The Differing Representations of Imperial Women by Plutarch and Tacitus

Abstract

This research examines the different representations of imperial women by two ancient Roman historians, Plutarch and Tacitus. While both historians wrote during the period from 60-117 C.E., their different positions within Roman imperial life affected their views of the empire and its people. I will argue that their individual ideas about morality and the Roman Empire contributed to their divergent depictions and descriptions. By analyzing each historian’s own ideals, the historical context in which they wrote, and the varied scholarship regarding Roman imperial women, I hope to contribute a significant and original argument to this discussion. This comparative approach of two of Roman history’s most influential writers will be integral to understanding more about imperial women during the Roman Empire.