Under Roman law the male head of the family owned his wife and his children. A father could sell his daughters into marriages and only a husband had the right to seek divorce. Even a wealthy, old widow needed a male to supervise her finances. Women were not allowed to own property, hold office and respectable women were not even suppose to be wandering around alone outside. In the early days of the Republic women were not even allowed to make suggestions. .
Whether the role of women is defined by the Hebrew scripture or Roman law, statuses given to women are similar in both societies. The treatment seems to convey that women are socially insignificant. According to the Hebrews women are sinful and impure thus can not achieve salvation. In Rome, women are viewed as unintelligent and child-like; incompetent to achieve political or military success. .
It is very difficult to generalize the status of women in the ancient civilizations where theory and practice were often different. The role of women in ancient Hebrew society improved slightly during a period in history as the Babylon Captivity. According to Sherman, in 587 B.C., Babylonian captured Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon's magnificent temple. Many Jews were exiled and enslaved in Babylon. The experience of exile strengthened the family as a social and religious unit. As a result women presided over the household, upholding the dietary laws and household rituals that preserved the Jewish culture (33).
Besides following the Ten Commandment, the Torah set out many other law obeyed by the Hebrews. Some laws were meant to protect women. The Ten Commandment, for example, made respect for mothers a basic law. Early in Hebrew history, a few women leaders, such as the judge Deborah, won honor and respect. .
Similarly, in Rome women in a male-dominated world is mostly admired in the traditional roles of wife and mother. A woman had power in her ability to influence and pass onto her children.