Written by In September, Oneworld is incredibly excited to be publishing an alternative history of Ancient Rome: inclusive, wide-ranging, and told through the women who populated it, and contributed (though history won’t like to tell you) to the Empire.
Emma Southon, ancient historian and author of A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, brings us A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women. From Vestal Virgins, business owners, poets, sex workers, martyrs and saints: here is a witty reframing of the vast Roman Empire. “Women don’t make history.”
Each of Emma Southon’s chapters, whether it be a biography for a name we recognise, or, more likely, a name we don’t, creates a three-dimensional portrait of a person who lived and hoped, some more relatable than we’d expect today. Here, women are no longer footnotes or forgotten.
In Emma’s own words: ‘Including women in history forces us, as historians, to revaluate what a Roman was, what Romanness was, and to confront the immense scope of the Roman Empire. Including women deepens our understanding of Roman history and Roman life. When Romulus founded Rome he knew that his city would not be complete until it included women; the history of Rome is equally incomplete without them.’
Our 21 women include:
- 186 BCE Hispala Faecenia – The Informer: Featuring treason, human sacrifice and Bacchic orgies so wild they would make Donna Tartt blush – this is the story of how Hispala Faecenia became one of Rome’s unlikeliest heroes.
- 79 CE Julia Felix – The Businesswoman: Hard week at work? Take a stroll down the Via dell’Abbondanza and book yourself a table at the House of Julia Felix. Already eaten? No problem. Take a dip in the world-class public baths or kick back in the gardens and take in the wonderful view of Mount Vesuvius… what could possibly go wrong?
- 130 CE Julia Balbilla – The Poet: In November of that year, Julia Balbilla had three of her poems carved into the Colossi of Memnon’s immense quartzite legs. Written in obscure Aeolic Greek, they were to celebrate the glory of the Emperor, and Julia’s Patron, Hadrian. The longest poem, however, was not dedicated to Hadrian, but to the ‘lovely form’ of his wife. What can I say? They were very, very good friends…
- 268 CE Septimia Zenobia – The Usurper: Political scandals getting you down? Septimia Zenobia gets it. After watching a series of incompetent, psychopathic and incompetently psychopathic emperors, she did what any of us would do – declared herself Empress, took over half the Roman Empire and ran it herself. While her reign was ultimately short-lived, the Empress of Palmyra clawed her way into history, becoming one of the most powerful women in the ancient world and an icon of Syrian national identity.
We all think we know Roman history, which tends to focus on great, victorious Important Things done by men. Here, these Important Things are the backdrop to a new narrative which alters our view of the Empire, while also taking in its full geographical reach. Indeed, many of the women in this book never set foot in Italy, let alone in Rome.
A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women by Emma Southon will be published by Oneworld in hardback on 7th September 2023.
Emma Southon is an ancient historian and Bookseller at Waterstones Belfast. She is the author of Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore, a Best Book of the Year for the New Statesman, and A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Armed with a PhD in Ancient History, she also co-hosts the History is Sexy podcast. She lives in Belfast, with her cat Livia, and tweets @NuclearTeeth. www.emmasouthon.com
