Maternal Megalomania

Julia Domna and the Imperial Politics of Motherhood

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History
Cover of the book Maternal Megalomania by Julie Langford, Johns Hopkins University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Julie Langford ISBN: 9781421408484
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press Publication: July 24, 2013
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Julie Langford
ISBN: 9781421408484
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication: July 24, 2013
Imprint:
Language: English

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.

In Maternal Megalomania, Julie Langford 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. Langford looks to numismatic, literary, and archaeological evidence to reconstruct the propaganda surrounding the empress. She explores how her 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. She employs Julia Domna as a case study to explore the creation of ideology between the emperor and its subjects.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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.

In Maternal Megalomania, Julie Langford 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. Langford looks to numismatic, literary, and archaeological evidence to reconstruct the propaganda surrounding the empress. She explores how her 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. She employs Julia Domna as a case study to explore the creation of ideology between the emperor and its subjects.

More books from Johns Hopkins University Press

Cover of the book Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Engineering War and Peace in Modern Japan, 1868–1964 by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Cyberformalism by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Clientelism, Social Policy, and the Quality of Democracy by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Taking to the Streets by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Clandestine Marriage by Julie Langford
Cover of the book A Loving Approach to Dementia Care by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Baltimore by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Living with Lymphoma by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Arthur Ashe by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Social Poison by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Empire Films and the Crisis of Colonialism, 1946–1959 by Julie Langford
Cover of the book At War with PTSD by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Living with HHT by Julie Langford
Cover of the book Reengineering the University by Julie Langford
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy