ABSTRACT
From the early centuries of Roman history two general features in Roman education stand out. The first is the duty – especially within the family – to inculcate in the young person such traditional Roman values as loyalty, truthfulness, piety, patriotism, courage and perseverance. The second feature is the increasing influence, from around the middle of the third century bc, of Greek culture and customs on the Roman model of education. Greek educational practices and ideals proved to be irresistible to the Romans. By the time of Tiberius Gracchus’ boyhood, Greek culture, including especially Greek education, was being sought out by many upper-class Romans. Music was an essential ingredient of Greek education, but as the Romans gradually adopted and adapted the Greek educational curriculum, some took an ambivalent attitude towards the subject. Rhetoric was a key element in Greek higher education.
