually filled with people in beautiful and understated clothing. I remember being draped in luxurious cotton, linen woolen and even silk sometimes ever since I was young. The stolas that my parents had made for me has always been beautifully decorated. I have always considered myself to be lucky. All women of Rome wore stolas. The luckier ones with wealth and stature would be draped in luxurious wool and silk stolas with embellishments around the neckline. My favorite stola would be the one that I had worn on my parents’ 15^th wedding anniversary gala dinner that my father had thrown. It was yellow with golden and red embellishment around the neckline and a beautiful institia sewn around the hem of the stola. It was long sleeved and I had worn a red ribbon around my waist. It was really one of a kind. Mother’s stolas are even more spectacular and because she is the queen, the institia attached around the hem were more layers than anybody’s. It’s a far cry than those worn by women of Rome. Although the stolas symbolizes the different status of the women of Rome, I had always considered every woman to be equal. Even though the clothes would determine if we were married or single, peasants or upper class, underneath the stolas were the same tunics.

                I paired the blue stola today with a matching colored palla. The long shawl that I wore over my shoulders and wrapped my head was held on with a fibula that was given to me by my aunt. The maids also made sure that I had my bulla around my neck at all times. The bulla was given to me and other young girls of Roma. It is an amulet that is worn until the day we were married. I cannot wait to get married and burn my bulla.

Once I was all made up, I made my way to the formal patio where we have breakfast on some mornings. Father looked sharp in his toga. He had always and will always look the best out of all the men of Rome. Men wore togas as women wore stolas. But only father can wear it and look different and unique. The togas also represent different classes and status. But most importantly, father said it was a sign of peace and pride. He used to always quote Virgil’s proud lines, “Romanos, rerum dominos, gentemque togatam” (“Romans, lords of the world, the toga-wearing race”).

Sources:

http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/Romans/Wright/clothing.html

http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/clothing.html

It’s been a year since my beloved husband, Romulus passed away. And since then, there is not a day that I do not miss him. Yes I am much stronger now, but deep within me I know that there is something missing. He is my sunshine that wakes me up every morning and he is the gentle breeze that makes me fell asleep at night. Now that he’s gone, my days are gloomy and my nights are freezing. Though I tried to show everyone that I’m alright, only Antonia and me myself know that I really am not.

I have to admit, that I used to dislike Romulus. Few days after my 15th birthday, father called me to his reading room. And there 20 years old Romulus was, standing obidiently next to my father. Father then introduced him as my future husband, one of our Senate’s son. I wanted to run away, but something inside me asked me to stay; which I did. After that brief introduction, Romulus’s father, Senate Dominica came in the reading room. Father and him then discussed about my wedding with Romulus. I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream, I wanted to run away. But I cannot. These two hours of discussion really made me feel like I was in hell. I was deep in sorrow, when the discussion finally finished and my wedding date is decided. According to our customs and beliefs, June is the best month to get the ceremony done, and 15th of June is the luckiest day of the month. And that’s when I’ll get married.

The wedding is a month away, and there is not a day that I regretted myself of why I ever agreed to father’s decision to marry me to Romulus. But somehow, I cannot forget that face. That strong, masculine and tanned face. I guess maybe I just despise him so much that his face keep flashing in my eyes and mind. It is only natural when a wedding is on its way, the preparation to celebrate it is very hectic. Plus, adding the fact that my father is the Princep. The preparation was a little too much, in my opinion. My personal room is filled with the dowry from father and the prenuptial gift from Romulus’s family. In Rome, dowry and prenuptial gifts are a must to be given to the bride for her future need. While I was browsing through the gifts, I saw this small box. I picked it up and opened it; there it was. The most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life. Inside the box there was this small piece of folded paper. I unfolded it and I read it; 

Ego may non exsisto optimus , tamen ego spondeo ego mos diligo quod take tutela vestrum cetera of meus vita.

Romulus.

It was from him. “I may not be the best, but I promise I will love and take care of you for the rest of my life.” I can never forget that words, and Romulus got me at that. So the wedding ceremony goes on like it was planned. I have to go through lots of religious ceremonies and finally, we are about to sign the marriage contract that will officially make Romulus and I a legal married couple. The wedding was beautiful, the best that I have ever been before. Even my sister, Julia said so. She was slightly drunk when she told me that, but I was pretty much sure she meant it.

After the marriage, Romulus treated my like a queen. He shows me how to ride horses, how to shoot an arrow, how to swim. Everything that I always wanted to do. He is the one that change my view of the world, and I could not be more grateful. In our society, a husband is allowed to have concubines. I remembered asking him once, why don’t he look for one. He replied to me, “Why would I look for a glass, when I have a diamond?” He was so good with words, I have to say.

However, 3 years after our marriage, a few days after my 18th birthday, the most dreadful day of my life came. Romulus and I were out in my father’s personal garden one night, enjoying the night air before we went to bed. I have no idea how but suddenly there was this huge snake in front of me; trying to spray his venom to me. I was panicked and I could not move my feet. When the snake was about to attack me, Romulus pushed me aside and he was biten by the snake instead. I was terrified. I tried to suck out the venom but it was to late. My dear husband died in my arms.

My later days without him was full of misery. Every single things I do remind me of him. I lost my will to live. I missed him very much, more than words can say. I swore that I will never love anyone else but him. I knew he is watching and guarding me from heaven, and I will do my best to preserve our memories together.

