Title Maternal megalomania : Julia Domna and the imperial politics of motherhood / Julie Langford

Published Baltimore : The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013

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Description 1 online resource Series UPCC book collections on Project MUSE Contents Introduction. Julia Domna who? ; Carving the niche ; Severan dynastic propaganda and Julia Domna -- Not your Momma. Problematizing Julia Domna as the Mater Castrorum ; Women and the military ; Faustina the younger : the Mother of all Mothers of the camp ; The military and the 'Domus Augusta' : All in the family? ; Severus and the Mater Castrorum title ; Severus, the military, and Julia Domna ; About face! ; Conclusion -- Romancing the Romans. Julia Domna and the 'Populus Romanus' ; The nature of the sources ; The princeps and the plebs ; The Roman populace, public demonstrations, and divine inspiration ; Severan propaganda and the urban plebs ; Roman matrona, mother, and protectress ; Severus, the 'Populus Romanus,' and the 'Collegia' ; And Julia Domna? ; But what does it all mean? -- Mater Senatus, Mater Patriae. Julia Domna as senatorial savior ; Natural rivals : imperial women and the senate ; Severus's senate ; Creating consensus in the senate : wooing, marginalizing and exterminating ; Negotiating dynasty : maternal megalomania and senatorial subversions ; Julia Domna in Cassius Dio ; Moderating Maternal Megalomania -- Conclusion. Ideological crisis ; On the dangers of taking ideology too seriously -- Appendix A : Hoard details of the Severan Hoard Analysis Database -- Appendix B : Frequency of coin types of Julia Domna in Hoards around the Mediterranean -- Appendix C : Dating the Mater Senatus, Mater Patriae titles Summary Ancient authors emphasize dramatic moments in the life of Julia Domna, wife of Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). They accuse her of ambition unforgivable in a woman, of instigating civil war to place her sons on the throne, and of resorting to incest to maintain her hold on power. In imperial propaganda, however, Julia Domna was honored with unprecedented titles that celebrated her maternity, whether it was in the role of mother to her two sons (both future emperors) or as the metaphorical mother to the empire. Imperial propaganda even equated her to the great mother goddess, Cybele, endowing her with a public prominence well beyond that of earlier imperial women. Her visage could be found gracing everything from state-commissioned art to privately owned ivory dolls. This volume unmasks the maternal titles and honors of Julia Domna as a campaign on the part of the administration to garner support for Severus and his sons. By looking at numismatic, literary, and archaeological evidence to reconstruct the propaganda surrounding the empress, the author explores how Julia Domna's image was tailored toward different populations, including the military, the Senate, and the people of Rome, and how these populations responded to propaganda about the empress. This work is a case study, exploring the creation of an ideology between the empire, the emperor, and its subjects Analysis European history: the Romans Bibliography Includes notes, bibliographical references (pages 181-198) and index Notes English Print version record Subject Julia Domna, Empress, consort of Severus, Lucius Septimius, Emperor of Rome, -217. Julia Domna, Empress, consort of Severus, Lucius Septimius, Emperor of Rome, -217 -- Public opinion SUBJECT Julia Domna, Empress, consort of Severus, Lucius Septimius, Emperor of Rome, -217 -- Public opinion Julia Domna, Empress, consort of Severus, Lucius Septimius, Emperor of Rome, -217 Julia Domna, Empress, consort of Severus, Lucius Septimius, Emperor of Rome, -217 fast Subject Motherhood -- Political aspects -- Rome Imperialism -- Social aspects -- Rome Ideology -- Political aspects -- Rome Political culture -- Rome Popular culture -- Rome Public opinion -- Rome European history. Ideology -- Political aspects Imperialism -- Social aspects Motherhood -- Political aspects Political culture Politics and government Popular culture Public opinion SUBJECT Rome -- History -- Severans, 193-235. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85115147 Rome -- Politics and government -- 30 B.C.-284 A.D. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85115182 Subject Rome (Empire) Genre/Form History Form Electronic book LC no. 2012035555 ISBN 1421408481 9781421408484 1421428474 9781421428475

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