(Fresco featuring money and writing instruments from the Roman fresco
from the Praedia of Julia Felix in Pompeii, c. 62-79 CE, [Public Domain] via
Creative Commons)
Until Mt. Vesuvius destroyed
the city of Pompeii on August 24, 79 CE, it was a thriving city with a
population of around 12,000 people. Pompeii was well connected to the Roman
maritime trade network and likely received a lot of traffic from ships entering
and leaving the port. The city had anything these visitors (or locals) could
want or need—an amphitheater, an elaborate public park, and a religious and
political forum. There were even houses for Mystery Religions, and, of course,
there were brothels.
Despite the generally
male-oriented society of the Roman Empire, women in Pompeii seemed to have been
able to carve out some surprising economic autonomy in the bustling city. There
is evidence of women from the city loaning money to each other, managing
businesses, and even owning the enterprises completely. Of these influential
women in Pompeii, none showed more business acumen than Julia Felix, who possessed
a villa near the town amphitheater.
Archeologists and historians hypothesize
that Julia Felix began to develop her large estate into an economic marvel
around 62 CE, when an earthquake gave her a reason to begin renovations on her
property. She proved to be quite the entrepreneur, with her businesses catering
to all types of people. By the time Mt. Vesuvius buried Pompeii in 79 CE, Julia
Felix’ villa complex had become something of a luxurious resort hotel.
Her target clientele was the wealthy
elite of society. Julia Felix advertised her private bath as a club where only
the genteel were invited. She also rented some of her villa’s rooms to
respectable people visiting Pompeii. She also had a beautiful garden and a
swimming pool and, for added aesthetics, much of the villa was decorated with
columns, statues and frescos. For those who wanted more than rooms, beauty and
bathing, the complex also was outfitted with fully functioning shops. Catering
to the lower classes, her villa also had either a tavern, restaurant or diner
that served food and drink, which could then be consumed on built-in tables and
benches. To bring in clients to her establishment, she had at least one sign
erected outside of her villa to advertise for potential customers.
It is impossible to know how
wealthy Julia Felix truly was, but the truth was probably very impressive. With
Pompeii thriving as an economic port city, and with her ability to provide
services for both the elite and common people of the city, she had the
potential for an incredible amount of income—especially considering her
location just a short distance from the city amphitheater. In all likelihood,
Julia Felix was a very, very prosperous ancient woman.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Pompeii: The Dead Speak. Documentary published by The Smithsonian, 2016.
- http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com/pompeiiinpictures/R2/2%2004%2003.htm
- http://www.dartmouth.edu/~rome2007/Day59.html
- http://www.ancienthistoryarchaeology.com/business-women-in-pompeii
- http://www.pompeii.org.uk/m.php/museum-house-of-julia-felix-pompeii-en-92-m.htm
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