Religious and Domestic Role of Women in Ancient Rome

During the rise and fall of the roman republic the social role women played in society had its influence in religion and in the domestic sphere. A woman’s social status at home changed very drastically, however, her role and duties were relatively static. Religiously few legal steps were taken towards women’s equality and a patriarchal system remained intact.

The original laws and customs that determined the social structure of the roman family and life at home placed men in a dominant role over women. Men had the power over the children, their rearing, and wives were treated like they were their husband’s daughter. The original laws gave men unlimited power in the domestic sphere. The line of lineage from parent to child was recognized agnacio, by male descent (Carcopino 76). This patriarchal structure decayed as time progressed and as various laws were passed.

Women in Rome had always been able to own property, which was sometimes gained through the death of a parent who had no written will. However, they could not dispose of the property as they desired, women had to consult their guardian. Under Hadrian, legislation was passed allowing women to also be the legitimate heir to her son’s wealth and property if he died without a legal will; the stipulation to this was that she had to have three children or four if she was a freedwoman (Carcopino 76). Before this the inheritance would have originally fallen into the possession of the woman’s brothers, or other male relatives. This new law for woman inheritance reflects the shift from marking lineage by the male line to tracking lineage using the female line. For the most part inheritances did little to change the lives of women because it was usually a small amount of wealth or ...

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.... Another exception to the social custom was the vestal virgins. The vestals were public priestesses who tended the fire in the temple of Vesta (Scheid 381). As their name implies, part of the vestal virgins service requirements was that they remain virgins during their period of service.

Women in ancient Rome experienced a great increase in their social standing. They married as equals and could own property as equals. In religious practices women found ways to participate in ritual offerings and sacrifices to the gods. The number of woman holding a position of religious participation was greatly outnumbered by those that were unable to participate. Despite all the laws that were passed, the increased social equalities, and the working of loopholes to participate in religious activities; the majority of women’s lives remained relatively unchanged by these events.