Female Authority and Religious Symbolism in Ancient Rome and Greece

Abstract

This study explores the intricate roles of women in religious authority within Ancient Rome and influential female figures who held spiritual sway. By investigating how these women were both integrated into and marginalized by dominant societal structures, this research seeks to uncover the nuanced interplay between gender, authority, and religious symbolism. Employing a multidisciplinary methodology that synthesizes historical texts, literary sources, and archaeological findings, the study investigates the ways in which religious women navigated societal boundaries, exerted influence, and shaped both the sacred and political realms of their societies. It further explores how religious symbolism tied to these female figures was used to reinforce or challenge prevailing notions of authority, revealing the complex dynamics of female power in ancient religious and sociopolitical contexts.