Greek Culture

• What did the Greeks think made a woman a good wife?


  If she was silent and obedient
• How old were Greek girls expected to be when they married?

  14 or 15 years old
• How old were Athenian men expected to be when they married?


  Around 30 years old
• What were Hetaeri?

  The Greek equivalent of a courtesan. They were often skilled in conversation, music, dancing, and overall entertainment
• Where had most of the Hetaeri come from?


  Persia or Northeast Africa
• What were concubines?


  They were the side-girlfriend of an Athenian man and were treated as his wife in every way but name
• What was the role of a Greek man's wife?


  To provide him with children
• What was an Oikonomikos?


  A manual instructing Greek women on how to be good housewives. It outlined that the wife should look after the slaves, manage the budget, and make clothes for herself and her husband
• How did Medea describe the dowry?


  An "extravagant sum"
• How much was a dowry worth?


  5-20% of a person's wealth
• How did Phaedron describe men who sought unmarried women from wealthy families?


  "A slave of his marriage bed, having sold his body for a dowry
• What happened to Spartan boys who were deemed unworthy?


  They were left to die.
• Why did Spartan men wear red cloaks?


  To convey the appearance of strength since the red would mask the blood if they were cut
• Why were Spartan girls better educated than Athenian girls?


  The Spartans believed they needed fit and strong women to produce fit and strong children
• What happened to a Spartan boy if his body was not well-toned?


  He was beaten
• Why did Spartan men only meet their wives at night?


  So that the marriage didn't get boring
• What was a Spartan man's duty?

  To die for Sparta
• How old were Spartan women when they got married and had children?


  18 or 19
• What was the name of the lover (older one) in a pederastic relationship?


  Erastes
• What was the name of the beloved (younger one) in a pederastic relationship?

  Eronemos
• What would the erastes give the eronemos?


  An education in subjects such as philosophy, politics, business and rhetoric
• What would the eronemos provide for the erastes?


  Interfemural sex
• What was a Symposium?


  Greek dinner party for men
• Why were sexual relationships between two men problematic in Greek society?

  Only the passive one in the relationship would be viewed as having given up his masculinity