In the living rooms of the Romans: Family life in ancient Carnuntum
On the first weekend in August, the residents of the Roman quarter will once again open their doors and invite visitors to experience life in ancient times up close. This time, the focus will be on a topic that formed the backbone of Roman society and continues to fascinate us today: the Roman family.
Under the title “In the Living Rooms of the Romans,” the residents of Carnuntum offer intimate insights into everyday life in ancient times, between paternal authority, maternal care, and childlike curiosity. The familia—much more than a household—was a strictly organized community with clear roles and strong internal bonds. At the center was the pater familias, the legally and morally legitimate head of the family. At his side was the mater familias, the bearer of tradition, education, and social prestige.
Whether wealthy patricians or craftswomen, urban citizens or soldiers' families in the legionary camp: this weekend, the actors in the reconstructed houses will tell stories of love, loss, education, marriage, divorce, and childhood – bringing to life a world characterized by strong hierarchy but also emotional cohesion.
All additional offers are included in the regular admission price – there are no additional costs. Don't miss out on this unique experience and join us on a journey into the spiritual everyday world of the Roman Empire!
Please note: Experience has shown that guided tours on weekends sell out quickly. We therefore ask you to reserve in advance. Admission can be purchased separately at the ticket office or in the web shop.
We would like to briefly introduce the residents:
Cassia: Elegant Cassia is lucky: her husband earns well and they can afford a beautiful villa. But such a large villa is of course a lot of work, and Cassia has to take care of everything. Soon there will be a wedding in the family - no wonder she's pretty stressed!"
Cassius iunior: Cassius iunior is a son by trade - a fine profession! He knows all the dice tricks, the best spas and, of course, all the good winemakers in town. Annoyingly, his father now demands that he finally take up a profession in his mid-twenties and earn money for the family. Cassius has no desire to work and he knows that he would have to give his father all his wages. So he prefers to try his luck at dice...
Julia: Julia is an apprentice to the cloth merchant Lucius and lives with her master. This makes her part of his “familia”. The work is hard, she often has to carry heavy bales of cloth and has almost no days off. Will Lucius allow her to visit her family in a village outside the city?
Midwife: The midwife is on her way back from a difficult birth and completely exhausted. This time everything went well - but unfortunately that is not always the case. Fortunately, she not only knows the right herbs and spells, but also which gods to invoke to ensure a safe birth.
Tickets
Admission tickets and guided tour tickets for the theme weekends In the Living Rooms of the Romans correspond to the regular admission and guided tour tickets and are now available in our webshop. The Lower Austria Card is valid on these days at the normal conditions (one admission per season and card).