Sacrosanct Matron: The Honors of 35

Abstract The Severan historian Cassius Dio reports that in Rome in 35 BCE, Octavia and Livia received the honors of public images, exemption from fiscal oversight, and sacrosanctity. Some have seen these as designed by Octavian to contrast his treatment of Octavia with Antony’s as a prelude to war. This chapter presents them as attempts to elevate the wives of the Triumvirs and bolster their alliance. Since many generals were celebrating victories, the Triumvirs were seeking unusual ways to aggrandize themselves via their families. The chapter argues that sacrosanctity and freedom from tutela or guardianship were modelled on privileges of the Vestal priestesses. Little or no precedent is found for public statues of women; instead, evidence reveals an effort to create legends of them to legitimize this innovation. The chapter ends emphasizing that Octavia and Antony remained married for three more years and that their divorce was tightly tied to the declaration of war.