Female use of cosmetics during the Roman Empire according to Juvenal

Abstract

The use of cosmetics by females in the Roman Empire (27 BCE - 476 CE) was a complex and contested issue. There was a wide range of opinions on the matter, from those who saw it as a sign of vanity and deceit to those who saw it as a way for women to enhance their natural beauty. This paper examines the use of cosmetics by females in the Roman Empire according to Juvenal's 'Sixteen Satires'. Juvenal was a Roman satirist who lived in the 1st century CE, and his satires provide a unique perspective on the social and cultural norms of the time. A close reading of Juvenal's 'Sixteen satires' will be done to examine his views on the use of cosmetics by females while being aware of literary biases and the voice of the poet. It will also draw on secondary scholarship on Juvenal, Roman culture, and the history of cosmetics. It is evident that Juvenal's views on the use of cosmetics by females are complex and contradictory. On one hand, he frequently condemns the practice, calling it excessive, vain, and unnatural. On the other hand, he also seems to accept, and even endorse, the use of cosmetics to a certain extent. Juvenal's satires provide a valuable lens through which to examine these different attitudes towards cosmetics. Subsequently, there can be seen a cultural expectation on Roman women to use cosmetics other than their personal preference. Moreover, there is a presence of male pressure on females to use cosmetics appropriately as they were ready with criticism for those who overdo it. Interestingly a common agreement can be identified on the fact that virtuous women must avoid the use of cosmetics. Juvenal's satires are still relevant today, as it provides an insight on how the views on the use of cosmetics are shaped by social and cultural factors.