The Lives of Women of Ancient Rome through the Lens of Archeology and Art

This course is an analysis of the lives of Roman women during antiquity – their opportunities, political and religious impact, way of life, and their contribution to the arts in Ancient Rome. The city of Rome and its surrounding areas provide the perfect setting to study these great, but often overlooked, women through its art and archaeological evidence.

During this course, students will be introduced to prominent women of the Roman Empire – from Livia (the wife of Agustus, the first emperor of Rome) to Helena (the mother of Constantine, Rome’s first Christian emperor). Students will study the discourse surrounding the female body during antiquity and its representation in ancient art. This course will provide an analysis on gendered roles and religious impact exemplified through the Vestal Virgins whose temple and house are located within the Roman forum. Though the main literary sources from this time were written by men, this course will seek to create a discourse of the historical perspective of the customs of ancient society and its impact on gender roles of imperial women and how this ideology compares to modern society. This course seeks to bring to life the lives of ancient women and introduce students to women’s representation in ancient Roman art.