The mos maiorum were the ancestral traditions, an unwritten code of laws and conduct, of the Romans. It institutionalized cultural traditions, societal mores, and general policies, as distinct from specific laws. An ancestor is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i. ... A legal code is a moral code enforced by the law of a state. ... Equality and the balancing of our interests under law is symbolised by a blindfold and weighing scales For other senses of this word, see Law (disambiguation). ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban...

The eight cornerstones of mos maiorum were:

• fides — fidelity, loyalty, faith

• pietas — piety, devotion, patriotism, duty

• religio — religious scruple, reverence for higher power(s), strictness of observance, conscientiousness precision of conduct

• disciplina — discipline, diligence

• constantia — firmness, steadiness

• gravitas — seriousness, dignity, authority

• parsimonia — frugality

• severitas — strictness in the moral sense

It was partially typified by a respect for fathers and husbands and acknowledgement of one's subservience to them. One of the best illustrations of this tradition is found in the writings of Cato the Elder. Look up gravitas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Marcus Porcius Cato (Latin: M·PORCIVS·M·F·CATO[1]) (234 BC, Tusculum–149 BC) was a Roman statesman, surnamed the Censor (Censorius), Sapiens, Priscus, or the Elder (Major), to distinguish him from Cato the Younger (his great-grandson). ...