classics - women in the ancient world (first booklet) Flashcards
Thesmophoria
Description: Thesmophoria was an ancient Greek festival primarily celebrated by married women in honor of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility. It was held annually in the autumn, typically in the month of Pyanepsion (October-November).
Role of Women: Women played a central role in Thesmophoria, engaging in rituals and ceremonies that focused on fertility, agriculture, and the mysteries of Demeter and Persephone. They would gather at the sanctuary of Demeter, participate in processions, make offerings of food and drink, and perform sacred rites related to fertility and the cycles of life. The festival provided an opportunity for women to express their concerns about fertility, childbirth, and the well-being of their families, as well as to strengthen bonds of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the community.
Matronalia
Description: Matronalia was a Roman festival dedicated to Juno, the goddess of marriage and childbirth, celebrated on March 1st. It honored the matrons (married women) of Rome and their role in Roman society.
Role of Women: Matronalia was a festival specifically dedicated to celebrating the virtues and responsibilities of married women in Roman society. Women would gather at home or in temples dedicated to Juno, make offerings of flowers, incense, and prayers to the goddess, and participate in feasting and festivities with their families and fellow matrons. The festival provided an opportunity for women to express gratitude for their marital status, seek blessings for their marriages and children, and affirm their roles as caretakers of the household and guardians of family honor.
Panathenaea
Description: The Panathenaea was one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Athens, dedicated to Athena, the city’s patron goddess. It was celebrated annually and consisted of two major events: the Lesser Panathenaea, held every year, and the Greater Panathenaea, held every four years.
Role of Women: Women played various roles in the Panathenaea, including participating in processions, presenting peploi (sacred robes) to Athena’s cult statue, and engaging in musical and athletic competitions such as the torch race and the weaving contest (arrhephoria). Additionally, the festival included the presentation of the Panathenaic amphorae, large ceramic vessels filled with olive oil, which were awarded as prizes to victors in the athletic contests. Women would have been involved in the preparation and decoration of these amphorae, showcasing their artistic skills and contributions to the festival.
Vestal Virgins at the Vestalia
Description: The Vestalia was an annual Roman festival dedicated to Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, held in June. It was celebrated by the Vestal Virgins, priestesses dedicated to Vesta, and marked by rituals and ceremonies aimed at honoring the goddess and ensuring the prosperity and protection of Rome.
Responsibilities: During the Vestalia, the Vestal Virgins would perform rituals and make offerings to Vesta, including the baking of mola salsa (sacred salted cakes) and the purification of Vesta’s temple and sacred hearth. Women from all walks of life would visit Vesta’s temple to make offerings and prayers for the well-being of their families and communities. The Vestalia provided an opportunity for Roman women to connect with the divine feminine and seek blessings for their households and loved ones, reinforcing the importance of the hearth and home in Roman religious practice.
Medea (origin and family)
Daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis, skilled in magic and sorcery
Wife of Jason and mother of two sons.
Aspasia (origin and family)
Born in Miletus, Aspasia became a highly respected companion of Pericles, the athenian statesman.
Livia Drusilla (origin and family)
Born into a prominent Roman family, Livia married Tiberius Claudius Nero before becoming the wife of the Emperor Augustus. Her diplomatic skills and strategic alliances helped stabilize Augustus’ reign and ensure the continuity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Cleopatra the VII
Born in Egypt became the last active ruler of the Plolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Married Julies Caesar then later Mark Antony
Penthesilea
Penthesilea was the queen of the Amazons as mythical tribe of warrior women
Pythia
High priestess of the Temple of the Apollo at Delphi
Helen of Troy
Daughter of Zeus and Leda, queen of Sparta, and famously known as the most beautiful in the world. Sister of Clytemnestra and Clastar and Pollux (helen was the wife of menelaus)
Clodia
Born into patrican Claudii family in rome. Sister of the infamous Publius Clodius Pulcher, known for hr relationships with prominent Roman figures. Her relationships with influential men like Marcus Caelius Rufus and the poet Catullus earned her a reputation as a femme fatale.
Agrippina the Younger
Origin: Born into the Julio-Claudian dynasty as the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
Family: Sister of Emperor Caligula, wife of Emperor Claudius, and mother of Emperor Nero.
Analysis: Agrippina the Younger wielded significant political influence during the reign of her husband Claudius and her son Nero. Her ambition and machinations to secure power for herself and her family, including the poisoning of Claudius and manipulation of Nero’s rise to power, earned her a notorious reputation in Roman history.
Medusa
Once a beautiful maiden, Medusa was cursed by Athena and transformed into a monstrous creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone.
Family: Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, sister to the Gorgons Stheno and Euryale.
Vestal Virgins
Chosen from noble Roman families, the Vestal Virgins served as priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.
Family: No specific familial background mentioned.
Analysis: The Vestal Virgins held a unique position of religious authority in ancient Rome. Their vow of chastity and their role in maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta symbolized purity and devotion, earning them respect and reverence within Roman society as guardians of the city’s spiritual well-being.
Camilla
Origin: Daughter of King Metabus, exiled from her homeland and raised in the wilderness.
Family: No specific familial background mentioned.
Analysis: Camilla’s legendary skill in battle and her association with the goddess Diana made her a revered figure in Roman mythology. Her prowess as a hunter and warrior, as well as her tragic death on the battlefield during the war between the Trojans and the Latins, cemented her status as a symbol of feminine strength and independence in Roman culture.
