Statius Early Childhood

The very first Roman poet to examine early childhood was Statius who lived during the time of Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) In his writings Statius writes of his joy in the presence of a boy child in his household. Further examination reveals that the baby is not Statius' son but his slave. This boy was termed in Roman times as 'Verna' meaning 'house-reared'. It is probable that the child is the offspring of Statius' own household slaves. This makes the boy strict property, to be shaped and dispensed with according to Roman law. Let me translate: the boy's early years would most likely be spent ministering to his owner's sexual desires. As shocking as this is to modern sensibilities, adult-child relations in past civilizations are not