The family has played a central role in most societies and the complexity, and variety of that role has engaged the minds of many froma wide range of disciplines. There is no easy definition of "the family" and no single pattern in any society. Recent studies of ancient Rome have shown that the sentimental ideal of a core nuclear family was strong throughout the period, but that the reality was often different. This book looks in detail at many aspects of the composition and inner workings of the Roman family and provides a case-study of the sentimental ideal vis-a-vis everyday reality. The frequent effect of divorce is considered, along with high mortality rates, the importance of formal status (slave, freeborn, etc), and the common necessity of fostering. The archaeological remains of Pompeii and other Italian cities illustrate the impact of domestic architecture and physical space on personal lives and interactions.