Women's role in 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 des
Daily Life in Greece; Robert Flaceliere. 1959. Pages 55-83. The Family, Women and Death; Sally Humphreys. 1983. Pages 33 - 79. Most importantly the Athenian women were seen as "fine upstanding matrons" fit to bear a race of excellent athletes" (Everyday Life in Ancient Greece, pg. 86). An Athenian man married primarily to have children. These children were expected to care for him in his old age, but more importantly to bury him with the "full appropriate rites" (Daily Life in Greece, pg. 57). Moreover, Athenian men married to have male children in order to perpetuate the family line and guarantee him honors when he died. It was also a large disgrace for a man to be unmarried. Basically, Athenians married not out of love for each other, but for religious and social convenience.
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Ancient Greece, Life Greece, , Basically Athenians, Greek World, Moreover Athenian, SOCIETY Women, greece pg, life ancient, ancient greece, everyday life, everyday life ancient, Sally Humphreys, Life Ancient, life ancient greece, CE Robinson, ancient greece pg, daily life, life greece, daily life greece, life greece pg, greek society, society women, husband wife, pg 82,
Approximate Word count = 1226
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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