Lucretia Ideal Roman Women

Where this evidence survives it usually portrays any women who had any role in public affairs as not behaving in a manner that was befitting of a proper Roman women. For example, Fulvia is presented as “a counter-example of correct Roman women’s behavior” by literary sources for reportedly imposing her will upon the senate, and getting herself involved in

Women in Ancient Rome In Roman times women were treated differently depending on their class, and family background. However Roman women off all social classes were expected to assume, that they were merely possessions of their fathers and then of their husband.

As the millenniums pass and years go by, the world continues to evolve each day. Across the world, in every society, men and women have specific roles that they carry out. During ancient times, in most cultures, women were inferior to men. This is still true in many countries today. It has taken American women many centuries to have gained the rights and privileges they have today. Women have made many immense achievements, fought for their rights and stood up for what they believed in during the past century. It is very important to understand the role of women in history because they have played an imperative part of how each society functioned. In Classical Athens, women and men were citizens however men were superior to the women.

The Etruscan society allegedly migrated from Tuscany or Lydia. (Klien, 166) Much of what scholars know regarding Etruscan society is based on funerary artwork. The Etruscans did not keep any written records of their activity. What we know about Etruscan lifestyle is based on their artwork left behind. Early on Etruscan society had a lot of contact with the Greeks that reflect in much of the Etruscan works of art. The distinction in Etruscan art and Greek art is clearly seen through the Etruscan representation of couples in art. The pieces in this collection will attempt to show how women in Etruscan society enjoyed a liberal lifestyle in contrast to Greek and Roman counterparts. Etruscan women were adorned with lavish jewels, had a

In Welch's article " Perspectives On and Of Livy's Tarpeia", she describes how Livy mentions Tarpeia as a "famous Roman woman". Tarpeia was as characterized as a "cycle of colorful stories that make up early Rome." Welch also talks about the moral foundation of the histography of the moral instructions. Tarpeia's story which Livy presents how the Romans capture the Sabines brides and with the ending of Kingship come together of Romulus and Tatius. How the reader's interpretation of Livy's description of Tarpeia's meaning is being characterized, and also how Tatius could influence Tarpeia. Welch illustrates the difficulty of Livy's process of the interpretation of fact about Tarpeia's story, and how difficult it was to characterize her as a negative example of how the people of her gender conduct themselves. Livy’s women were characterized as very powerful women. In Welch’s article, it states that “Tarpeia refused to be situated comfortably in any

However, Valerius, like Cato, associates women with matters that are less substantial and not entirely connected to the empire as a whole. “No offices, no priesthoods, no triumphs, no decorations, no gifts, no spoils of war can come to them; elegance of appearance, adornment, apparel-these are the woman’s badges of honor.” The apparent connection between women and appearance shows that women in Roman society were something to be looked at or shown off. Women were the prizes of men and the better they looked or the more they had been directly linked to his status in society.

The sculpture that we have observed has been dated to the first half of the first century C.E. This places the portrait during the Julio-Claudian period in Roman history. From the information we have gathered about the time period, the woman's style of dress and of the types of sculpture prevelant during the period, we have formed a possible profile of the daily life of the subject.

The title of Sarah B. Pomeroy's book on women in antiquity is a summary of the main categories of females in the literary imagination and the societies of ancient Greece and Rome, over a period of fifteen hundred years. Beginning with goddesses, Pomery retells some Greek myths, outlining the social functions of female Olympians – the goddesses are archetypical images of human females, as envisioned by males. Desirable characteristics among a number of females rather than their concentration in one being are appropriate to a patriarchal society. Demosthenes states in the fourth century B.C. this ideal among mortal men, "We have mistresses for our enjoyment, concubines to serve our person and wives for the bearing of legitimate children (Pomery 1995)." Pomery’s goal in writing this book was to detail and outline the true significance of women in all other their roles in antiquity.

Women have played important roles throughout history. They have been responsible for the rise and fall of nations, sustaining families, and have been the focal point of worship in ancient religions. Moving forward in history, women's roles have continually changed. Their status as matriarchs changed as the more advanced ancient civilizations rose. The patriarchal societies of ancient Greece and Rome viewed women differently from some societies of past eras. The study of the economic and political status of women, their rights, and their contributions to both these ancient societies reveals how views change throughout history.

