Caedicia Victrix, a successful businesswoman

We are inclined to think that businesswomen are something belonging to the very recent history. A phenomenon started from the USA to reach Europe and then Italy not so long ago.

But it is not like that.

During first century AD Caedicia Victrix was one of the most important wine trader in the Mediterranean Sea as it is attested by her many sigils found on broken amphoras all around its coasts in Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Northern Africa.

Caedicia lived in Pompei, which was the most important and active Mediterranean wine market. It hosted more than 200 taverns (tabernae) and perhaps even more brothels (lupanari). To understand the importance of wine for the ancient port of Pompei before its destruction by an eruption of the Vesuvio, just think that 29 out of the 31 villas discovered by archaeologists belonged to families working in the wine market.

Historical evidence shows that Caedicia produced Falerno, the most appreciated wine in ancient Rome. She sold it in the Caediciae Tabernae along Via Appia, but, as we already said, she also exported it in all the Roman Empire.