The ancient Roman world was vast and diverse, with variations in daily life depending on geography, social status, and local customs. Pompeii, a prosperous city in southern Italy, provides an extraordinary archaeological record of Roman life, including insights into the lives of women. While women in Pompeii shared many similarities with their counterparts in Rome, there were also notable differences in their social roles, economic participation, and freedoms. This article explores these differences and examines how women in Pompeii lived compared to women in the capital of the Roman Empire.

Legal and Social Status

Women in both Rome and Pompeii were legally considered subordinate to men under Roman law. They were under the authority of their fathers (paterfamilias) before marriage and their husbands (or male guardians) after marriage. However, by the 1st century CE, many Roman women, especially from the upper classes, gained more independence, particularly in managing their own property and finances.

In Pompeii, women seem to have enjoyed a degree of social visibility that was somewhat unusual for Roman women. Evidence from inscriptions and graffiti suggests that Pompeian women played a more active role in public and economic life compared to those in Rome.

Economic Participation

One of the most striking differences between women in Pompeii and those in Rome was their involvement in business and trade. While Roman women of higher status typically managed household affairs and could own businesses indirectly, Pompeian women appear to have been more directly involved in economic activities. Archaeological evidence, including shop signs and business records, suggests that many Pompeian women were merchants, tavern owners, and artisans.

For example, inscriptions mention women like Eumachia, a wealthy Pompeian patroness of the cloth industry, who funded the construction of a major public building. This level of economic engagement, particularly in a public and visible way, was less common among women in Rome, where elite women were more likely to exert influence behind the scenes. shutdown123