Introduction: I, Claudia -- Ulysses in a dress : the making of a Roman first lady -- First family : Augustus' women -- Family feud : the people's princess and the women of Tiberius's reign -- Witches of the Tiber : the last Julio-Claudian empresses -- Little Cleopatra : a Jewish princess and the first ladies of the Flavian dynasty -- Good empresses : the first ladies of the second century -- The philosopher empress : Julia Domna and the Syrian matriarchy -- The first Christian empress : women in the age of Constantine -- Brides of Christ, daughters of Eve : the first ladies of the last Roman dynasty -- Epilogue.