Introduction: subjects and sources -- Rome's Imperial women and Rome's Imperial power -- Crimes and punishments of Imperial women -- Imperial women within the Imperial family -- Imperial women on coins and in Roman cult -- Imperial women's mark on the city of Rome -- Imperial women abroad, and with the military -- Conclusion: agency and constraints -- Appendix 1: Imperial women and their life events -- Appendix 2: Genealogical tables of Imperial families. The Julio-Claudian family ; The Flavian family ; The Second-century Imperial family ; The Severan family -- Appendix 3: List of Divae. Consecrated males until 235 CE
Summary:
"This book explores the constraints and opportunities of the women in the Roman emperor's family from 35 BCE, when Octavia and Livia received unprecedented privileges from the state, to 235 CE, when Julia Mamaea was assassinated with her son Severus Alexander. Historical vignettes feature Agrippina the Younger, Domitia Longina, and some others as the book analyzes the history of Rome's most eminent women in legal, religious, military and other key settings of the principate. It also examines the women's exemplarity through imaging as well as their presence in the city of Rome and in the empire. Evidence comes from coins, inscriptions, papyri, sculpture, and law codes as well as ancient authors. Numerous illustrations, maps, genealogical trees, and detailed tables and appendices complement the text. The whole reveals imperial women's fluctuating but persistent marginalization and lack of agency despite their potential, even as it elucidates Rome's imperial power, legal system, family ideology, religion and imperial cult, court, capital city, and military customs"-- Provided by publisher