Description
Book SynopsisRoman cities have rarely been studied from the perspective of women, and studies of Roman women mainly focus on the city of Rome. Studying the civic participation of women in the towns of Italy outside Rome and in the numerous cities of the Latin-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire, this books offers a new view on Roman women and urban society in the Roman Principate. Drawing on epigraphy and archaeology, and to a lesser extent on legal and literary texts, women''s civic roles as priestesses, benefactresses and patronesses or ''mothers'' of cities and associations (collegia and the Augustales) are brought to the fore. In contrast to the city of Rome, which was dominated by the imperial family, wealthy women in the local Italian and provincial towns had ample opportunity to leave their mark on the city. Their motives to spend their money, time and energy for the benefit of their cities and the rewards their contributions earned them take centre stage. Assessing the meaning and significance of their contributions for themselves and their families and for the cities that enjoyed them, the book presents a new and detailed view of the role of women and gender in Roman urban life.
Trade ReviewAnyone engaged in research on the civic lives of women in the Roman West must consult this book, for it is the most comprehensive examination in this field of study and corrects certain misguided views on Roman women based mainly on literary sources. * Rachel Meyers (Iowa State University), T he Journal of Roman Studies Vol.107 *
Hemelrijks study helps to redefine both our notions of the roles of Roman women in their local communities and our perceptions of gender at work in the economic and political environments of Roman cities. This is a must read for classicists working on gender in the Roman empire, and especially for teachers of courses on women and gender in the Roman world. * Elizabeth F.Mazurek (University of Notre Dame), Phoenix: Journal of the Classical Association of Canada. *
Table of ContentsContents ; Preface ; A Note on Translations ; Abbreviations ; Maps ; Introduction ; 1. A World Full of Cities ; 2. Civic Priesthoods ; 3. Civic Benefactresses ; 4. Social Networks and Civic Associations ; 5. Civic Patronage and 'Motherhood' of Cities and Associations ; 6. Public Honour ; Conclusions ; Appendix: Tables to Chapters 2-6
