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The Palatine dwelling of the mater familias: houses as symbolic space in the Julio-Claudian period

  • Lien Foubert
Published/Copyright: June 11, 2010
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Klio
From the journal Volume 92 Issue 01

Abstract

The physical domus represented the status of imperial women and their position in society. Just like the male residence, the female residence was a lieu de mémoire. Activities taking place within the house were often evaluated along the lines of the ideal of female conduct. Livia′s actions on the Palatine Hill show that she was well aware of the symbolic power of her residence and of the importance of presenting herself as being in agreement with the traditional standards for female behaviour. The celebration of Diva Augusta on the Palatine and the preservation of (a part of) the Domus Augusti, first as the living space of the matres familias of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and later as an object of veneration, shows that the Palatine structure should not only be seen as the living space of emperors. The female component was just as present and played a role in the creation of lieux de mémoire.

Published Online: 2010-06-11
Published in Print: 2010-06

© by Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany

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