Download Greek Women In Antiquity

Greek Women In Antiquity
“I would prefer to see her graceful
stride and the light in her eyes than all
the chariots owned by Lydians or the
march of their heavy-armed soldiers.”
– Sappho (female Greek poet)
Greek Men on Greek Women
 “At first, the god designed women differently:
one from the bristling sow. In her house all is a
sad jumble of mud-drenched, dirt-encrusted
objects.” (Semonides)
 “An old man should avoid the younger bride; like
a ship without control she evades anchor, slips
away from her mooring, and spends the night in
strange harbors.” (Theognis)
Three kinds of Women
Spartan
Athenian
Prostitutes & Companions
Spartan Women
 Freedom
Exercised with men
Wore minimal clothing
when working out
 Production of
manpower
Bear healthy children
Raise them with Spartan
values
The Ideal Spartan Women
Alcman (7th century Spartan poet)
A Spartan woman leader “stands out as if
amidst a herd of cattle someone placed a
sturdy horse with resounding hooves, a
winner from winged dreams.”
A Spartan woman who died in childbirth
got her name on a tombstone as a mark of
honor for her sacrifice to the state
Athenian Women
Contributed to public life
Priestess/participant in religious rites and
festivals
Private Responsibilities
Raising legitimate children
Manage family’s household
The Ideal Athenian Woman
 Stays indoors at her
own house or in the
house of her female
friends
 Supervises chores of
domestic slaves
 Gives her opinions on
matters to various
men in the household
Innovations in Athens
 Under Athenian
democracy, women could
own property
 But society still
emphasized the
household as being
headed by a propertyowning man
 Women would have a
dowry – this encouraged
marriage between persons
of similar wealth and
status
Proper Conduct, Part I
Rich Athenian women were not to socialize
or have close contact with men that were
not members of their own household or
close circle of friends. Their movement
was very restricted
Poor Athenian women had to work outside
the home – often selling bread or
vegetables in stalls in the marketplace.
Proper Conduct, Part II
 Men did not say the names of women in public
conversation or in court cases unless they were
prostitutes, or otherwise socially unacceptable
 An upper-class woman had many restrictions
placed on her behavior – she could go out to
funerals, religious festivals, childbirths, or trips to
buy shoes or clothing
Greek Sex
“Certainly you don’t think men beget
children out of sexual desire?”
- Athenian man
Spartan women were occasionally allowed
to have sex with another man, otherwise,
the penalty for an Athenian woman caught
in adultery was severe, as well as for the
male adulterer.
The Rules for Citizen Men
Citizen men could legally have sex with:
Slaves
Foreign prostitutes
Greek prostitutes
Willing pre-adult citizen males
Female slaves could not refuse their
masters
The Companions
Most expensive type of prostitute
Most could sing and play musical
instruments
Usually went to another city-state to work
Best companions could live in the lap of
luxury, made rich by their wealthy lovers