Ornamenta Uxoria. Badges of Rank or Jewellery of Roman Wives?

Abstract

This article aims at a critical assessment of Roman jewellery and its social function. The literary sources in general take a moralising stance towards jewellery and the external appearance of women, particularly of those from families of the nobility. An analysis of legal and pictorial evidence shows that the ornamenta uxoria had more than a decorative function. They clearly indicated wealth, rank and merit. Furthermore, a change of function from republican to imperial times can be detected: during the republic, a noblewoman's ornamenta were indicative of the status of her family (gens). Later, in imperial times, women were allowed ornamenta for individual merits (motherhood being first among them).

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