Motherhood in Antiquity

"This is a fascinating and much-needed contribution to the study of motherhood, with remarkable interdisciplinary and international appeal. The broad geographical scope of these essays, from Mesoamerica and Egypt to India, is an excellent corrective to the usual focus on European mothers. Motherhood in Antiquity is an important step towards viewing motherhood as a global phenomenon." (Katarzyna Kosior, University of Southampton)

This edited collection examines concepts and realities of motherhood in the ancient world. While covering a wide geographical range, the editors arranged the collection thematically to explore themes including the relationship between the mother, particularly ruling mothers, and children and the mother in real life and legend.

This edited collection examines concepts and realities of motherhood in the ancient world. The collection uses essays on the Roman Empire, Mesoamerica, the Philippines, Egypt, and India to emphasize the concept of motherhood as a worldwide phenomenon and experience. While covering a wide geographical range, the editors arranged the collection thematically to explore themes including the relationship between the mother, particularly ruling mothers, and children and the mother in real life and legend. Some essays explore related issues, such as adaptation and child custody after divorce in ancient Egypt and the mother in religious culture of late antiquity and the ancient Buddhist Indian world. The contributors utilize a variety of methodologies and approaches including textual analysis and archaeological analysis in addition to traditional historical methodology.