Rome hath no fury: a gendered analysis of Atia and Servilia in HBO/BBC’s Rome

Atia of the Julii and Servilia of the Junii reflect a number of stereotypically ‘feminine’ gendered characteristics as they have been depicted in both ancient and modern history. The HBO/BBC television series Rome relies upon historically gendered traditions of ‘a woman scorned’ and the ‘sexually corrupt and manipulative’ woman in Atia and Servilia’s depictions over the course of the series.This thesis aims to answer the question of how Atia and Servilia represent a blending of ancient and modern interpretations, and further elucidate how women of antiquity are extrapolated from their ancient characterisations and translated into a modern cinematic context.