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Lecture 16 Images
Updated 10/27/08

Roman Women; Life after Augustus

I. Roman marriages and wedding practices

1. coemptio and usus; confarreatio; mundus

2. ceremony; consensus, adfectus maritalis;
ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia; Talasio; genius and juno

3. children; contraception and abortion; misy
ancient views on the abortion controversy

4. divorce

II. Some other ladies: lupae, prostare, concubinage

III. Augustus' successors: general perspectives

1. Augustus a hard act to follow
2. exaggerated reports of decadence; cf. Hollywood movies:

The Robe [1953], Demetrius and the Gladiators[1954],
The Silver Chalice [1955], Ben Hur [1959]

3. pro-senatorial literary sources
4. overemphasis on the emperor's personality

On Thursday: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero; plus review session.
Bring Suetonius book to class.