Women and Society in the Roman World: A Sourcebook of Inscriptions from the Roman West

Inscriptions provide a unique insight into the lives of Roman women, revealing their social, material, and legal status, as well as their participation in family, household, and civic life. They offer a glimpse of women's own voices and experiences, covering a range of topics such as marital ideals, love, friendship, and hardship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 367 pages
Publication date: 07 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Inscriptions provide a unique insight into the social lives, occupations, family relationships, mobility, ethnicity, religious affiliations, public honor, and legal status of Roman women, spanning from slaves and freedwomen to women of the elite and the imperial family, both in Rome and in Italian and provincial towns. By examining their social and material context as markers of graves, dedications, and public signs of honor, inscriptions offer a distinct perspective that sheds light on women who are often overlooked by literary sources.

The extensive collection of inscriptions and graffiti included in this book showcases women's involvement in various aspects of their families and households, as well as in the social and professional life of their cities. Moreover, these inscriptions provide us with a glimpse of women's own voices, allowing us to hear their perspectives and experiences.

Inscriptions reveal a wide range of topics and emotions, including marital ideals and problems, love and hate, friendship, birth and bereavement, joy and hardship. They offer a window into the richness and variety of life in the ancient world, providing a deeper understanding of the experiences of women in a society that was often dominated by men.

By studying inscriptions, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of women in Roman society and their place within the broader cultural and historical context of the ancient world. These texts not only provide valuable information about the lives of individual women but also shed light on the social and cultural dynamics of the Roman Empire.

Weight: 656g
Dimension: 169 x 246 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316509050