Being Roman with Mary Beard 6. Love in the Borderlands
Nov 8, 2023
Exploring the complex story of a Roman woman's journey from slavery to marriage, the podcast discusses the collision of cultures within the Roman Empire and the personal connections felt by individuals. It analyzes the story of Regina through the discovery of a tombstone and examines the multicultural nature of the Roman Empire. The hosts reflect on their exploration of characters from the Roman Empire, acknowledging the diversity and reinvention of these characters.
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Regina's Tiny Tombstone Biography
- Regina's tombstone gives a 15-word life story carved in Latin and Palmyrene with a portrait above it.
- It records she was Barates' ex-slave, freedwoman, wife, from the Catavillani tribe and died aged 30.
Portrait Invites Projection
- The carved portrait shows Regina sitting proudly with weaving tools and a box, though her face was later hacked off.
- The damaged face invites projection and Victorian sentimental readings of her as beautiful.
Tombstone Reflects The Husband's Voice
- Historians caution against a sentimental "slave-freed-and-married" narrative because the tombstone is Barates' statement, not Regina's.
- The memorial can reflect the husband's status claim as much as any woman's experience.