Hi folks! The Roman religion is different from that of the Greeks; the Romans attributed everything that went wrong to the wrath of the gods and spent a lot of time appeasing the gods to prevent bad things from happening. The Oppian law, for example, was designed to placate angry gods in time of desperate war by forcing austerity on luxury-loving noblewomen. How does the complex relationship with the gods affect gender expectations in Rome?

The passage I chose is “Pliny the Younger, Selected Letters”. I chose this reading because his manner of expression in all of these letters felt a breath of fresh air while reading. The letter to Calpurnia Hispulla stood out to me because he is sending his regards over a death but delivers his thoughts so carefully and in a kind expressive way. It shocked me because I have never felt such an emotion while reading a letter. I believe the author was trying to communicate his reflections about Roman life and virtues through his literature in these letters. In my opinion this tells us about a time when people were able to address issues or discuss day to day things in a calm manner through their writing. This document seems to relate to other readings by the simple definition of expression. Every article we have come across has the theme of expression towards a person or an event. I would like to find out more who else Pliny wrote to and find out about his love life.

I selected Livy’s Cato Opposes Extravagance, because it demonstrates how Roman women were closely tied to religion, but also how that tie was greatly controlled by men. One section that really stood out to me was where Cato was complaining that the women were deliberately taking advantage of the goddess Cybele, also known as the “Idaean Mother,” turning her arrival as an excuse to be in the streets calling for luxury and riches. He thought they were just pretending to be religious when, in fact, they wanted the liberty to wear gold and to ride in carriages. This shows that women’s participation in religion could be considered not just suspicious, but potentially dangerous, if it encouraged them to speak or act on their own in public. Yet Cato didn't have much respect for their religious participation. Instead he was behaving as if what they were ruining was a place men had created. Even when religion provided women with a limited sphere in which to be seen in public or to request something, men like Cato interpreted it as a challenge to order and tradition. This speech tells us a great deal about how women in Roman society were supposed to conduct themselves. The women were supposed to be at home and listen to their husbands, and not make political decisions. And when the country’s women assembled in harmless unison to demonstrate against a law that restricted what they could wear, Cato approached it like a rebellion. He was of the opinion that if women were granted even a little freedom, they would quickly try to raise their status as equals to men. His terror reveals how determined Roman rulers were to control the conduct of women, even within religious issues. That’s unlike some of our other readings, in which women were priestesses or played important roles in religious life. Religion, in this, does not secure women’s power; it becomes one additional space in which men determine what is permissible. I'm interested in what actual Roman women experienced during religious festivals. Did they view such events as an opportunity for freedom or expression, or were they still confined by the dictates of male authority?

The reading I chose today is Cato on The Oppian Law. I found this reading interesting because it seemed as Romans were a little more liberal with the rights women had. However, this law seemed to want control female spending and mobility as it limited the amount of gold they could wear and what colors their tunics could be. It seems that this Law was being put in place to cause a change in the rights of women in Roman society rather than to gain funds for the Punic War. I would love to know more about how women handled and reacted to this new law or if they took any measures to go against it.

Hello everyone, for this week's post I will be picking Cato on the Oppian Law as my reading. In Rome, not only were beliefs influenced by religion, but so was the way people behaved—especially women. Romans believed that if something went wrong, the gods were not happy with it, and humans had to behave in the correct manner so that the gods would be happy. This is the reason that legislation like the Oppian Law was passed during times of crisis, like war, to show the gods that the Romans were modest and restrained.

Women were obligated to follow them at all cost. In the version of Livy, Cato argues that granting women's enjoyment of luxuries would undermine the moral scheme and even drive the gods themselves to fury. He feared that if women became too forward and self-reliant, society would be destroyed by anarchy. To men like Cato, women's modesty did not concern only them—it affected the whole state's reputation with the gods.

This shows Roman gender roles had a very strong connection with religion. Women had to behave in a certain manner, not only regarding their families, but so they would protect the state from retaliatory judgment from above.

