Antonia Augusta Portrait of a Great Roman Lady

This is the first general book on Antonia Augusta in any language. As the daughter of Mark Antony, mother of Claudius, grandmother of Caligula and great-grandmother of Nero, Antonia is a supremely significant figure in Roman history - all of her life was spent very close to the seat of power in the new monarchy. Nikos Kokkinos examines the way in which the figure of Antonia is reflected and made visible to us through a remarkable variety of archaeological evidence. He demonstrates how materials such as inscriptions, papyri, coins and sculpture can be used in the study of individual personalities in antiquity. The literary sources are supplemented and corrected so that Antonia's dramatic life and its bearing on the lives of those close to her are presented from new perspectives. With lavish illustrations, Kokkinos gives a totally rounded picture of the wealthiest Roman matron of her time, whose power and influence were far-reaching. Important material is presented about the position of women in Roman society; the degree of freedom they could exercise in making moral choices; their control of property and their direct influence on public life. Antonia Augusta has long warranted a full historical and archaeological treatment. Nikos Kokkinos has provided this in a book which in broader terms has been described by Fergus Millar as 'a significant contribution to the understanding of the early Empire itself.' Ancient historians and archaeologists, as well as the general reader, will find much of value and interest in Antonia Augusta: Portrait of a Great Roman Lady.