If you want to portray a character that's believable within a historical context, you need to look beyond just the costume. In the Greek and Roman world, your identity was completely determined by your social class, wealth and citizenship rights.
The Greek Basic
The Greek polis formed the blueprint for later Roman culture. Society was roughly divided into three layers:
The Aristocrats: The nobility with land ownership and political power. They had the time for education, politics and science. Famous philosophers also came from this class.
The Citizens: The free middle class of farmers, merchants and craftspeople. They bore the responsibility for governing the city-state.
The Slaves: The lowest layer, often prisoners of war. They had no rights and performed heavy work in households and agriculture.
Roman Citizenship
In Rome, citizenship (civitas) was the most precious possession. It granted you the right to legal protection and voting rights. Initially, this was reserved for the Patricians (the oldest noble families). After centuries of struggle, the Plebeians (the common Roman people) also gained citizenship rights. In 212 AD, Emperor Caracalla opened citizenship to virtually all free inhabitants of the Empire to strengthen unity.
The Roman Class Structure
The Elite: Patricians & Equites
The upper layer consisted of the Patricians, who held the highest offices for generations. Directly below them stood the Equites, also called the knight class. These were wealthy citizens who made their fortune in trade and finance. In the army, they formed the cavalry, because they could afford their own horse and armour.
The People: Plebeians & Legionaries
The Plebeians formed the majority: farmers, shopkeepers and craftspeople. For them, the profession of Legionary in the imperial period became an attractive path to status. A soldier in the legions became a respected member of society through his service.
The auxiliary troops: Auxiliae & Foreigners
Rome was a 'multicultural' empire in which almost exclusively Romans enjoyed legal personhood. Auxiliae were auxiliary troops recruited from the peoples in the conquered territories. After 25 years of service, they received the coveted Roman citizenship.
Slaves, Gladiators and Chariot Racers
Although slaves were considered property, their lives varied enormously. A slave in the mines had a hard lot, while a Greek slave in a wealthy household often worked as a highly educated teacher or accountant.
There was a crucial difference between the heroes of the arena:
Chariot Racers (aurigae): These were often free professionals and top athletes. They enjoyed great autonomy and became incredibly wealthy in the Circus Maximus. Chariot racing was even more dangerous than gladiatorial fights!
Gladiators: Mostly slaves or the condemned. Although they were considered infamis (disgraced), successful fighters could become the superstars of their time and earn their freedom.
The Status of Women
Roman culture was strictly patriarchal, a tradition they inherited from the Greeks. Women were legally under the guardianship of a man. Yet Roman women had a specific influence:
Management: Women from the elite often ran the entire household and commanded large groups of slaves.
Politics: Behind the scenes, influential women like Livia or Agrippina wielded enormous power through their networks.
Education: Girls from the higher classes often learned to read, write and study the works of classical masters like Plato and Aristotle.
Religion and Social Change
Roman religion was polytheistic. Alongside the great state temples for Jupiter and Juno, almost every house had a lararium (household altar) for their own household gods. With the rise of Christianity, the emphasis shifted toward equality before God. This eventually led to the end of the bloody gladiatorial games, though slavery persisted for economic reasons for a long time, and people with legal personhood gradually lost more power.
How Do I Recognize My Emperor?
Since most Romans never saw their emperor in person, his likeness was spread through busts, statues and coins. With a new emperor, often only the head of an existing statue was replaced to save costs. The coins in a Roman purse functioned as the 'social media' of that time: they showed the people who held power at that moment.
Discover our Roman replicas: Whether you take on the role of a proud legionary, a wealthy eques or an influential Roman matron; with the right clothing and accessories you bring this complex history to life.
Internal links:
The Emperors of Rome: Power, Murder and Myth
Roman Gladiators: Warriors, Slaves and Superstars
The Roman Republic: Politics, Expansion and Social Structures
