Discussion of Julia Domna and wife of Argentocoxus

Cassius Dio tells about an interesting discussion between the wife of Septimius Severus – Julia Domna, and taken captive wife of the Caledonian chieftain, Argentocoxus, which is not known from the name. The conversation was supposed to take place during the emperor’s military campaign in the north of Britain.

The Empress, proud of the moral principles that Roman women adhered to, was to allow herself to joke about freedom in sexual relations in Britain. Barbarian chief’s wife replied: “We fulfill the demands of nature in a much better way than do you Roman women; for we consort openly with the best men, whereas you let yourselves be debauched in secret by the vilest”. This was the response of the Caledonian woman.