
Engendering the Future
Divination and the Construction of Gender in the Late Roman Republic
- 206 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
Engendering the Future
Divination and the Construction of Gender in the Late Roman Republic
About this book
Chris Mowat brings together understandings of divinatory traditions and of gender in the Late Roman Republic to consider how each influenced the performative nature of the other. The identity of the divinatory actor(s) is an important element that plays a part in confirming the correctness of interpretations, and as such gender is an important aspect in understanding divination within Roman religious traditions.
Beginning with Cicero's "On Divination", Mowat's reading shows how gender is axiomatic to – but never explicit in – the opposing viewpoints presented. Four extended case studies follow, each focusing on a specific divinatory tradition: the Sibylline Books, as written prophetic guides for the State; the portentous nature of the birth of an intersex child under the Republic, and the ritual response it garnered; the sacrificial specialism of individual diviners, specifically through the story of a woman named Martha; and, finally, the construction of prophetic dreaming in the Roman Republic. Together, these studies demonstrate how the performativity of gender informed, but was also informed by, the performativity of divination in the Roman world, in a reciprocal and inseparable relationship.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Table of contents
- List of tables
- Note on the texts
- Chapter One: Introduction
- Chapter Two: Marcus
- Chapter Three: Sibyl(s)
- Chapter Four: Callo/n
- Chapter Five: Martha
- Chapter Six: Calpurnia
- Chapter Seven: Fabia, or: a conclusion
- Bibliography
- Subject index
- Index locorum