Saturnalia, the topsy-turvy season, has arrived! Laughter is spilling from the atriums, as we celebrate the end of the harvest season and give thanks to Saturn for a rich bounty.
Before you recline with family and friends to enjoy the harvest’s bounty, make sure you have bought a gift for the mulier (Latin for woman) in your life! We’ve gathered a curated list of gifts to help you give a gift to delight.
The Guide
Finger Rings (Anuli)
Give her a touch of elegance with a finely crafted ring. A finger ring is both stylish and symbolic—a gift she can wear to show status.
Hair Pins
Help her keep her bun in place with decorative hair pins functioning as tools and miniature works of art. They also make for a genteel headscratcher!
Combs (Pectines)
Every Roman woman needs a fine comb, especially to both style her hair and remove head lice. An essential for keeping clean in the far flung regions of the empire!
Scented Ointments (Unguentum)
Delight her senses with ointments infused with myrrh, rose and patchouli from exotic lands. These rich oils soften skin, perfume hair and signal status! Perfect for bathing rituals, hairstyles, or adding fragrance to a banquet.
Gift Tip: Choose a vessel worthy of her elegance—blown glass, alabaster, or gold-accented jars. A present fit for the atrium’s queen.
Sources
Allason-Jones, L. (1999). Health Care in the Roman North. Britannia, 30, 133-146.
Cosano, D., et al. (2023). Archaeometric Identification of a Perfume from Roman Times. Heritage, 6 (6), 4472-4491.
Stephens, J. (2008). Ancient Roman Hairdressing: on (hair)pins and needles. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 21, 111-133.
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