Uncovering the Dark Side of Roman Children's Toys
Recent research has uncovered some disturbing facts about the types of toys used by Roman children – including dolls representing gods/goddesses; weapons such as swords/spears; chariots pulled by animals; and even live animals given as pets – which would not be acceptable according to modern standards today
Dec. 29, 2022 7:48AM
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A clay doll depicting a god or goddess alongside a sword and chariot being pulled by two goats on a background featuring ruins from ancient Rome
It is no secret that toys have been a part of children’s lives since ancient times. But what kinds of toys did Roman children play with? Recent research has uncovered some disturbing facts about the types of toys used by Roman children. The most common type of toy found in archaeological digs from the time period are dolls and figurines, often made out of clay or wood. While these may seem harmless enough, they were often used to represent gods and goddesses, and thus had religious significance. This could be seen as an attempt to indoctrinate young minds into believing in a particular religion, which could be considered unethical today. In addition to dolls and figurines, weapons were also popular among Roman children. Swords, spears, bows and arrows were all commonplace in their playtime activities. While this might seem like innocent fun now, it was likely seen as preparation for war at the time - something that would not be acceptable in modern society. Another type of toy that was popular among Roman children was chariots or carts pulled by horses or other animals such as goats or dogs. These toys could symbolize power and wealth for those who owned them - something that would not be seen as appropriate today either. Finally, it is important to note that there is evidence suggesting that some Roman parents even gave their children live animals such as birds or rabbits as pets - something which would be considered cruel today due to animal welfare concerns. Overall, while researching what kinds of toys Roman children played with can provide insight into their culture at the time, it can also bring up some uncomfortable truths about how our ancestors viewed childhood playtime activities compared to modern standards today.