Christianity and Gender in Imperial Roman Policy, 57-235
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Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 4-2011 Women of Foreign Superstition: Christianity and Gender in Imperial Roman Policy, 57-235. Karl E. Baughman Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, History of Christianity Commons, and the History of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Baughman, Karl E., "Women of Foreign Superstition: Christianity and Gender in Imperial Roman Policy, 57-235." (2011). Dissertations. 324. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/324 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WOMEN OF FOREIGN SUPERSTITION: CHRISTIANITY AND GENDER IN IMPERIAL ROMAN POLICY, 57-235 by Karl E. Baughman A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of History Advisor: Paul L. Maier, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan April 2011 WOMEN OF FOREIGN SUPERSTITION: CHRISTIANITY AND GENDER IN IMPERIAL ROMAN POLICY, 57-235 Karl E. Baughman, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2011 The relationship between Christianity and the im perial Roman government from 57 to 235 was partially de pendent upon the enforcement of traditional gender roles and the exercise of those roles by women in unique posi tions of influence. Rather than attempt to break free of their defined gender roles, women with distinctive con nections to Christianity and the Roman government were, especially during times of crisis, able to influence im perial policies that provided an atmosphere conducive to positive growth for the early Church. This work concen trates on the crises which were connected to gender - es pecially times during which the emperors failed to ful fill their obligation as "manly" rulers. Although these women wielded power without having to usurp the legitimate authority reserved only for men, some of the ancient writers, like Tacitus, Dio Cassius, and Herodian cast these women in heavily gendered lan guage with the intention both to assert traditional gend er roles and to explain the calamities associated with the emperors they considered unmanly. Pomponia Graecina, Poppaea Sabina, Flavia Domitilla, Marcia, and Julia Ma- maea, all demonstrate the connection between gender and the religio-political system of the early Empire. Spe cifically, each also reveals the nuances of a Roman cul tural understanding of gender and its role within the em bodiment of imperial ideology. Otacilia Severa, Cornelia Salonina, and Eutropia, although living in eras beyond the scope of this dissertation, further demonstrate the ability of women to use gendered norms to their advantage during times of crisis, even when it appears to be dis connected from issues of gender. In short, these women all show the pervasiveness of gender in all aspects of imperial culture. Copyright by Karl E. Baughman 2011 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In his Metaphysics, Aristotle wrote, "It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed some thing, by developing before us the powers of thought." Bearing this in mind, I have a host of professors, col leagues, friends, and family who have helped guide me in my quest for completing this dissertation, both through their agreeable and disagreeable viewpoints. Specifical ly, I am sincerely grateful to my doctoral advisor, Paul L. Maier, without whose guidance and attention this dis sertation could never have been completed. Joining Dr. Maier in my sincere thanks is the rest of my Dissertation Committee, Drs. Marion Gray, E. Rozanne Elder, and Dimi- ter Angelov. The staffs at the libraries of Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, Concor dia College, and the countless others affected by my in ter-library loan account were of immeasurable assistance in acquiring the texts I needed. I received very helpful feedback regarding my paper on Flavia Domitilla I gave at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Classical Association of ii Acknowledgments—continued Canada in Vancouver; chapter two was shaped by those helpful suggestions. My fellow graduate colleagues at WMU, Michael Ciletti, Johnny Smith, Joshua Schier, Elise Boneau, Brian Bradford, David Zwart, Kristi Dunn, Brian Becker, and many others were important in keeping my mind not only on my dissertation, but also on the weekly beer and trivia at Harvey's. My friends, Dion Garrett and Bill Wangelin, were of endless support. They cannot be thanked enough for their assistance in helping me articu late my argument in a style