The thesis is presented in four chapters. Chapters One to Three discuss three key areas in which professional female musicians found employment; in the home, in the community, and in association with the public stage. Chapter Four considers professional female musicians collectively, and seeks to provide a preliminary overview of this group’s demographic composition and socio-economic position. The areas covered in this chapter have relatively limited direct evidence from primary sources, yet much can be surmised by considering the broader Roman context. Ultimately, this thesis seeks not only to question the role of professional female musicians in Roman Italy, but challenge our understanding of Roman musical culture.