Joan Smith, in Rome (where else?)

Listen to Joan explain why and how she took on the incredible project of uncovering the true stories of twenty-three women closely associated with the Julio-Claudian emperors of Rome.

These were the wives, mothers and daughters of the emperors from Augustus to Nero, via their cruel and deranged relative Caligula. These highly privileged women lived under the shadow of these men, abused, controlled, dominated, and, in several instances, murdered. Only five of the women appear to have died of natural causes.

Joan links the femicide then to modern day slaying of women by men known to them, and asks what lessons can these women and girls of the Roman Empire tell us? Ancient misogyny, even from 2000 years ago, looks similar to the plight of women today.

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