Eumachia

Eumachia was the public priestess of Venus (mythology) in Pompeii during the middle of the 1st Century A.D. as well as the matron of the Concordia Augustus. [ Lefkowitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome. London: Duckworth, 1982. 259. ] The Concordia Augustus was an imperial cult initiated by Livia, widow of Augustus, dedicated to the Divus Augustus, the deified emperor Augustus. [ D'ambra, Eve. Roman Women. New York: Cambridge UP, 2007. 154-155. ]

Family History and Significance

The daughter of Lucius (Eumachus), she is reported to have obtained her great wealth from the inheritance of her deceased father, a former brick-maker. Of inconsequential origin, she sought a higher social status by marrying into one of the older families of Pompeii. Eumachia was also known as the patron of the fullers, an economically significant guild in Pompeii which consisted of dyers and clothing-makers. Eumachia's importance in Roman history stems from how she is seen as a good example of how a Roman woman of non-imperial descent can become involved in public affairs. She is also viewed as a model for the increasing involvement of women in politics, using the power of a public priestess for social mobility. [ Salisbury, Joyce E. "Eumachia." Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World. Santa Barbara: Abc-Clio, 2001. ]

Euergetism

Using her wealth and status, she funded the construction of a large building next to the public forum in Pompeii. This is an example of the idea of euergetism, the socio-political phenomenon of voluntary gift-giving, which exerted an influence on the wealthy people of her time period. [ Hornblower, Simon, and Antony Spawforth, eds. "Pompeii." Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. ] The presumed use of this building is to serve as the headquarters for the fullers’ guild, although its exact use is uncertain. She dedicated this building, known as the Building of Eumachia, to the Concordia Augusta and to the Pietas. In addition, statues of Tiberius, the emperor during her life, and Livia, his mother, were found on this inside, along with inscriptions on the outside of the building which included dedications to them. Finally, she dedicated the building to her son, Marcus Numistrius Fronto. . [ Lefkowitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome. London: Duckworth, 1982. 259. ]

The Statue of Eumachia

In response to her generosity, and symbolic of her power and social status, the fullers built a statue depicting Eumachia in the veiled form of a priestess. They inscribed into its foundation a dedication. The rough translation of this inscription is: “to Eumachia, daughter of Lucius, public priestess of Pompeian Venus, from the fullers.” [ Boatwright, Mary T., Daniel J. Gargola, and Richard J. Talbert. A Brief History of the Romans. New York: Oxford UP, 2006. 217. ] In addition, another inscription relating to Eumachia found in the Corpus Inscriptionem Latinarum states: "EVMACHIAE L F SACERD PVLD FVLLONES,” roughly relating to her status as the patron of the fullers. [ CIL, vol. X, no. 813; Pompeii, first century A.D. ]

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