When we think of ancient Rome, we often imagine military might, architectural marvels, and a civilization that laid the foundation for Western society. But beneath that legacy lies a harsher, more uncomfortable truth—Roman parents, particularly in the early Republic and even through the Empire, had the legal right to sell, abandon, or even kill their children.
By modern standards, it seems cruel and unthinkable. So why did the Romans do it?
The Power of the Father: Paterfamilias
In Roman society, the family was ruled by the paterfamilias—the male head of the household. His power, known as patria potestas, was absolute. Legally, he had control over the lives of his wife, children, and slaves. This included the power to:
- Accept or reject a newborn into the family.
- Sell children into slavery (especially during financial hardship).
- Punish or even kill a child without legal consequences (in earlier periods).
The child was seen not as an individual with rights, but as property of the father. This extreme control was rooted in ancient customs and reinforced by law and tradition.
Exposure: The Practice of Abandonment
One of the most common ways Romans abandoned children was through exposure—leaving an infant outside, typically on a hillside, doorstep, or garbage dump. The fate of the child was left to chance: they might die from the elements, be taken by strangers, or end up in slavery.
Reasons for exposure included:
- Poverty – Families simply couldn’t afford to feed another mouth.
- Illegitimacy or Infidelity – Children born out of wedlock or suspected of not being the father’s were often rejected.
- Disability or Deformity – If a child was born with visible defects, they were often considered unworthy of life.
- Gender Preference – Daughters were more frequently exposed than sons, particularly among lower-class families.
This was not considered murder in Roman society. In fact, the decision to raise a child was made in a symbolic moment when the father lifted the baby from the ground—a formal act of acceptance into the family.
Child Selling: An Act of Desperation
While less common than exposure, selling children was legally permitted under Roman law. A father could sell his son into servitude, especially during periods of debt or famine. In early Roman law, a father could sell a son up to three times; if he did so a fourth time, the son would be legally free from his control.
Children sold in this way were often absorbed into wealthier households as servants or laborers. Some were sold to pay off family debts; others were trafficked through slave markets.
It’s important to note that not all child sales were permanent. Sometimes, parents used this as a temporary solution—hoping to buy their child back once their situation improved.
Cultural Acceptance and Lack of Emotional Narrative
To us, these practices feel horrifying. But in Roman times, they were socially accepted—even expected in certain situations. Emotions, particularly in early Roman history, were considered secondary to duty, discipline, and honor. The idea of a sentimental, emotional bond between parent and child developed later in history.
Roman philosophers and historians rarely criticized exposure or selling children. In fact, some like Seneca and Cicero viewed such actions through a lens of practicality, not cruelty. Only with the rise of Christianity, which emphasized the sanctity of life and the care of the vulnerable, did these practices begin to face moral scrutiny.
The Shift in Moral Thought
By the 4th century CE, with Christianity spreading throughout the Empire, attitudes toward children began to change. Church leaders condemned exposure and infanticide, urging followers to rescue and adopt abandoned infants. Roman law slowly shifted as well—eventually criminalizing exposure and reinforcing the value of each life, regardless of gender or class.
Conclusion
The Roman Empire gave us roads, literature, governance, and philosophy. But it also normalized practices that are deeply troubling today. Selling or abandoning children wasn’t seen as monstrous—it was legal, common, and sometimes even seen as necessary.
To understand Rome is to embrace its contradictions: a society that built aqueducts and amphitheaters, but also left babies to die on the steps of its temples.
And yet, in that very darkness, we can trace the slow evolution of human empathy—proof that even the most powerful empires are shaped by the values they choose to protect.