coherent to those outside the field, and our close friendships were strengthened in our long intellectual discussions. I am sincerely indebted to my wife, Sarah and my children, Magdalena and August, whose love and support kept me going. My parents, Pear- ley and Diane Baughman, and Gary and Ruth Palmer, and ex tended family were of incalculable support as well. And of course, the faculty, staff, and administration at Con cordia College in Selma, Alabama, who took a chance on me and hired me ABD in the Fall of 2009, have been most en couraging as I completed this dissertation. If I am for getting anyone, it is by no means on purpose. Finally, all errors and faulty interpretations are my own. Karl E. Baughman iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS v CHAPTER I. "FROM A KINGDOM OF GOLD TO ONE OF IRON AND RUST" Introduction 1 II. "PUNISH US AS YOU DO THEM" Gender, Law, and Culture: Pomponia Graecina, & Flavia Domitilla 48 III. "UNSEX ME" Gendered Crisis: Poppaea, Marcia, & Julia Ma- maea 96 IV. "THEY WILL BE YOUR SUPERIORS" Conclusions 181 Epilogue: "POWER IS LIKE BEING A LADY" Otacilia, Cornelia Salonina, & Eutropia 188 BIBLIOGRAPHY 233 iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ActaSS Acta Sanctorum Bollandiana (1643- ) AJArch American Journal of Archaeology AJPhil The American Journal of Philology AJT American Journal of Theology ANRW Aufstieg und Niedergang der Romischen Welt C Phil Classical Philology CJ Classical Journal CQ Classical Quarterly CW The Classical World FuB Forschungen und Berichte HTR Harvard Theological Review Historia . Historia: Zeitschrift fiir Alte Geschichte JEH Journal of Ecclesiastical History JFSR Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JQR Jewish Quarterly Review JRS The Journal of Roman Studies JTS Journal of Theological Studies LCL Loeb Classical Library PG Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Graeca PL Patrologia Latina v List of Abbreviations—continued RE Realencyclopadie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft Stud. Doc. Hist. Iur. ...Studia et documenta historiae et iuris TAPA Transactions of the American Philological Association TUGAL Texte und Untersuchungen zue Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur Vig. Chr Vigiliae Christianae Abbreviations of ancient authors and texts are from the Oxford Classical Dictionary vi CHAPTER I FROM A KINGDOM OF GOLD TO ONE OF IRON AND RUST Introduction To Be or Not To Be: Defining Terms At first glance of the title, "Women of Foreign Superstition," this work appears to be solely the study of women. However, it would be mistaken immediately to categorize a work with the words "woman" or "man" in the title into the respective fields of either "women's" or "men's" histories (as if the two should or even could be mutually exclusive) . This work is a study of gender - a study of the relationship between men and women; the relationship between what was masculine and feminine in Roman culture; the relationship between men and women and how each used that division to influence and direct the course of imperial policy; the relationship between the divisions of Roman society which built, drove, and shaped what it was that made them Roman and made their men men, 1 This quotation is taken from Dio's summation of the Empire after the death of Marcus Aurelius and ascension of Commodus in 180: ...dmo jpvor\q xe fiaoiXeiaq kq aiSipav K<XI Komu>|Lievr|v xcov te rcpaYndacov xoiq xoxe'Pco(xaioiq KOU fipav vuv Kaxamaov(jr\q xr\q laxopiaq. (Cass. Dio lxxi.36.4). 1 and their women women. The importance of gender is prevalent within the ancient sources. As will be demonstrated throughout this work, the ancient authors (all men) were very interested in explaining, asserting, and evaluating the distinction of gender within their society. They were intent on ensuring that what they saw as the proper relationship of one's biological sex to constructed gender identities was exercised in a way that was both legally and culturally acceptable. This distinction between masculine and feminine was a foundation on which Romans judged the quality and effectiveness of someone's life and work, and was best expressed in the evaluation of those in positions of political authority or influence. About the spread of Christianity in the early centuries, Jo Ann McNamara wrote, "Women helped to shape and spread Christianity as a validation of individual worth separate from worldly social status."2 This was most likely the case for many women in the first centuries of Christianity; however, in the case of the 2 Jo Ann McNamara,