In Ancient Rome, no matter if it’s taught in school or watched on the bug screen through Hollywood’s eyes, the focus is on the male gladiators and the wars they took part in. After digging deep inside and opening more than one storybook, we have discovered that women in ancient Rome had important roles. These roles were a significant part of their men’s success and helped shape the diverse cultural mosaic in Roman society.
The Roman Family
Like in many cultures, the Roman women were responsible amongst others, for taking care of the household. They were the ones who raised the children and were responsible for all domestic affairs. Without these women, the fighting gladiators and the roaring militants would not be fed washes or satisfied. These women, who were often left behind, had a significant part in Roman warriors’ lives as they were the ones who upbrought the children and turned them into the men they became.
The Vestal Virgins
The Vestal Virgins were sacred. They symbolized purity, innocence, and honor. They stood for what the religion represented and were nothing like any other priesthood. They were chosen before they matured or reached puberty and ended up having no relations with their birth parents or siblings. Their role was to keep the flame of Vesta burning, the symbol of the greatest Roman power in the world.
The Business Women
The Roman Women were not left only at home. They would run the markets and find themselves in workshops and stools, selling their agricultural goods and handmade pottery pieces. These women showcased the diversity in the women’s role in ancient Rome and highlighted their remarkable contribution to society.
Artistic
Ancient Roman women had a significant role in the arts, too. They contributed to the rich literature that came to life in those days, and many famous poets and philosophers were women. The fact that women were not only at home, running their households ensured they left an unerasable mark down in history, which demonstrated their longing for something more than the obvious back then.
The Entertainer
Many Roman women were on stage, too. They were remarkable performers who entertained their male gladiators through dance, song and play. When on stage, these attractive women sprinkled their charm and beauty onto the masses, providing an escape path from the complicated reality of the time.
More Than a Women
Although not mentioned enough, women were everywhere. They were on stage and off; they were responsible for literature and remarkable pieces of art, and they were the ones bringing up the future generation, which the Romans relied on to keep the empire going. So, if women did all this, besides fighting each other on coluseums, what did the men do?