EXPANDING THE WORLDS OF ROMAN WOMEN

The study of women in antiquity has entered an era of self-confidence that is illuminating, creative and unapologetic.The five books under review traverse the Roman world, mining its literature and material culture for insight into women of all social classes, ages and stages of life.Scholars identify biases in ancient and modern works and offer correctives to past publications; thoughtfully consider understudied evidence and ask new questions of popular texts; assert the presence and influence of women in decisive historical moments and social structures; offer plausible biographies and narratives of women's experiences, occupations and communities; and recognise various ways in which women actively helped shape Rome and Roman politics.The works include one conference publication, three biographies (two from Oxford's Women in Antiquity series and one from Yale's Ancient Lives series) and a trade book.I consider them in roughly chronological order, beginning with Steel and Webb's edited collection.Many of the issues introduced in this volume pertain to Severy-Hoven's biography of Octavia the Younger and Keith's biography of the poet Sulpicia.The women of the late Republic find a counterpoint in the Jewish queen Berenice, the subject of Chilton's biography.I close with Mulder's history of childbirth and midwifery in ancient Rome, which consistently creates ties between ancient and modern concerns and practices.These are thoughtful, historically grounded works that model a range of theoretical approaches.We witness scholars using a vast array of evidence and writing for a range of