Julia rejected the constraints of #Roman #Patriarchy, and paid the price. Also, note the parallels between later #RomanHistory and that of the #USA -- as the Roman Empire began restricting women's rights and enforcing "family values". And we all know what happened to the #RomanEmpire...

Notable #RomanWomen: #Julia

Julia was born in 39 BCE, the daughter of the first #RomanEmperor, #Augustus (#Octavian). As her “#guardian,” Augustus severely restricted Julia’s freedom, but as the daughter of the emperor, Augustus made sure Julia was well-#educated.

Augustus had arranged several marriages for Julia, all for political reasons. Julia resented this, and was known for having several lovers. Augustus ignored her behavior for a while, since she had born several heirs to the family line.

However, in 2 BCE, Julia was arrested for “#adultery and #treason,” and Augustus accused her of plotting against him, though at the time, Augustus has passed laws promoting “#FamilyValues”. Julia was exiled to a small island, where it is said she died of starvation.

#RomanFamilyValues #RomanWomen #RomanHistory #AncientWomen #Histodon #WomensRights #Rome #RomanEmporers #WomenInTheAncientWorld

Something I would love to know more about are the #ElusinianMysteries. But thanks to the cult's secrecy (and #Christianity), we may never know all the details...

Elusinian Mysteries

There were two Eleusinian rites – the Lesser One, and the Greater One. While the details of these rites were a carefully guarded secret, what is known is that the Greater Rite took place over many days, involved #music and #dancing, #sacrifices of grain and a bull, #ritual purification in a river, and the consumption of a #SacredBeverage that was believed to be #hallucinogenic.
The beverage, known as #kykeon, was made from #barley, #pennyroyal, and other ingredients.

It is analogous to the Sacred #Soma / #Homa beverage of the #IndoIranians. While the Cult of #Eleusius was closed down by the #Christian #RomanEmporers, elements of the cult “survived in the Greek countryside,” into the rites of “#SaintDemetrius of #Thessalonki.”

#Rituals #RomanHistory #MysteryCults #AncientHistory #Histodon #WomensRights #RomanWomen #RomanPriestesses