Each of the ancient Roman matronae was given, from the sources available to us, a
special type of praise: Lucrezia the modesty, to Marzia gravity, the ardor of married Porcia,
a sober “festevolezza” to Claudia, to Giulia the grace. One of “Cornelia” is praised
- XVII -
for the strength and generosity of spirit, the other for the sweetness of manners and
words. Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, is described by Tacitus as an example of the
ideal mother, who raises “good children”. As this pattern of mother has influenced the
later sources? And until this female model is exploited? How real was the influence of
the matronae on the education of their children? Considerations slip of the concept of
motherhood by the testimony of Tacitus “revised” by Saint Jerome.
