women and religion - The Cults of Plebeia and Patricia Pudicitia (ROME) Flashcards
patricia pudicitia, pudicitia statue, reason for 2 cults
prescribed source:
pudicitia statue of a woman
date: 1st century
sculptor: unknown
commissioned by: unknown
material: marble
original location: unknown
shows modesty and aims to deflect the attention of the viewer
women in Rome linked to religion –> what she represents must be very important
excess drapery –> wealthy and important enough to have money spent on her
link between pudicitia and religion
chaste women were believed to be more effective at giving prayers/sacrifice
e.g. Claudia Quinta prayed to the gods to release a ship, ship immediately loosened and went off
how was Patricia Pudicitia worshipped
a cult dedicated to the personification of feminine virtue - worshipped in Forum Boarium
who were univrae and why were only them allowed to worship the goddess
they were women that had only been married once, still married (once) or a widow not remarrying –> shows chastity
why was there two cults to Pudicitia
Verginia (noble/univrae woman) was turned away from worshipping/sacrificing as she married a Plebeian (commoner)
she tried to fight her case but to no avail
so she sectioned off part of her house into an altar and told all female commoners how badly she’d been treated
that altar was then for Plebeians and the other was or Patricians (same as each other)