The reading I decided to read is Cato Opposes Extravagance. The reason I decided to read this is that the title piqued my interest. Something that caught my eye would be how the women came together to fight Cato's unjust Oppian Laws, which limited how they traveled as well as how they dressed. The author is trying to communicate the limitations of gender roles and how they limit daily life. The reading is possibly talking about a dark time where a ruler is abusing their power, limiting others based on their opinion or beliefs. I believe this reading supports a few readings in our class where we have seen women being limited in many ways by those higher in power. 

My question would be, how often did we see women fight back against laws like this? 

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I think the passage on the Oppian Law us very interesting. I feel as though the obsession with controlling women feels very unlike my perception of Roman society as of yet. The law really wouldn't have achieved the goal Cato wanted, as ultimately its natural for people to want to brag about their achievements and wealth. Women would have found other ways to flaunt their wealth, and if not women, men would also. The framing of the bragging of wealth as something that women do is really funny, as I've seen and heard people of all genders jump at tthe opportunity to brag about their success. Knowing what I do know about Roman society and the expectations on women and how they're expected to be very opinionated, and politically active, I wonder how women would have come together to organize against this law?

I chose Pliny’s Letter 10.81 (To Geminius) because it explores the timeless tension between personal growth and worldly pleasures, a balance still deeply relevant today.

This dynamic resonates powerfully for students. Quadratus’s deliberate avoidance of his grandmother’s world of pantomimes and leisurely indulgences, even declaring he had “never seen my grandmother’s freedman dance” until a public event, mirrors the discipline required to prioritize long-term goals over fleeting distractions. Like Quadratilla, who respected his choice to focus on “studies” rather than her entertainments, students today must often guard their time and energy, trusting that such dedication allows them to “fill [a legacy] and become it as he ought,” ensuring their efforts retain “ancient dignity, lustre, and glory.

Pleasures will always tempt us, but Quadratilla’s story is a reminder that nurturing purpose and discipline, as she permitted her grandson, empowers us to transcend superficiality and claim a place among those who shape enduring legacies.

I chose Pliny the Younger's Selected Letters, specifically Letter 4.19, where Pliny writes to Calpurnia Hispulla about her niece's commendable qualities. This passage caught my attention since it illustrates Pliny's bond with Calpurnia's niece while also providing insight into Roman family relationships. The niece is described as being extremely dedicated to her family, particularly her husband, and having a strong passion for books. What struck me was Pliny's description of her as not just brilliant, but also as someone who enjoys his profession, a symbol of Roman ideals such as familial loyalty and intellectual pursuit.

Pliny's portrayal of this young woman seeks to highlight the intrinsic worth of familial relationships and intellectual growth in Roman society. He stresses that her passion for him stems from appreciation for his accomplishments, which highlights the commitment to intellectual and public life. The letter appears to depict an ideal Roman woman, who is devoted, intellectual, and respectful, qualities frequently lauded in Roman texts. In terms of what this text informs us about its period, I believe it emphasizes Roman upper-class women's aspirations, particularly in terms of family connections and intellectual pursuits. Roman women, particularly those from affluent or important families, were expected to support and nurture the males in their life, but they were also encouraged to engage in literature and culture, even if their public duties were frequently restricted to domestic life.

This text is consistent with our earlier readings, which discuss Roman women's roles as caregivers and supports of their families, particularly their husbands. However, it calls into question the idea that women were completely limited to the house. It sparked interest because in this example, the niece's intellectual interests and emotional support for Pliny show how women might influence their families in ways that went beyond typical household duties. I would like to find out more about how women engaged in religious rituals, what roles they held in cults or festivals, and how their piety was expressed or expected in society. Finally, based on the limited evidence available, it appears that women were valued for their commitment and ceremonial purity, and their involvement in religion probably served to uphold societal and household norms. How women's interactions with female goddesses like Vesta or Juno mirrored their social positions and expectations is something that really interests me.

The reading that I picked was Selected Letters Pliny The Younger ,the reason that it interested me was because of the compelling personal surprisingly letters that even come across such a wide gap in time and culture it feels like Pliny is writing to me with kind and curiosity.

The detail in particular that jumped out at me is the eruption of mount Vesuvius. The way he described the sky turning people black trying to decide whether to stay or feel oddly modern like something you'd hear in a first hand account of a natural disaster today.

