Ottavia la prima ‘First Lady of Imperial Rome’

Abstract

A.A. Barret, in his book of 2002, describes Livia as the ‘First Lady of Imperial Rome’, in order to illustrate the exceptional nature of the role played by the wife of Augustus within the new political and social context of the empire, suggesting that she was the first woman to assume this role. Augustus’ choices concerning the wife reveal his will to gradually ensure for Livia a prominent position within the new political reality and to strengthen the public role of women of his gens in the new political con-text. For her role as mother of Augustus’ heir and for her longevity, she benefited from this experimentation, however ancient evidences show that the main subject of this process was Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus. Through the analysis of some specific aspects of her action (the role as mediator and as patron, the matrimonial strategies concerning her children, the active role in the urban development of Rome) this paper tries to show how the role of first ‘First Lady’ can be given to her.