Sex and the City Roman Women, Motherhood and Marriage

Roman Mothers Seneca the Younger writes about his mother Roman writers describe a general and idealized image of a Roman mother Rare to hear about mother’s affection for a child Children accustomed to a broad network of people raising them

Seneca on Motherhood “Don’t you see how fathers treat their children one way and mothers another way? Fathers...demand sweat and tears from their children. Mothers want to hold their children on their laps and keep them in the cool shade; they want them never to be made upset, never to cry and never to be in distress.”

Summary Motherhood is more generic than personal/individual portraits of women Women were expected to be virtuous, self-sacrificing, strong, and devoted to the education and political advancement of the family

The Rape of Lucretia Titan’s painting Famous turning point in Roman history Story is written as if it were a tragedy, even though it is a history of the early founding of the city

Summary of the Story of Lucretia Lucretia is a Roman matrona Virtuous woman without fault She is raped Believes that if she continues to live, she will no longer contribute to society Can only change things through her death (i.e., further violence) Passive victim or active agent?

Romans, Sex and History History = political achievements Sex (Distraction or Procreation of more Roman males?) Cleopatra = part of Roman world, but outside of the paradigm Eventually becomes an historical figure, but why? How does she die?

Rape of the Sabine Women Possin’s painting Single women Kidnapped for marriage Risk their lives (offer to die) to create a new society End of hostilities Everyone lives in peace

Vestal Virgins House of the Vestals in the Roman Forum Cult of Vesta = religious order of virginal purity that protected the Roman state

The Roman Goddess Vesta Honor to be a Vestal Between ages of years of chastity Duties included not letting the sacred fire go out and keeping state documents Buried alive if caught violating vows

Summary Three categories of Roman women Dutiful mothers tend to be in the background Women who take a stand to save their society, i.e., Lucretia, Sabine women, become part of history Vestal Virgins are part of history as they protect the state-sanctioned patriarchy with their vows of chastity