This inscription from the Corpus of Latin Inscriptions (CIL 6.1527, 31670), dating to the early part of the first century C.E., offers an account of the life of a woman known as Turia. Her story demonstrates the close bonds between all members of a family and the devotion married couples had for each other, even in times of peril. In addition, we see the destructive effects of political turmoil on the family.

. . . Rare indeed are marriages of such long duration, which are ended by death, not divorce. We had the good fortune to spend forty-one years together with no unhappiness. I wish that our long marriage had come finally to an end by my death, since it would have been more just for me, who was older, to yield to fate.

Why should I mention your personal virtues—your modesty, obedience...