Magnilla was just a typical
patrician woman living in Ancient Rome. Everyday
for Magnilla was the same routine, but she was content with her simple and
comfortable life. Magnilla lived atop of Palatine Hill with her senatorial
husband and four children in a lovely, well-decorated villa. Her husband’s
position in Rome allowed for many slaves to help Magnilla with the household
chores and caring for the children. Each morning she directed the slave women
in preparing breakfast for the family. (A family favorite was pancakes!)
Additionally, she would lead the prayer to the household god, which dwelled in
the kitchen of their home. After breakfast, Magnilla typically ventured down
to the Forum with her husband while the children stayed at home to do their
schooling. All the children learned reading and writing while only the girls
learned sewing and cooking and only the boys learned math and science. On the
occasion of a festival or religious ceremony, the children too would go to the Forum
to take part in the community celebration. But the day-to-day visitors of the
Forum, were adults, there to preform business and transactions. Magnilla and
her husband went to the Forum everyday. Magnilla’s husband listened to the great
orators that spoke and often had something to orate himself as well. He was
well known for his testifying in the public courts. Magnilla was not one to
involve herself in her husband’s politics but rather enjoyed the luxuries of
shopping for things such as clothes, sandals, hairpieces, jewelry, etc.
Once they had both
finished their business they would meet at the bathhouse to wash before going
to temple to make an offering to the gods. In the late afternoon, Magnilla and
her husband would return home to have supper with their children. Dinner took
place in the atrium, at a large round table with wooden stools. The meal
generally consisted of meat purchased by the river that day and vegetables
fresh from the family farm. On occasion, after dinner, the family would go to
the theatre at night to watch a show but if it was a tiring day, it was typical
for the children to be put to bed at sundown while Magnilla and her husband
enjoyed a glass a wine before also getting some rest for the next day of
business.
