GENDER AND POWER IN ROMAN ANTIQUITY: CASES OF PUBLIC STATUES OF IMPERIAL WOMEN

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of public statues dedicated to women from the Republican period to the early Principate, examining their significance within Roman political culture. It aims to understand why such monuments were erected and how they functioned as both political statements and propagandistic tools. By analyzing the imagery and contexts of these statues, the study seeks to determine whether they reflect an increase in female agency during the late Republic and early Empire. Through this lens, the article will shed light on the complex interplay between gender, politics, and public representation in ancient Rome.