In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and left Pompeii, a coastal town of 20,000, buried under ash. This small Roman town stayed preserved until it was discovered and excavated in 1748. The frescos, structures, people, and inscriptions of the city give us unparalleled insight into the daily life of people living in the Roman empire. Although many exhibits of Pompeii have been featured around the world, the women of Pompeii are often left out when it comes to a historical analysis of the city, despite their vital contributions to the city not only as mater familias, but as businesswomen and priestesses. Life as a woman in ancient Rome was filled with domestic duties. Most women were expected to take care of their husbands and their houses, and most
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Many women found opportunities in the workforce as business partners with their husbands. Oftentimes, women ran their husband’s shops while he took care of other parts of the business (qtd in Zarmati). If her husband died, a woman would be able to take over the business. Women, such as Valeria Herdone, also owned and managed taverns, inns, bars, and brothels, while others such as the models Asellina, Fortunata, Glycera, and Phoebe worked as waitresses, actresses, painters, musicians, and prostitutes (Lyding-Will). Other women worked as midwives, physicians, and doctors, and husband-and-wife medical teams also existed. Shipbuilding was also a prominent area of work for women, as the emperor Claudius gave financial incentive to female shippers to support his building program (Lyding-Will). Slave women cooked, cleaned, took care of children, managed businesses, and were personal attendants for upperclass women (qtd. in Zarmati). The job held in the most high esteem for women was that of a priestess. The most famous Pompeian priestess was Eumachia, who was a priestess of Benus or Cerces. Eumachia came from a wealthy family and was heavily involved in her family’s wine exporting business (Lyding-Will). Eumachia was also a patroness of the guild of fullers, to whom she provided a large building in the Forum during the first quarter of the first century AD (Telegraph). The building is dedicated to the wife of Augustus, Livia. In this building, a statue of Eumachia, dedicated to her by the guild of fullers, stands in the rear hall. The statue and Eumachia’s building are a testament to the significant power woman could wield in Pompeian
Many women found opportunities in the workforce as business partners with their husbands. Oftentimes, women ran their husband’s shops while he took care of other parts of the business (qtd in Zarmati). If her husband died, a woman would be able to take over the business. Women, such as Valeria Herdone, also owned and managed taverns, inns, bars, and brothels, while others such as the models Asellina, Fortunata, Glycera, and Phoebe worked as waitresses, actresses, painters, musicians, and prostitutes (Lyding-Will). Other women worked as midwives, physicians, and doctors, and husband-and-wife medical teams also existed. Shipbuilding was also a prominent area of work for women, as the emperor Claudius gave financial incentive to female shippers to support his building program (Lyding-Will). Slave women cooked, cleaned, took care of children, managed businesses, and were personal attendants for upperclass women (qtd. in Zarmati). The job held in the most high esteem for women was that of a priestess. The most famous Pompeian priestess was Eumachia, who was a priestess of Benus or Cerces. Eumachia came from a wealthy family and was heavily involved in her family’s wine exporting business (Lyding-Will). Eumachia was also a patroness of the guild of fullers, to whom she provided a large building in the Forum during the first quarter of the first century AD (Telegraph). The building is dedicated to the wife of Augustus, Livia. In this building, a statue of Eumachia, dedicated to her by the guild of fullers, stands in the rear hall. The statue and Eumachia’s building are a testament to the significant power woman could wield in Pompeian