Women in Ancient Greece
Women's role in Greece can be seen when one first begins to do research on the subject. The subject of women in Greece is coupled with the subject of slaves. This is the earliest classification of women in Greek society. Although women were treated differently from city to city the basic premise of that treatment never changed. Women were only useful for establishing a bloodline that could carry on the family name and give the proper last rites to the husband. However, women did form life long bonds with their husbands and found love in arranged marriages.Women are "defined as near slaves, or as perpetual minors" in Athenian society (The Greek World, pg. 200). For women life didn't extend far from the home, which was thought to be their sole realm of existence. Though they ranked higher than slaves did, they were treated in many of the same ways. Just like slaves, their mothers trained women as adolescents what their domestic duties were. They were secluded from all males, including those in their family. They lived in gynaikeion, which were women's apartments in Athens (Daily Life in Greece, pg. 55). They were kept at home where they were taught the proper manners and duties of a desirabl
All this aside, love was abundant in Greek society. Although love was never a determining factor in marriages, a lifelong bond and devotion developed between a couple as the years passed. "We know that the Greeks of the fifth and fourth century used the word eros (love) to describe the passion linking a husband and his wife" (Daily Life in Greece, pg. 58). There are many instances in myth and history where husbands and wives in Greek society have sacrificed themselves for the sake of the other. They were bonded together by their love of their family and by their dedication to each other through their family. Women were dedicated to the happiness of their husband and the well being of their children. Men were dedicated to providing for and supporting their family and raising noteworthy children. These common goals brought together the husband and wife like never before. It was this bond that sparked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to one another and the growth of their love for one another.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Ancient Greece, Life Greece, , Basically Athenians, Greek World, Moreover Athenian, SOCIETY Women, greece pg, everyday life, ancient greece, life ancient, everyday life ancient, CE Robinson, Life Ancient, life ancient greece, Sally Humphreys, ancient greece pg, daily life, life greece, daily life greece, life greece pg, greek society, husband wife, greek world, society women,
Approximate Word count = 1195
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
