Life in Ancient Rome: A Story of Lucius Popidius Secundus

Study Notes

Hani Eldalees and Mohamad Turky Alkhuder visited Rome on March 17, in the year 73 after the common era, to attend the annual Liberalia festival celebrating Roman independence.
They came across a young man named Lucius Popidius Secundus, who was 17 years old and lived in the poor neighborhood of Subura near the city center. Despite not coming from a wealthy family, he was close to the city center, which posed risks such as constant fires and smells of smoke and charcoal.
Lucius had daily family chores to attend to and was cared for by his elderly brother, who was 15 years old. Most children in ancient Rome died before reaching this age, making this stage of life significant.
Lucius looked at his brother, who was dressed in new clothes and stood before the household goddess, expressing gratitude. The household goddess performed her duty, ensuring Lucius's safety and allowing him to survive and reach adulthood.
At age 17, Lucius had finished his education and learned to speak, engage in conversations, read, and write in both Greek and Latin. His father also taught him skills like riding horses, swimming, and fighting.
Lucius considered joining the military as a commander and leading soldiers in the Roman Empire's borders. However, he was still seen as a boy and unable to engage in business deals. His father planned to address this and encouraged him until he was 25 years old.
The family left their home as shops opened, and the streets were filled with traders selling trinkets and merchandise. The city gates allowed only small carts to enter before 10 am. The children's fathers and mothers took them to the Forum of Augustus to see statues of significant Roman figures like Aeneas and Romulus, as well as generals from the Roman Republic.
Ancient Rome had an empire without end and was sustained through wars, which were considered a part of life. Wars took place in northern England, Scotland, southern Denmark, and Romanian territories along the Danube River, all the way to the borders between Syria and Iraq.
The hour was the eighth, and it was time for the Romans to leave the public baths. Lucius and his family went to Martius Square and Agrippa's large baths. They left their elderly and working members outside while they enjoyed the baths with their acquaintances.
Bathhouses could transform from cold, steamy rooms to warm, dry rooms. The Romans had mastered glass window technology, which allowed sunlight to enter the bathhouse. Once they left the cold room, they moved to the warm room and then the hot room before leaving the bathhouse.
After leaving the bathhouse, the men returned home to begin their festive dinner. The dinner consisted of nine guests around a low table, with servants catering to their needs. They could hear carts outside and knew the day was coming to an end.
The servants and workers left after dinner and returned to their respective homes. The warm baths had now become cooling ones before the guests returned to their private residences.
Upon returning to Lucius's home, the feast continued with drinking that lasted till midnight. A servant stood by, ready to attend to any guest who wished to leave.
Twenty years later, Vespasian, the Roman Emperor, died, and his son Domitian took his place, bringing back the era of persecution. However, it remained uncertain whether Lucius could survive this period. (Shaking dice)

Description

Explore the daily life and aspirations of Lucius Popidius Secundus, a young man living in ancient Rome during the Liberalia festival. Learn about his family dynamics, education, Roman society, bathhouse rituals, and the political landscape during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.