Family, switching of

This article investigates the religious implications of switching one’s family through adoption, marriage and slavery. The first section summarizes the legal and religious implications of the process, such as adherence to new family cults and leaving behind one’s own gods. This first section goes on to survey mythical and ‘unofficial’ adoptions and fostering that occurred as a result of child exposure. In the second section the article focuses on the implications of marriage on the religious life of a woman who, upon leaving her father’s house and entering her new household, would encounter new household gods and traditions. A third section describes the implications of religious adherence for slaves when changing masters and families: to what extent was a slave forced to worship the owner’s gods? And could they continue their individual religious practice on changing families?