Lucretia
Character: Lucretia
Origin: Lucretia was a noblewoman in ancient Rome, known for her virtue and chastity.
Family: Wife of Collatinus, a Roman nobleman.
Story: Lucretia’s tragic tale is recounted in Roman history and literature. According to tradition, Lucretia was assaulted by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of King Tarquinius Superbus, while her husband Collatinus was away. After the assault, Lucretia informed her father and husband of what had happened and, in despair, took her own life. Her death became a catalyst for the overthrow of the Roman monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic.
Pandora
Character: Pandora
Origin: Created by the gods as the first woman, as part of the punishment of mankind.
Family: Given as a bride to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus.
Story: In Greek mythology, Pandora was given a jar (often mistranslated as a “box”) by Zeus and instructed never to open it. However, consumed by curiosity, she eventually opened the jar, unleashing all the evils and miseries of the world into the mortal realm. Only hope remained trapped inside. Pandora’s actions are often seen as the origin of human suffering.
Sabine Women
Character: The Sabine Women
Origin: In Roman mythology, the Sabine women were the daughters and wives of the Sabine men who inhabited the region around Rome.
Family: Married to Roman men after the abduction and subsequent reconciliation with their Sabine captors.
Story: The Sabine Women are central to the legendary founding of Rome. According to tradition, Rome’s first king, Romulus, abducted Sabine women to provide wives for his male citizens. This action led to a conflict between the Romans and the Sabines, which was ultimately resolved when the women intervened, pleading for peace between their Roman husbands and their Sabine fathers and brothers. The reconciliation resulted in the integration of the Sabine people into Roman society.
Attitudes Towards Women in Greece, Rome, and Sparta
Greece:
Character: Medea from Euripides’ play “Medea.”
Quote: “Stronger than lover’s love is lover’s hate. Incurable, in each, the wounds they make.” (Lines 1338-1339)
Analysis: Medea’s character challenges traditional gender roles in ancient Greece by demonstrating agency and independence through her actions, highlighting the complexities of women’s roles in Greek society.
Rome:
Character: Dido from Virgil’s “Aeneid.”
Quote: “But now, alas, the storm had struck her from above, and a raging fire consumed her unavailing heart.” (Book 4, Lines 660-661)
Analysis: Dido’s tragic fate in the “Aeneid” reflects Roman attitudes towards women as emotionally volatile and susceptible to the whims of fate and male authority, underscoring the limitations placed on women’s autonomy in Roman society.
Sparta:
Character: Gorgo, the wife of King Leonidas.
Quote: “When asked by a woman from Attica, ‘Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?’ she said, ‘Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men.’”
Analysis: Gorgo’s response reflects the unique status of Spartan women, who were valued for their role in producing strong and virtuous citizens, challenging traditional gender norms and emphasizing the importance of women in Spartan society.
Comparison of Education for Women in Greece, Rome, and Sparta
Greece (Athens):
Character: Penelope from Homer’s “Odyssey.”
Quote: “But now I am worn out with weeping.”
Analysis: Penelope’s portrayal highlights the limited educational opportunities for women in ancient Athens, where their primary role was domestic and focused on maintaining the household while their husbands were away.
Rome:
Character: Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi.
Quote: “These are my jewels.”
Analysis: Cornelia’s emphasis on the value of her children as her greatest treasures reflects Roman attitudes towards women as nurturers and guardians of the family, where their education was often centered around domestic duties and motherhood.
Sparta:
Character: Artemisia, a Spartan woman known for her wisdom and courage.
Quote: “With the shield or on it.”
Analysis: Artemisia’s famous response to Spartan mothers, emphasizing the importance of courage and valor over material possessions, reflects the emphasis on physical and martial education for Spartan women, who were expected to contribute to the defense of the state.
Portrayal of Women in Religion
Greece:
Character: Pythia, the priestess of Apollo at Delphi.
Quote: “The gods speak through her; her words are divine.” - Priest of Apollo
Analysis: This quote reflects the perception of Pythia as a vessel of divine wisdom, revered and respected by others for her role as the oracle of Delphi.
Rome:
Character: Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.
Quote: “Their purity ensures the favor of the gods.” - Roman Senator
Analysis: This quote highlights the perception of the Vestal Virgins as symbols of piety and devotion, esteemed by Roman society for their sacred duty to maintain the eternal flame of Vesta.
Comparison of Legal Rights for Women in Greece, Rome, and Sparta
Greece:
Character: Antigone from Sophocles’ play “Antigone.”
Quote: “I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me.”
Analysis: Antigone’s defiance of Creon’s decree highlights the limited legal rights of women in ancient Greece, where their actions and autonomy were often subject to the authority of male relatives or rulers.
Rome:
Character: Lucretia, whose rape led to the overthrow of the Roman monarchy.
Quote: “My body is injured, but my heart is pure; death is the remedy for both.”
Analysis: Lucretia’s tragic fate underscores the vulnerability of Roman women to the whims of men and the absence of legal protections against sexual violence, highlighting the limitations of women’s rights in Roman society.
Sparta:
Character: Helen of Sparta, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War.
Quote: “I wish that the ships might be swallowed by the waves and that I had perished before I caused such sorrow to my family and such unending sorrow to the people of Greece.”
Analysis: Helen’s remorse over the consequences of her actions reflects Spartan attitudes towards women as integral to the honor and reputation of their families and communities, where their behavior was closely regulated to uphold societal norms and values.