One of the oldest beverages known to man is wine, an alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes. Wine has been enjoyed all around the world and Ancient Rome is no exception. Ancient Rome played an important role in its history. Wine carried religious, philosophical, and social implications for the Romans as it was a part of their daily life. The popularity of wine and drunkenness in Ancient Rome is clearly portrayed throughout poetry, art, literature and even laws. Although wine was eventually available to all, it’s implications for women were severe. An important connection between Ancient Rome and wine that is rarely discussed is the idea of denying women a right to drink. Today, it is not uncommon or distasteful for women to have a glass of wine but in Roman society, women’s overindulgence of wine was frowned upon. This paper will discuss women in Ancient Roman society and analyze sources from Valerius Maximus and Propertius to focus on how the role of wine reinforced the patriarchal system and oppression of women.

Throughout the ancient world, the aspects to which a successful society thrive under have been skewed, except for that of religion. Although a universal religion has never been adopted, most empires tend to follow a basic outline similar to one another. In relation to Greeks and Romans, this ideology still holds true. Religion between these two societies have had their differences, but for the most part they have kept the same values held high. Women and their impact on Greek and Roman religion is what shaped these regions to flourish and is what held the empires together through all war and turmoil that came their way.

Lavinia is a female character who has shown up in many texts throughout history. In Titus Livius’ (Livy), The History of Rome, the role of women is consistently downplayed and is overshadowed by men craving power through conquest and war during the evolution of Rome. Livy briefly mentions Lavinia in the second chapter of the first book in The History of Rome, “The Aborigines and Trojans were soon after attacked together in war. Turnus, king of the Rutulians, to whom Lavinia had been affianced before the coming of Aeneas…” (Livy I, 2). Livy does not describe Lavinia’s character or tell us anything more about her. The character of Lavinia is suppressed by the overwhelming masculinity of male characters in their conquest for power and is presented to us only as a supplement to her male counterparts. In Smethurst’s article analyzing Livy’s characterization of women, “A woman may even cause trouble unintentionally, since her fateful gift of beauty can induce a man to neglect his most solemn duty, devotion to the State” (Smethurst, 83). This quote implies that a woman, and more specifically Lavinia, is nothing but a distraction to a man and his important duties and obligations to his beloved Rome. Livy’s History also mentions the female characters of Cloelia, Virginia, Lucretia, and Veturia who are given masculine characteristics, which is also done by Chaucer to the wife in The Wife of Bath’s Tale. Perhaps the assignment of male characteristics to female characters was done so

Livia Drusilla or Julia Drusilla was one of the most influential women in Ancient Rome. She was born in 58 B.C.E. Before she was married to Augustus, Livia was married to Tiberius Claudius Nero. They had two kids, Tiberius and Nero Claudius Drusus. Tiberius would become the next emperor and Claudius’ son would proceed Tiberius. After the birth of Claudius, Livia divorced Tiberius Claudius Nero and married Augustus. Livia supported her new husband’s decisions and became one of his advisers. He trusted her with many decisions. So, it was advantageous marriage for the both of them. However, she was more concerned about the heir to the throne. Livia was determined that one of her sons would be the heir, even if there was better claims to the throne.

            Before comparing the women of the Odyssey to those of Athens, it is beneficial to take a look into the lives of the latter.  A respected woman was to have characteristics including obedience, virtue, refinement, productivity, honor, beauty, talent and intelligence (social consciousness).  Sarah B. Pomeroy has studied this aspect of ancient life and

Lucretia, the most virtuous wife in Roman society, is a prime example of one who holds this highly honorable roman virtue. When Lucretia was given two options (to be accused of adultery or to be raped) she chose the more honorable (yet more brutal) choice for this time period. Lucretia decided she would rather be raped than allow a disgrace to fall upon her family (101). So, Lucretia’s choice inevitably portrays the idea that she respects her husband and is completely devoted to keeping her husband’s pure reputation which overall demonstrates her value of being pietas.