Resources:

http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/women_in_ancient_rome.htm

http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Roman_Empire

http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_latin.html

Hi, good morning everyone hope you all had a good sleep last night. I just had my breakfast and I really did enjoy my meal because it was so delicious. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it supplies our body with the energy that we need to start our day. I hope that you are all aware of this important fact. Well today I would like to share a few of my favorite food that I enjoy eating the most.

My craving for sweets has never stop since my childhood. Till today I can still eat as many sweets that I like and not having any toothache. Most of the sweets that are available in The Roman Emperor are usually made with honey. Even at times with the mixture of cheese and honey. My favorite sweet is the “coki-cuki” sweet that is very sweet and crunchy at the outer layer and creamy in the inner part. As the daughter of Augustus, my dad always commands his guards to have plenty of sweets at the palace so I could eat them when ever I want to.

I am also a very health concern person. I make sure that I do eat lots of vegetable and fruits as it keep my body healthier. Vegetable and fruits that I like eating the most is cabbage, lettuce, cherries, plum, and grapes. I also love mushroom sup when I eat it with bread. Usually, I will have it for my breakfast as I prefer eating it in the morning.

Where else, during lunch I try to eat a little bit more than my breakfast but it would make me fell sleepy. So I will have something like a little cooked meat – ham or salami, salad, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables and bread. Besides that my other favorite food is pottage. Pottage is a kind of thick stew made from wheat, millet or corn. Sometimes they would add cooked meat, offal or a sauce made out of wine.

I also enjoy eating nuts like walnuts, almonds and chestnuts. I prefer eating them after my dinner while I am reading a book or while writing my diary.

So those are some of my favorite food that I enjoy eating the most. I got to go for now as I am supposed to attend an important event and I have to get dress up. That’s all from me for today.

sources:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/food.htm

Being the daughter of Augustus is not as easy as what people think. Imagine myself having no freedom on whatever that I want to do. Each and every single thing that I did, weather it was right or wrong my dad always nags me. Even though he’s a good, loving and caring father, he is a very strict person and also protective over me. I’m always been protected and watched by the Romans guard as it was not safe for me to go out anywhere. At the palace the Romans guards can be seen almost each and every angle of the palace protecting everyone.

Besides that, I also do get the best out of everything, like I am been taught by the best teacher available in The Roman Emperor. My dad has given me the best education in Rome. But at times I do get frustrated because I am suppose to learn each and every thing, my dad would never say no for a answer if I’d had ask him the permission of not learning something that I don’t like. It can be very stressful too. I also have to learn the ways to speak to people, the language that I use when I speak has to be correct without any mistake and I also have to treat people that I meet differently according to their status.

The clothes that I wear are made from expensive materials. My closets are full with lots beautiful stolas and most of them are very heavy when I wear it. I am supposed to look beautiful and elegant whenever I go for any function.  Even though when I am at home I have to look pleasant. Every day I will wear makeup and lots of jewelery with beautiful stolas. At times I do love dressing up when I have the mood of it. It can be fun but most off the time I don’t get the opportunity to pick what I want to wear, I have to wear what is given to me.

I am also not allow to speak to anyone that I don’t know, even those that I know I am still not allowed to speak to because my dad doesn’t allow me. He is concern about my safety as there are many people out there that are jealous of him, so he is afraid that people could harm me. I only have Antonia as a friend that I can talk to and also not forgetting my brother, Tiberius who has always been there for me.

I guess that’s all I got to say for today as I am feeling sleepy. So till next time, good night and take care.

I have live in this world for 19 years. Too many ups and downs in this short lifespan. Yes, I am part of the nation’s greatest patricians. My father is the famous Augustus, thus I got every single thing that I ever wanted. Except for one thing, the one thing that my pitiful soul is yearning; Freedom. Being a daughter of the greatest emperor does not allows me to do what my heart told me. I am like a bird in a golden cage. My eyes are free to roam wherever it please, but my body and soul stay still. Being a daughter to an emperor makes it much harder. Every single place I went with my whole group of nannies, I was never be free from others’ eyes. They will observed every single thing I did, and when I did something that they think was wrong, the next thing I knew I was called to meet father. Lucky me, father will never punish me for what I did wrong but I cannot stand his lecture. He would remind me of who I really am, over and over and over again. I can even memorize most of his lecture, or should I call it nagging.

In my entire life, I have only met one true friend. The one who always speaks the truth to me, the one who always listens to my inner thoughts, the one who always there for me; Antonia. She is one of my nannies, and she is only a year older than me. She is like a mother to me as we grew up together. She took care of me when my mother, Empress Livia Drusilla was extremely busy attending her everyday committee meeting with the Senates’ wives. She is the one stays with me day and night when my dearest husband died a year ago.

When I was 15, father arranged me to get married to one of the Senate member’s son, Romulus. At first, I was against the marriage but as time goes by, Romulus turns out to be a good and loving husband. And I could not be more grateful. However, a year ago, a few months after my 18th birthday, Romulus passed away. I was not in a right state of mind for a few months after he passed away.

Luckily my brother, Tiberius and Antonia support me up until this day. Now I am back as I were before, with a much more stronger will to be live a free life. Tiberius is my elder brother, mother’s first son with her previous husband. Though he is my half-brother, we are very close. Too bad for him, he had to marry father’s first daughter, Julia. I don’t really favor Julia though she is my half-sister, and my sister-in-law too. She is too outspoken, too free and scandalous. She is free to do her own will, despite father’s disagreement towards her behaviour. She has been scolded and punished tons of times because of her mischievous acts. To be honest, I am jealous of her. I wanted to be like her; she is free. Both physically and spiritually.