Description

• In ancient Rome, women did not typically hold official positions of power within the government or political institutions. The Roman society was highly patriarchal, and men held the majority of political offices and decision-making authority. However, there were instances where women exerted influence and held positions of influence. As the wives or mothers of Roman emperors, empresses had significant influence and often played political roles. They could exercise influence over their husbands or sons, offer advice, and participate in decision-making processes. Some notable empresses include Livia, the wife of Emperor Augustus, and Agrippina the Younger, the mother of Emperor Nero. A variety of Roman women came to be represented on Roman coinage, also including for example, Faustina the Younger, Faustina the Elder, Julia Domna, Julia Mamea, Helena (mother of Constantine) and others.