Matrona Docta: Educated Women in the Roman Elite from Cornelia to Julia Domna (Routledge Classical Monographs)

Matrona Docta presents a unique study of the education of upper-class women in Roman society in the central period of Roman history, from the second century BC to AD 235. Emily A. Hemelrijk reconstructs women's opportunities to acquire an education, the impediments they faced, the level of education they could reach and the judgement on educated women in Roman society. She examines also the role of women as patronesses of literature, learning and Roman women's writing. Matrona Docta is the first comprehensive study of the education of upper-class Roman women, and of their participation in the intellectual life of their times. Focusing on the period from the second century BC to AD 235, Emily Hemelrijk draws a vivid picture of the disadvantages and opportunities faced by these women, their activities as patronesses of literature and learning, and their achievements in writing prose and poetry of their own. The book also explores Roman perceptions of educated women and asks why a patriarchal elite bothered to educate its daughters. "Matrona Docta presents a unique study of the education of upper-class women in Roman society in the central period of Roman history from the second century BC to AD 235. The author explores the place of Roman upper-class women in the world of the educated. She reconstructs their opportunities to acquire an education, the impediments they faced, the level of education they could reach and the judgement on educated women in Roman society. She examines also the role of women as patronesses of literature and learning and Roman women's writing."--Jacket A Study Of The Education Of Upper-class Women In Roman Society In The Central Period Of Roman History, From The Second Century Bc To Ad 235. The Author Explores The Place Of Roman Upper-class Women In The World Of The Educated. She Reconstructs Their Opportunities To Acquire An Education; The Impediments They Faced; The Level Of Education They Could Reach And The Judgement On Educated Women In Roman Society. She Also Examines The Role Of Women As Patronesses Of Literature And Learning And Roman Women's Writing. When studying educated women in Roman society one is struck by the scarcity of women of learning mentioned in our sources. The education of Roman women is veiled in obscurity.