Women in Ancient Greece
Position of women dependent on time, place and class |
| Aristocratic Athens (before mid 6th c BCE) |
| women had many of the same rights and privileges as men of their class |
| regimented barracks state |
| unending subservience to the state |
| which determined which infants lived |
| relative freedom of movement |
| management of household in absence of husband |
| an attempt to realize an ideal |
| replace bonds of fmily with loyalty to the state |
| but ultimately static and sterile |
| always under control of a male |
| father, guardian, husband |
| Citizens only for marriage and procreation |
| could not appear in law courts |
| if tried, defended by a man |
| to produce male heirs for husband's oikos 'household' |
| segregated from daily life |
| no participation in social events such as symposia |
| educated only in domestic arts and modesty |
| preparation of dead for burial |
| Religious rites and festivals |
| religion and sacrifice permeated the community |
| nearly every other day a festival |
| Thesmophoria: Demeter and Kore (Persephone) |
| Image of woman psychologically powerful |
| important female roles in drama |
Some views of Athens
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