Pretty in Pink: The Expectations of Women in Rome Haley Bodner Ancient Rome was a hotbed of masculine ideals, an empire built on the military triumphs and the powerful ambitions of men. However, often forgotten to history are the women who stood beside their fathers, husbands, and sons throughout their military and political careers. Women, often confined to the household and rearing of children in many other ancient societies, had a prevalent role in Ancient Rome. Their responsibilities changed from the time of kings to the time of emperors, but what was expected of their personalities remained constant. The purity and grace of a daughter, the loyalty of a wife, and the kindness and knowledge of a mother were all essential qualities for women throughout Rome’s history as is shown through the works of Livy and Ancient Roman funeral descriptions. The instrumental role played by women in the founding of Rome is quite clearly evident even from its first origins; their significance is seen through the actions of the Sabine women. When Romulus founded Rome, he invited the exiles of the surrounding towns. These men wished for a new start, which Romulus offered them in his new city on the hill. However, a glaring problem struck the new Romans. A lack of women would result in their city dying out in the generation. Romulus’ legacy was to find a great city, not one that would succumb to fading out in his lifetime. To remedy this problem, Romulus called on the neighboring cities to join Rome in the festival of Consualia, a festival honoring a deity of the harvest and stored grains. Recently snubbed by the Sabines, Romulus’ plan primarily targeted them. As Livy tells it,
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