Young Women

• Who is the kyrios in a Greek household?

  The male head of the household
• What is the responsibility of the kyrios?

  Authority over wife, children, and female relatives
• What does exposure refer to in ancient practices?


  Leaving an unwanted baby outside to die
• What is a dowry?

  Money paid to a groom by the bride's family
• Who is the kyria?

  The wife of the kyrios
• What is the role of a wetnurse in ancient Athens?

  To care for and breastfeed another woman's baby
• How were Athenian girls educated?

  Educated at home by their mothers
• What practical skills were Athenian girls expected to learn?

  Spinning, weaving, cookery, and managing finances
• What does Menander's quote suggest about women's education?

  Teaching girls to read was not common
• How did class differences affect girls' education in Athens?

  Lower-class girls had more extensive training in finances
• At what age was marriage typically arranged for Athenian girls?

  Around the age of fourteen
• How was marriage viewed in Athenian society?

  As a business deal with no romance
• What was the significance of the dowry in Athenian marriages?

  It was crucial for negotiating the marriage
• What did the dowry compensate for?

  Expenses of providing for the bride
• What was the purpose of the wedding ceremony in Athens?

  To officially unite the couple and their families
• How long did Athenian weddings typically last?

  Three days
• What did the bride do on the first day of the wedding?

  Shared a feast with female relatives and friends
• What was the significance of the bride's veil?

  It symbolized her modesty
• What did the torchlight procession symbolize?

  The bride's transition to her new household
• What was the role of the bride's attendants during the wedding night?

  To stand guard and sing songs
• What gifts were given to the bride on the final morning?

  Clothing, perfumes, jewellery, and cosmetic tools
• Why were eyewitnesses important in Athenian weddings?

  To provide evidence of the marriage's validity
• How did the Athenian government handle marriage records?

  They did not keep records of married couples
• What society is Sparta famous for being?

  Warrior society
• What was the purpose of Spartan laws and customs?

  To produce elite soldiers for military dominance
• What role did Spartan women play in their society?

  Ensured success of the militaristic system
• Who decided if a newborn baby would be accepted in Athens?

  The kyrios
• Who made the decision about newborns in Sparta?

  The Spartan elders
• What determined whether a baby was raised in Sparta?

  The sturdiness and health of the baby
• What does the lack of preference for boys over girls in Sparta suggest?

  Valued women's contributions to Sparta
• What type of training did Spartan girls engage in?

  Physical training
• According to Plutarch, why did Spartan girls undergo physical training?

  To withstand childbirth and its pains
• How did Sparta's customs regarding women differ from other Greek societies?

  They established customs to develop women's strength
• Who was the first woman victor at the ancient Olympic Games?

  Cynisca
• How did Cynisca enter the Olympic Games?

  As a trainer of horses
• What does Cynisca's participation in the Olympics indicate about Spartan values?

  They valued physical prowess in women
• How did young men and women in Sparta interact during their upbringing?

  They exercised outside and heckled each other
• What was a key difference in marriage customs between Sparta and Athens?

  Sparta had no financial aspect like dowries
• At what age did Spartan girls typically marry?

  Late teens or early twenties
• Why did Spartan girls marry later than Athenian girls?

  Older girls were thought to produce stronger children