A cursory glance at the Byzantine world would show women as illiterate, excluded from prominent political roles and second class citizens when compared to the positions and power held by men. Aside from the female members of the aristacy, ordinary women are often incidental in both the literature and art of the period. This book and the exhibition that it accompanied attempt to highlight the lives of these ordinary women, discussing their daily activities, their role in civic life, their piety, marriage, wifely and motherly duties, their role as healers and carers. Almost 200 objects, dating from the 4th to 15th century, from collections in North America, accompany the thematic essays, including personal items, luxury goods, utilitarian objects, religious and 'official' objects.