Social Stereotypes and Historical Analysis: The Case of the Imperial Women at Rome

doi:10.1007/978-1-349-23336-6_7

Social Stereotypes and Historical Analysis: The Case of the Imperial Women at Rome

Published 1994 · Susan Fischler

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37

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Abstract

The image of the domineering and power-hungry imperial woman at the heart of Roman political affairs is familiar to anyone who has read, or seen the television adaptation of, Robert Graves’ work, I. Claudius. But as this extract from the Annals of Tacitus (c. AD 56–C.115), decrying the rise of Agrippina II shows, Graves had no need to use his creative energies to devise these characters: such depictions of Roman imperial women can be found throughout ancient historical writing on the imperial period. The portrayals of these women tell us more about Roman social attitudes than how elite women lived: they enable us to understand more fully gender relationships and their bearing on power structures at Rome, as well as how male attitudes toward gender and power influenced the depiction of women within ancient literary texts.

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayRoman imperial women's depictions in ancient historical writings reveal social attitudes and gender relationships, influencing our understanding of power structures and the depiction of women in ancient texts.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Social Stereotypes and Historical Analysis: The Case of the Imperial Women at Rome

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