Women of legend Flashcards
Pandora - Greek
The first woman.
Created by the Gods to punish mankind for receiving the gift of fire.
Name means all gifts.
Her gifts made her beautiful, desirable and dangerous.
Was originally given to the titan Epimetheus.
Brought a pithos (large jar) with her.
The large jar contained all the evils that would plague mankind.
Helen of Troy - Greek
Spartan
Daughter of Zeus and the mortal Leda
Known for being the most beautiful woman in the world
Everyone wanted to marry her
Chose to marry Menelaus (prince of Mycenae)
Had a daughter called Hermione
Was kidnapped by Paris of Troy (according to some version)
Caused the Trojan War
Sabine Women - Roman
In ‘A History of Rome’ by Livy
Early days of Rome.
Of the Italian race the Sabines.
Romans invited the Sabine to a festival.
Were kidnapped and taken to Rome to increase the population (as there were very few women in Rome at the time).
Stopped their husbands and fathers from fighting each other.
Tarpeia
Allowed the Sabine army into Rome in exchange for what they had on their arms.
Crushed to death by the Sabine army’s shields which were thrown onto her as they entered the city.
Can be perceived as a traitor or hero.
Tarpeian rock was named after her - traitors were thrown off it.
Lucretia - Roman
Upper class Roman woman - Patrician class
‘Perfect’ example of good female virtue.
Married to Collatinus.
Contest to find the most virtuous wife
- Was working at her loom into the night whilst the wives of the princes were having fun
- A sign of obedience and hard work
- Was declared most virtuous
- This impressed Sextus Tarquinius Superbus - Son of the king (Priscus)
Tarquinius rapes Lucretia
- He went to Collatinus’ house when he was away
- He was shown to a guest room
- He went to Lucretia’s room when he thought that everyone else was asleep
- He threatened to kill her if she said anything then confessed his love whilst threatening her
- Lucretia refused to have sex with him and says she would rather die
- Tarquinius then threatens to kill her and a servant and say they were sleeping together to threaten her reputation, forcing her to do it
Lucretia’s suicide
- Afterwards, Lucretia asked for her father and husband to return and told them what happened
- She then said she would pay the price, which was death
- Her husband and father said she didn’t have to as she had not done so willingly but Lucretia insisted as she did not want to be used an excuse for future women
The men present at the suicide vowed to seek revenge.
They took Lucretia’s body to the forum and told the people what had happened and urged the men to rise up against the king.
When the king found out, he and his family escaped into exile.
Prescribed Source
Hesiod - Works and Days, 54-105
Greek - Pandora Date: c. 700 BC Author: Hesiod Genre: Didactic poetry Significance: tells the story of Pandora, the first woman
Prescribed Source
Homer - Illiad, 3. 121-180
Greek - Helen of Troy
Date: Unknown - first written down c. 8th century BC
Author: Homer
Genre: Epic poetry
Significance: Oldest story in Western literary canon + tells the story of the Trojan Warr
Prescribed Source
Euripides - Helen 1-67
Greek - Helen of Troy Date: c. 412 BC Author: Euripides Genre: Tragic drama (play) Significance: A creative retelling of the story of Helen by one of Athens' preeminent tragedians
Prescribed Source
Livy - History of Rome
Roman -
The Sabine Women - 1. 9-10
Tarpeia - 1. 12-13
Lucretia - 1. 57-59
Date: 1st century BC
Author: Livy
Genre: History
Significance: An important work of history to the Romans - told their national stories
Menelaus
Helen’s first husband
Prince of Mycenae
King of Sparta
Paris
Prince of Troy
Kidnapped Helen
Helen’s second husband
Xenia
KEY THEME
Hospitality given unconditionally to a traveller
Involves the giving of any help needed
Also known as ‘guest friendship’
