Cy apres sensuit de semiramire feme messane · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Cy apres sensuit de semiramire feme messane
Period: 1400-1450;
Geographic: Ancient Rome; Italy
Description: Despite having been a prostitute, Soaemias of Emesa rose to high status as she was the mother of Emperor Elagabalus. Her significance amongst the Roman people were high as she was given the title of Augusta and she was invited by her son to join meetings of the Senate, which had previously never had a woman in attendance. This image depicts Soaemias wearing a red dress and sitting in a large chair with a book in front of her. She is surrounded by Roman matrons who are either reading books or standing by Soaemias’s side.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:25656
Language: frm
Source Name: Livre que fist Jehan BOCACE de Certalde des cleres et nobles femmes, lequel il envoia à Audice de Accioroles de Florence, contesse de Haulteville [Book from Giovanni Boccaccio of Certaldo called the cleric and noble women, of which he sent to Audice Accioroles of Florence, Countess of Haulteville]
Parent Collection: 1401 Florence; 1401 Florence
Image: mta_25656_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Soaemias; Emperor Elagabalus; Important Women; Famous Women; Prostitution