Pudicitia

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Pudicitia was a Roman virtue that embodied modesty, chastity, and moral purity, particularly in relation to women’s sexual conduct and their role within Roman society. The concept of pudicitia was integral to the Roman moral framework, aligning with the broader societal values of honor, respect, and the preservation of familial and social reputation. Although it applied to both men and women, it was more prominently associated with women, as their sexual behavior and public behavior were seen as directly tied to the integrity and honor of the family. A woman’s pudicitia was thought to reflect the virtues of her household, and any loss of this virtue, through adultery or scandal, could bring shame upon her and her family.

In Roman society, pudicitia was closely tied to the ideal of the matrona, a married woman who embodied these values. The role of the matrona was to uphold the dignity of the family, often through her modest and restrained behavior. Pudicitia, therefore, wasn’t just about sexual chastity but also encompassed a broader sense of virtuous self-restraint and moral uprightness. This virtue was not solely about personal behavior but was also a symbol of Roman ideals of public order, respectability, and the power of women within their social roles.

The personification of Pudicitia as a goddess was another manifestation of the importance of this virtue in Roman culture. In this form, Pudicitia was depicted as a modest, dignified woman, sometimes shown with a veil or other markers of modesty. Statues of the goddess Pudicitia were often found in private homes or temples, serving as reminders of the moral obligations that individuals, particularly women, had to uphold. These statues emphasized not just personal virtue but also the need for societal harmony and moral integrity. Additionally, the Roman Senate would sometimes invoke the goddess’s name in legal and political matters, highlighting her importance as a symbol of moral governance.

Pudicitia was a complex and deeply ingrained concept in Roman society, and it was often discussed in the context of family honor, civic duty, and public morality. The preservation of pudicitia was seen as critical not only to the individual’s reputation but to the stability of Roman society itself.


Denarius | Portrait | Pudicitia | Sceptre | Veiled
Julia Maesa. Augusta
Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, 218-220 CE
AR Denarius 20mm, 2.10 g, 6h
Draped bust right /
Pudicitia seated left, about to draw veil and holding scepter.
RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus); Thirion 412; RSC 36