In the teeming markets and cobbled streets of Ancient Rome, where the thrum of the empire pulsed strongest, two women carved their names into the annals of commerce and industry, challenging the era’s traditional gender roles.

Back then, societal norms largely confined women to private spaces, where they were expected to be custodians of the home but as the empire grew, so too did the opportunities for women to engage in trade and business. Indeed, the imperial period saw a gradual increase in the rights of women, especially in the economic domain, allowing them to own property, run businesses, and sometimes act independently of their male guardians.