A Glimpse Into How Women In Ancient Greece Really Lived
Ancient Greece is often celebrated for its contributions to art, science, philosophy, democracy, architecture, and more.
During this era of civilization, men held power in both the public and political spheres. In a society that was dominated by men, women found themselves confined to domestic life.
Their roles were dictated by a patriarchal system, and their daily lives were mainly tied to responsibilities within the household.
Overall, women in ancient Greece were in charge of managing the home, raising children, and overseeing slaves.
Their rights and freedom varied between different city-states and social classes. For instance, women in Sparta experienced more privileges than women in Athens.
Furthermore, women from wealthier families received a little more education than their poorer counterparts.
They might have had the chance to get some basic literacy training. Still, the bulk of their education would be restricted to domestic skills.
Across the board, women were less educated than men; they were unable to vote, could not own or inherit land, and were dependent on men for their well-being.
Women were expected to obey their male relatives, particularly their husbands and fathers. Despite these limitations, they still helped shape ancient Greek society in a multitude of ways.
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Early Years And Education
In ancient Greek society, baby boys were favored over girls. Female babies were at a higher risk of being abandoned at birth than male babies.
During the early years of their lives, all children attended school. Boys learned about mathematics, literature, poetry, writing, music, and athletics.
The curriculum for girls was similar, but more emphasis was placed on music, dancing, and how to be good mothers and wives.
Marriage
At the age of 13 or 14, young women would get married. The marriages were usually arranged by the father or the closest male relative, who would choose a husband and accept a dowry.
Women had to be faithful to their husbands, but that same faithfulness was not required from men. If a man found out that his wife was having an affair, he could kill the other man without facing any consequences.
There were three ways that a marriage could end. The first was if the husband no longer wants the woman as his wife.
The second was if the wife left the family home. And the third was if the father asked for his daughter back because a better offer for her hand in marriage had been made. This could only happen if the woman were still childless.
Home Life
Ancient Greek women undertook domestic duties and spent the majority of their time in the home. Upper-class women might participate in activities like weaving and wool-working.
They were allowed to visit female friends and attend festivities and religious ceremonies. However, contact with any males who were not relatives was frowned upon.
So, they always had a chaperone whenever they went outside. Sometimes, they weren’t allowed to leave the house at all.
In a way, poor women had more freedom than wealthy women because they had more work to do. As a result, they often left the house to make a trip down to the market or fetch some water.
Work
Lower-class women took up jobs in shops, bakeries, or in wealthy people’s homes as servants. Others served as companions and entertainment for men.
For those in the upper classes, religion offered roles outside the home. Certain women could become the high priestess of Athena or hold worship positions for Demeter, Aphrodite, and Dionysus.
Understanding the lives of women in ancient Greece allows us to see the contributions they made to society and highlights the evolution of women’s roles and rights throughout history.
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