From Good Goddess to Vestal Virgins (Electronic book text)

Ariadne Staples' book examines how women in Rome were perceived both by themselves and by men through women's participation in Roman religion, as Roman religious ritual provided the single public arena where women played a significant formal role. From Good Goddess to Vestal Virgins argues that the ritual roles played out by women were vital in defining them sexually and that these sexually defined categories spilled over into other aspects of Roman culture, including political activity. Ariadne Staples provides an arresting and original analysis of the role of women from humble priestesses to aristocrats like Agrippina and Livia in Roman society, which challenges traditionally held views and provokes further questions.