The Author Pliny was trying to preserve a moment in time through his own eyes, for example trying to make sense of the chaos to give it shape and meaning and his guilt over surviving when his uncle did not, blending public record and private reflection.

In my opinion this document is telling us about Roman society especially how much they valued intellect, duty and personal legacy. His detailed observation and wring skills as an art and record keeper of fact, like a window into society that feels structured and philosophical.

What about this document seems to relate to support or even contradict our other readings about this time and place, It shows how Pliny letters both support and subtly complicate what we learn from other Roman sources in a lot of Roman literature or historical accounts there's image of Rome as powerful, organized and kind of emotionally distant focused on war, politics and achievements.

What I would like to learn more about is how do the everyday Romans actually lived and felt beyond the powerful elite voices, also what people from other parts of society like women slaves or the poor would have written if they had the same opportunity. How did the people response to the disasters like Vesuvius.

Hello Professor and Classmates,

I chose selected letters by Pliny the Younger because I was curious and interested to see a more personal perspective of life in ancient Rome. The letter that stood out most was his description of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, especially the part where people covered their heads with pillows to protect themselves, it made the fear and chaos feel very real. Pliny seems to be honoring his uncle while also documenting the event carefully, showing the Roman value of legacy and observation. This letter gives us insight into how educated Romans responded to disaster, relying on reason as much as emotion. Compared to other readings that focus on politics or law, this one feels more human and relatable. It supports the idea that Romans were deeply thoughtful and concerned with memory. I’d like to know more about how public these letters were and how common it was to explain natural disasters this way instead of blaming the Gods.

Hello Everyone!

The reading that I picked is “Selected Letters” by Pliny the younger. I think the collection of letters relates different viewpoints of the author. As well as different stories related to him.

The story that caught my attention was the letter is 4.19: To Calpurinia Hispulla because it is the most intimate for the author. The passage that stood up is “ I should become all that my wife now thinks I am. Accept therefore of our mutual thanks, that you have given us to each other, and, as it were, chosen the one for the other”. I found it very romantic and truthful. We can really appreciate his reasoning, the way he feels toward his wife and his wife’s family.

I think the author is trying to show his reasoning towards different situations and people around him. It could also show part of the daily life of that time, his point of view and his understanding. The time and place shows daily life as well as the values and moral characteristics appreciated at that time. The author highlighted the values that were common and appreciated by the social environment and at the same time some situations that happened. I think it contradicts the view of females in other readings, in contrast with this one where females are appreciated and valued for their character and not just for their beauty.

I would like to learn more about the influences of females in The Romans time. We discussed that females were more active in the private sphere but I would like to learn more on how the females influence from the private sphere to the Public one.

For this week’s reading, I picked “Cato on the Oppian Law” from Livy’s History of Rome. This text is super interesting because it shows how Roman women were involved in public life through their presence, influence, and religious associations, not through direct political power. One cool scene is when women protested the Oppian Law, gathering around the tribunes and consuls to overturn a law that limited their wealth display. Cato’s argument that if women win now, what will they not try reveals deep worries about women stepping beyond traditional roles, framing their protest as dangerous and new. He compares their action to an attack on male authority. Livy, through Cato’s speech, shows more than just opposition to luxury; he fears women’s mobilization could disrupt Roman social order. His speech suggests women’s behavior was tied to Roman values and religious discipline, linking luxury to moral decay that could offend the gods and endanger the state. This document shows that Roman women, not allowed to be in formal politics, actively shaped public opinion and policy, especially when it came to religious or moral concerns. Their actions elicited strong reactions from male political figures. Religion, gender, and politics were super intertwined in the Roman world. This reading connects to others that show how Roman identity and public life were shaped by religious and moral values. It’s different from Pliny the Younger’s letters, which show elite Roman women in private, intellectual, or domestic roles. Livy’s account shows women stepping into the public and political realm through protest, not official channels. I’d love to learn more about how Roman religious festivals or roles (like the Vestal Virgins) gave women public visibility or authority. How did these roles shape women’s identities and their relationship to the Roman state?