Claudia Quinta Bringing the Goddess Cybele to Rome

From the Getty Museum record

Infamous for her heavy makeup and beautiful clothing, Claudia Quinta was deemed dishonorable and unchaste by her fellow matrons of Rome. Yet, when ordered alongside the other married women to welcome the statue of the mother of the gods when it was brought into shore, Claudia alone was able to help the ship carrying the sculpture when it ran aground. Committing a prayer to the goddess first, Claudia had the ship tied to her sash, and she was miraculously able to pull the ship in. In the image, it is unclear whether the artist has captured this detail exactly or simply opted to show Claudia pulling the ship in with a rope. Claudia was deemed both honorable and chaste after her feat, having been blessed by the goddess. The women who were her detractors can be seen in both the foreground and background, gesturing towards the elaborately gowned Claudia as though in deep discussion.