The Mirror of Venus: Women in Roman Art
Though images of women were ubiquitous in the Roman world, these were seldom intended to be taken simply at face value. The importance of marriage, motherhood and political stability was often conveyed to the Roman people through carefully constructed representations of the women of the ruling house. Mythological representations were used to present moral and political lessons to the women of Rome. Ancient sexual politics are apparent everywhere. Roman society was, on most levels, male dominated and women's roles were sometimes subordinate to political and cultural needs and imperatives. This is the first general book to present a coherent, broad analysis of the numerous images of women in Roman art and to interpret their meaning and significance, all set against the broader geographical, chronological, political, religious and cultural context of the world of the Roman republic and empire and of Late Antiquity. Images of mortal women - empresses and other female members of the imperial family, elite women from around the empire, and working women from Rome, Ostia, Pompeii and elsewhere - will be analysed alongside images of goddesses and personifications of complex mythological figures such as Amazons. This book will examine images of women in the form of sculptures and coins, historical friezes and decorated tombstones, mosaics and wall paintings, metalwork and many decorated everyday items.
Dr Iain Ferris is a professional archaeologist of forty-four years standing and has taught at Birmingham and Manchester Universities. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and has published widely. His research interests include Roman art and material culture and Romano-British archaeology and artefacts. He has directed major archaeological research excavations in northern and midland England and has served as a member of the Archaeology Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. His titles for Amberley include the Mirror of Venus: Women in Roman Art, Cave Canem: Animals and Roman Society, and Roman Britain Through its Objects. He lives in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Author: Dr Iain Ferris
Format: Hardback, 256 pages, 156mm x 234mm, 577 g
Published: 2015, Amberley Publishing, United Kingdom
Genre: Ancient History
Though images of women were ubiquitous in the Roman world, these were seldom intended to be taken simply at face value. The importance of marriage, motherhood and political stability was often conveyed to the Roman people through carefully constructed representations of the women of the ruling house. Mythological representations were used to present moral and political lessons to the women of Rome. Ancient sexual politics are apparent everywhere. Roman society was, on most levels, male dominated and women's roles were sometimes subordinate to political and cultural needs and imperatives. This is the first general book to present a coherent, broad analysis of the numerous images of women in Roman art and to interpret their meaning and significance, all set against the broader geographical, chronological, political, religious and cultural context of the world of the Roman republic and empire and of Late Antiquity. Images of mortal women - empresses and other female members of the imperial family, elite women from around the empire, and working women from Rome, Ostia, Pompeii and elsewhere - will be analysed alongside images of goddesses and personifications of complex mythological figures such as Amazons. This book will examine images of women in the form of sculptures and coins, historical friezes and decorated tombstones, mosaics and wall paintings, metalwork and many decorated everyday items.
Dr Iain Ferris is a professional archaeologist of forty-four years standing and has taught at Birmingham and Manchester Universities. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and has published widely. His research interests include Roman art and material culture and Romano-British archaeology and artefacts. He has directed major archaeological research excavations in northern and midland England and has served as a member of the Archaeology Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. His titles for Amberley include the Mirror of Venus: Women in Roman Art, Cave Canem: Animals and Roman Society, and Roman Britain Through its Objects. He lives in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales.