• Login
    View Item 
    •   SOAR Home
    • Graduate School
    • ETD: Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Master's Theses
    • View Item
    •   SOAR Home
    • Graduate School
    • ETD: Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Master's Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Bene merenti: an epigraphic display of social identity and expectational difference between Roman freeborn and freed women

    View
    t14079_Thompson.pdf
    Download
    t14079_Thompson.pdf
     
    Date
    2014-12
    Author
    Thompson, Kori
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The overall concern of this thesis is to examine the difference in social identity and its formation processes and the expectations placed upon free-born and freed Roman women within specific roles using epigraphic evidence and the parameter of the epithet bene merenti meaning "well-deserving" and/or "meritorious." In the current investigation of epitaphs coupled with the epithet, it became apparent that birth status and family relationships, particularly in relation to men, were of some considerable relevance in the choice to use bene merenti to describe the deceased and its intended meaning. After analyzing 6,000 epitaphs, it was found that more free-born women were assigned the epithet bene merenti than their freed counterparts. The results of this study suggest a subtle division between free-born and freed women's social statuses and categorization by role-based identities. All of the female epitaphs examined focused upon the woman's role within the familia and household, defining the deceased's existence based on her role as wife and mother. The disparity in bene merenti's usage lends itself to the conclusion that it was paramount for a free-born woman to fulfill traditional Roman roles and be identified as a "well-deserving" and "meritorious" wife and mother, even at times lending itself to highly impact their man's reputation and identity as paterfamilias, head of household, and competent political leader, more so than their freed counterparts. Concerning freed women, bene merenti suggests the continuation of an ambiguous state of social existence, because of a contrasting previous sexual identity resulting in their slave status with their newly granted freedom that expects, to the point of requirement, chasteness and sexual purity that comes only with respect and influence of social status. The decision to use bene merenti in describing Roman women alludes to its extension beyond that of simple funerary formula to a meaningful social analysis of identity, role fulfillment, and expectations of gender.
    Description
    Thesis (M.A.)--Wichita State University, College of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of History
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10057/11352
    Collections
    • Master's Theses [1335]
    • HIS Theses [43]
    • LAS Theses and Dissertations [621]

    SOAR is a service of Wichita State University Libraries
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Site statistics 
     

     

    Browse

    All of SOARCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsType

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    SOAR is a service of Wichita State University Libraries
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Site statistics