{"id":2423,"date":"2013-08-14T14:36:07","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T14:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=2423"},"modified":"2013-08-15T01:04:31","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T01:04:31","slug":"the-top-ten-scandalous-women-of-ancient-rome-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/the-top-ten-scandalous-women-of-ancient-rome-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Ten Scandalous Women of Ancient Rome: Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left\">The list of infamous, scandalous and plotting women continues to countdown&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>NUMBER 7<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2429\" style=\"width: 152px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft post-item__attachment\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pavel_Svedomskiy_010.jpg\" aria-label=\"Pavel Svedomskiy 010 142x300\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2429\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2429\" alt=\"Julia the Elder by Pavel Svedomsky. Wikicommons.\"  width=\"142\" height=\"300\" \/ src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Pavel_Svedomskiy_010-142x300.jpg\"><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2429\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Julia the Elder by Pavel Svedomsky. Wikicommons.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Name: <\/span>Julia the Elder\u00a0 (39 BC \u2013 AD 14)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Vices: <\/span>Promiscuity, Excessive Affairs, Treason,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Weakness:<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Food, Men, Speaking Her Mind, Drinking Parties, Small Islands<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Prime Examples:\u00a0<\/span> Julia the Elder was the daughter of Emperor Augustus. According to Dio and Seneca, although married to Tiberius (who would be emperor after Augustus) she reveled in drinking parties, many love affairs, and even prostitution. This promiscuity was especially scandalous due to her father&#8217;s Leges Juliae (Julian Laws) that promoted family units, children, and marital loyalty. \u00a0The fact that his own daughter was breaking these laws was unforgiveable. Pliny states she had affairs and plotted in public; &#8220;<i>adulterium filiae et consilia parricidae<\/i>&#8221; &#8220;adultery of the daughter and the plan of patricide.&#8221; You can read more on her life <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Julia_the_Elder\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Ergo<\/span>\u00a0 Julia earns number\u00a07 for her crimes against and humiliation of\u00a0her husband, father, and empire. All her deeds must have been true, because she was exiled for them, banished from her family, and eventually starved to death. However, her loveless marriages may have caused this outcry for love and attention. It is difficult not to pity\u00a0the woman, even though scandalous.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">\u00a0<strong>NUMBER 6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2431\" style=\"width: 276px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright post-item__attachment\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Messalinaandbritannicus.jpg\" aria-label=\"533px Messalinaandbritannicus 266x300\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2431\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2431\" alt=\"Messalina holding her son Britannicus, Louvre\"  width=\"266\" height=\"300\" \/ src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/533px-Messalinaandbritannicus-266x300.jpg\"><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Messalina holding her son Britannicus, Louvre. Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Name: <\/span>Valeria Messalina (c. 17\/20 \u2013 48) a.k.a Messalina<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Vices:<\/span> Lust, Promiscuity, Treason, Bigamy, Seduction, Persuasiveness<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Weakness: <\/span>Selfishness, Pride,\u00a0Competitiveness, Handsome Face,<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Prime Examples: <\/span> Messalina was the wife of Emperor Claudius. Although she was the most powerful woman in Rome, she sought to overthrow her husband and rule with her lover. Messalina is infamously known for her clandestine affairs, but most notable for her\u00a0all-night sex competition against a prostitute.\u00a0According to Pliny, Messalina won the 24 hour competition with 25 partners. She also humiliated Claudius by marrying her last lover: the intelligent and handsome\u00a0Gaius Silius. Gaius and Messalina had planned to overthrow Claudius and rule together, but their plan was exposed. You can read more on her life<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Messalina\" target=\"_blank\"> here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Ergo: <\/span> Messalina earns number 6 due to her similar nature to Julia the Elder, but the fact that she was plotting against her husband. As punishment her name was removed from all monuments, honors and\u00a0 was sentenced to death. She betrayed not only her husband, her children,\u00a0but also Roman women.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2433\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft post-item__attachment\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Arte_romana,_gran_cammeo_della_ste_chapelle_con_esaltazione_della_dinastia_giulio-claudia,_23_dc_ca.,_livilla_e_caio_cesare.JPG\" aria-label=\"Arte Romana Gran Cammeo Della Ste Chapelle Con Esaltazione Della Dinastia Giulio Claudia 23 Dc Ca  Livilla E Caio Cesare 225x300\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2433\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2433\" alt=\"Woman on the Great Cameo of France who may be Livilla\"  width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/ src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Arte_romana_gran_cammeo_della_ste_chapelle_con_esaltazione_della_dinastia_giulio-claudia_23_dc_ca__livilla_e_caio_cesare-225x300.jpg\"><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2433\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Woman on the Great Cameo of France who may be Livilla. Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>NUMBER 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Name: <\/span>Claudia Livia Julia\u00a0 (c. 13 BC \u2013 31 AD) a.k.a:\u00a0Livilla<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Vices: <\/span>Murder, Plotting Treason, Affairs, Rudeness<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Weakness: <\/span> Love for Sejanus,\u00a0Power, Children, Locked Doors<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Prime Examples: <\/span>\u00a0 Livilla was the daughter of Antonia and sister to Claudius. She was reported to be a beautiful, but sharp woman. She once laughed hysterically at the prophecy of Claudius being destined to be emperor. She took on one lover, a praetorian prefect: Sejanus. With her lover Sejanus, they murdered and poisoned her husband Drusus. Once Drusus was gone, she and Sejanus attempted to marry, but Emperor Tiberius would not comply. Tiberius eventually suggested that Sejanus could marry Livilla&#8217;s daughter Livia Julia.\u00a0Eventually, Sejanus&#8217; ex-wife told the emperor of\u00a0 Livilla&#8217;s and Sejanus&#8217; plan to overthrow Tiberius\u00a0and rule Rome. You can read more on her life <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Livilla\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Ergo: <\/span>Livilla places number 5 on our list due to her murder of her husband for her lover. She places fifth for murder, treason, and want of power. Livilla, although selfish and vain, was upset at the pretense of Sejanus marrying her daughter even as a formality. Livilla&#8217;s death was a treacherous as her life; she was held captive in a room while her mother stood outside it and allowed her to starve to death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>NUMBER 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2435\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright post-item__attachment\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Cleopatra_and_Caesar_by_Jean-Leon-Gerome.jpg\" aria-label=\"Cleopatra And Caesar By Jean Leon Gerome 206x300\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2435\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2435\" alt=\"Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Painting by Jean-L\u00e9on Gerome. Wikicommons.\"  width=\"206\" height=\"300\" \/ src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Cleopatra_and_Caesar_by_Jean-Leon-Gerome-206x300.jpg\"><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2435\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Painting by Jean-L\u00e9on Gerome. Wikicommons.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Name: <\/span>Cleopatra VII Philopator (69BC-30BC) a.k.a Cleopatra<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Vices: <\/span>Murder, Wit, Seducing Married Men<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Weakness:<\/span> Desire to Rule Egypt, Love for Marc Antony &amp; her\u00a0Children, Pride, Sea Battles<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Prime Examples:<\/span> Cleopatra was exiled from her reign, power and home in 48 BCE. She supposedly met Caesar (already married) , seduced him and bore his son. Caesar renstated her as queen of Egypt and she murdered her\u00a0brother (in the siege of Alexandria) and order her sister&#8217;s death\u00a0as well. When Caesar died unexpectedly, Cleopatra did not give up on her power or prospects for\u00a0her children. She seduced, married, and started a family with Marc Antony (who was already married).\u00a0After\u00a0the defeat at Actium, Antony committed suicide at the news of Cleopatra&#8217;s death. Cleopatra later would attempt to seduce Augustus in hopes of securing another powerful married Roman man.\u00a0\u00a0You can read more on her life <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cleopatra\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Ergo: <\/span>Cleopatra places number\u00a04 due to her willingness to kill her siblings for power, seduce married men, excessive shows of luxury to intimidate, and her suicide to preserve her pride. She was an infamous woman of her time and is still to this day synonymous with &#8220;seducting for power.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<img width=\"241\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Cleopatra_and_Caesar_by_Jean-Leon-Gerome-241x350.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image tmp-hide-img\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Cleopatra_and_Caesar_by_Jean-Leon-Gerome-241x350.jpg 241w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/08\/Cleopatra_and_Caesar_by_Jean-Leon-Gerome.jpg 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px\" \/><p>The list of infamous, scandalous and plotting women continues to countdown&#8230; NUMBER 7 Name: Julia the Elder\u00a0 (39 BC \u2013 AD 14) Vices: Promiscuity, Excessive Affairs, Treason, Weakness:\u00a0\u00a0Food, Men, Speaking Her Mind, Drinking Parties, Small Islands Prime Examples:\u00a0 Julia the Elder was the daughter of Emperor Augustus. According to Dio and Seneca, although married to&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-item__readmore\"><a class=\"btn btn--md\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/the-top-ten-scandalous-women-of-ancient-rome-part-ii\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":2435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3691,60854],"tags":[226,178,235654,235652,235651,60855,60869,235649,235653],"class_list":["post-2423","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latin-language","category-roman-culture","tag-cleopatra","tag-history","tag-julia-the-elder","tag-livilla","tag-messalina","tag-roman-culture-2","tag-roman-history","tag-roman-women","tag-scandalous"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2423"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2450,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423\/revisions\/2450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}