Greek Women In Antiquity

1. 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)

2. 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)

3. Three kinds of Women • Spartan • Athenian • Prostitutes & Companions

4. Spartan Women • Freedom Exercised with men Wore minimal clothing when working out • Production of manpower Bear healthy children Raise them with Spartan values

5. 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

6. Athenian Women • Contributed to public life Priestess/participant in religious rites and festivals • Private Responsibilities Raising legitimate children Manage family’s household

7. 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

8. Innovations in Athens • Under Athenian democracy, women could own property • But society still emphasized the household as being headed by a property-owning man • Women would have a dowry – this encouraged marriage between persons of similar wealth and status

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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