View Page: Feminae Romanae: The Role of Women in Ancient Rome

	Feminae Romanae: The Role of Women in Ancient Rome
	written by boogieon / 09.17.2004

Section Two

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Description

Roman Woman Mosaic

This is a mosaic portrait from Pompeii that is now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Naples. It is a very simple portrait, not focused on any particular virtue but rather on the physical portrayal of the subject. Most likely, based on the clothing and jewelry that can be observed, the subject was a high class lady. Also, the wealth of the subject is evident in the detail and high quality of the work; only a high class family could afford such a piece. This mosaic was most likely displayed privately on the walls of a home.

Venus Pudica

This is a picture of the Venus Pudica at the National Museum of Archaeology in Naples. This sculpture exemplifies modesty. The way the sculpture is positioned to shade her body from public view became a classic symbol of modesty and chastity, components of the cardinal feminine virtue of pudicita. The sculpture reveals the way in which artists conveyed the virtues that women in society were expected to embody.

The Women of the Program and the Muses in Bronze

This picture is of all the fine, young ladies on the Rome 2004 program in front of the series of bronze muses at the National Museum in Naples. Looking at these two configurations of ladies it is clear why women are the inspiration of art throughout the ages.

My presentation was given at the National Museum of Archaelogy in Naples. A lot of mosaics, frescoes and other pieces that were discovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum are featured at the museum. In addition, they have a vast collection of marble sculptures. I have attached images of a couple of pieces that we saw while we were at the museum. In general, my presentation was not grounded in any site or monument.

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