ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the depiction of female genitalia in Roman society both in the Mediterranean and the north-west provinces. It begins by outlining a number of basic premises shaping the investigation and an explanation of the central hypothesis, namely that the faithful depiction of female genitalia was a taboo in Graeco-Roman society. This is followed by two parts examining and comparing the depictions of female genitalia, first, on women in Mediterranean culture and, second, the north-western provinces. In a third part, “disembodied” symbolical depictions of female genitals and their possible use as apotropaia are discussed for both Mediterranean culture and the north-western provinces.
