women Flashcards
autonomy of imperial women?
persepolis fortification tablets attest to the fact that women travelled, had their own work forces and authorised transactions/issued orders
perhaps having people ‘assigned’ to them does not automatically suggest they held authority over those people - in her name but not following her instructions?
evidence suggests high quantities of rations being dispensed and accounting being completed
IRDABAMA’s SEAL appears on several documents f orders, sometimes only hers (seal carries enough authority to authorise)
princesses also issued rations - suggesting organising their own events - mostly attested for women very close to the king
were persian courtly women secluded?
Plutarch in life of themistokles - suggests as much
cannot identify within the palace archeology a space which clearly functioned as a haram or just for women - does not mean there was no physical/social separation
women were allowed to attend drinking and dining events as guests - unlike the greek symposium which is distinctly male
contrasting occurrence of persian women in art with elamite tradition
not prominent in persian royal inscription art - this is not just a standard of the time situation
elamite feature their royal women pretty frequently in their inscriptions - persians seem to lean mesopotamian in the lack of women in art
