Non Tristis Torus et Tamen Pudicus: The Sexuality of the Matrona in Martial

Abstract

The longstanding ideal of the virtuous matrona whose mores stood in stark contrast to those of the meretrix, continued to be espoused in the late 1st century and early 2nd century AD by moralists and in Imperial propaganda. But there had long been an ever-increasing gap between theory and practice, and the austere, asexual matrona was probably a rarity in real life. Moralists reacted to the sexualisation of the matrona by presenting the development in entirely negative terms, and it has been argued that Martial belongs in this category, invariably attacking sexually responsive women and reserving praise only for those who conform to the time-honoured ideal. This article suggests that although Martial adopts the official attitude of his imperial patrons by condemning adultery, he nonetheless welcomes the sexualisation of the matrona within her own marriage. This modern matrona, who is faithful to her husband while at the same time providing him with pleasures conventionally associated with the meretrix, is a new paradigm for the matrona of Martial's day and one which would doubtless have been popular with the majority of his readers.