Young Women (Greece) Flashcards
1
Q
How were women treated from birth in Athens?
A
- controlled by the Kyrios from birth
- decides if baby is kept or left to die to exposure
- baby girls were more likely to be exposed (greater financial strain on family- they did not work)
- poorer Athenian families exposed girls
- chaperones/ handmaids to be witnesses to evey action
2
Q
How were women educated in Athens?
A
- educated at home by mother
- learns practical domestic skills to be a good kyria
- weaving, spinning wool, cookery, managing the household finances and slaves
- was not the norm to teach reading and writing
- men viewed literate women as dangerous
- lower class girls take active role in family business had more extensive training in finances and record keeping
3
Q
How would an Athenian girl be betrothed?
A
- married into other family
- kyrios pays dowry to her husband’s family
- married at the start of puberty
- husband decides husband, usually a friend or business associate
4
Q
How would a dowry work?
A
- 5-20% of kyrios’ total weath
- larger dowry = more powerful potential husbands
- protected wife from being divorced, needed to be paid back if divorced
- encouraged men to not mistreat their wives
- conpensates the inevitable expense from wife during their time together
5
Q
What event is depicted on the lekythos that was attributed to the Amasis painter?
A
- groom diving cart to his house
- dragging away bride from mother
- symbolises officially leaving childhood behind and becoming a part of groom’s household
6
Q
What would the first day of an Athenian wedding be like?
A
- bride joined by female realtives and friends
- have a feast
- make sacrifices to Artemis for thanking protection during childhood
- pray for continued protection in womanhood
- offer childhood toys + lock of hair
- may have made offerings to Hera (goddess of marriage) + Aphrodite
7
Q
What would the second day of an Athenian wedding be like (up to the torchlight procession
A
- ritual bath for the bride = purifies her + enhance fertility
- dressed in finest jewellry + clothes + veil - symbolises modesty
- kyrios would hold wedding + feast in home for both families + close friends
- fine food, plenty of wine, music, entertainment
- torchlight procession would begin
8
Q
What happens during the torchlight procession in the second day of an Athenian wedding?
A
- groom drags bride from mother
- puts her in a cart
- takes her to his house
- symbolises officially leaving behind childhood + being a member of the groom’s household
- torches lit to ward off evil spirits
- men would sing wedding songs with musicians
- women would throw fruit + flowers - symbolises fertility
9
Q
What happens after the torchlight procession in the second day of an Athenian wedding?
A
- wooden axle of processional cart was burned
- symbolises no returning back to old household
- couple goes back to bedroom decorated with flowers, spend night together
- friends stand guard outside, sing songs and banging on the door
- prevents evil spirits from cursing marraige
- offers moral support for bride
10
Q
What happens during the third day of an Athenian wedding?
A
- bride’s female attendants + some male guests would still be outside of room
- celebrants sing wedding songs
- bride gets gift from new family
- gifts could include clothing, perfumes, jewellery + cosmetic tools
11
Q
How were women treated from birth in Sparta?
A
- decision of exposing baby = discussed by spartan elders
- no preference of gender
- health of baby is most important (no deformities/ weakness)
- suggests women’s contributions were valued in Sparta
12
Q
How were girls educated in Sparta?
A
- physical training just like boys to withstand child bearing
- rejected traditional greek views of women
- encourgage physical excellence from women + men
13
Q
Who was the first women to win the ancient Olympic games?
A
- Cynisca - a Spartan woman
- any freeborn male Greek could participate
- entered as trainer of horses, her horses won
- Spartans valued physical prowress in women
held every 4 years
14
Q
How were girls in Sparta bethrothed?
A
- boys and girls had ample opportunities to interact
- exercise in full view of each other
- girls encouraged to heckle boys
- praise ones that did well in training
- insult lazy/ inept boys
- highly unlikely that brides were strangers to their grooms
- unclear how marriages are arranged -> parents probably had some say in it
- married in late teens - early 20s
- believed that girls in physical prime would produce stronger children + more likely to survive childbirth
15
Q
How were girls in Sparta married?
A
- hair cut short like a man’s + wear man’s clothes + sandals
- lie waiting on floor of husband’s bedroom
- groom had dinner as usual in syssition (barracks mess hall) + gone to bed as usual
- during night would sneak out to bride’s house
- carry her to bed and consummate marraige (intercourse)
- return to barracks to sleep with comrades
- continued into married life
man retires from army, aged 30+ would move in with wife + children
