3rd Century Women Flashcards
(29 cards)
Who was Caecilia Paulina?
Wife of Maximinus Thrax
What happened to Caecilia Pauulina?
Murdered by her husband.
Blamed in the sources for not encouraging him with womanly gentleness, but nurturing his tyrannical nature
Who was Furia Sabinia Tranquillina?
Wife of Gordian III
How is Furia Sabinia Tranquillina represented in the sources?
Daughter of Timesicles, a well educated prefect and administrator
Sources talk more about the benefits of Gordian gaining a wise father-in-law than they do about his wife; Timesicles acts as a foil to Gordian’s youth
Who was Otacilia Severa?
Wife of Philip I
Who was Cornelia Salonina?
Wife of Gallienus
What happened to Cornelia Salonina?
Uprising against Gallienus by Aureiolus. Salonia accompanied the emperor and was nearly snatched by the enemy at the camp, except a single soldier (apparently) managed to protect her
What do the sources say about Cornelia Salonia?
Shit-talked by sources as her husband was weak and effeminate, German princess polycule
Emperor driven to distraction by love for his wife ALLEGEDLY
Did Cornelia Salonia have power / influence, and how was this represented on physical evidence?
Men in her family associated with money - MONETA coins, campaigning the whole time
She was in charge of the administration of funds, in Rome the whole time, the face of the dynasty
ABUNDANTIA TEMPORUM coinage with aequitas medallions and liberalitas medallions
How was Cornelia Salonia viewed in Asia Minor?
Asia Minor: called her Salonia Chrysogone, sprung from gold, very popular with the people - likely that she was rebuilding cities with her money after barbarian invasions
Name a city that honoured Cornelia Salonia and why:
Leptis Magna adopts her name after an earthquake, presumably she helps rebuild
How did Cornelia Salonia present herself?
Empresses normally have a baby who promises a peaceful transfer of power - she doesn’t have this so she becomes the embodiment of peace instead on coinage
What title is she give, and who was the last woman to receive it?
SALONIA PIA FELIX AUGUSTA like Domna (first since Domna to get this title!!)
Who was Ulpia Severina?
Wife of Aurelian
Who was Magnia Urbica?
Wife of Carinus.
Allegedly one of nine wives, some of whom he ‘put away’ while pregnant
Were the Severan empresses a fluke?
No. They set a precedent for the 3rd century women
What happened to the ‘mater’ titles in the 3rd century?
No more mater titles, do not appear in state media any more; is this a response to the overbearing power and influence of the Severans by emperors??
What was different about the women of the 3rd century?
These women were not born into the imperial family and therefore did not have the same training, they came from the elite
What is the result of 3rd century women coming from elite - not imperial - backgrounds?
Senate therefore begins to legislate the titles of women for the first time; it is a matter of concern to them! Therefore, something has changed in Roman society, thinking about women’s place in society differently…
What happens to the ‘diva’ title in the 3rd century?
Emperors are still making their dead wives diva: happens twice in 3rd c. crisis
How did 3rd century emperors utilise the women around them?
Immediately important to elevate the women they were associated with upon ascension to power (imperial or as a usurper)
What can coinage tell us about women of the 3rd century?
Liberalitas medallions with women involved indicate they were involved with the decisions surrounding donatives e.g. Otacilia Severa
Julia Domna as first empress on coinage with liberalitas and aequitas (regulating the fair administration of the imperial mint of public funds) in Caracalla’s administration, same as Julia Mamaea who involves herself in the financial side of the empire
What specific value was key for women of the 3rd century?
Pietas of the Augusta is important in this period, reverence to family, gods and the state e.g. Otacilia Severa as on coinage, often involving the distribution of food indicated by children holding wheat
Who was Zenobia?
Syrian empress, not considered part of this discipline, probably due to racism in Roman sources
