athens

• at what age did athenian girls have to marry?

  14
• how old were potential suitors?

  middle age
• what was a dowry?


  a payment of the bride's family to the groom's
• what was a benefit of a dowry?

  if the wife was returned so was the dowry
• how long did wedding festivities last?

  3 days
• day one:


  • the girl would write a letter to artemis, sending her a lock of her hair and her childhood teddy (symbolising her journey into womanhood)
  • there was a feast
• day two:


  • the bride would have a ritual bath
  • dressed fancily (with jewellry)
  • feast with both families
  • torchlight procession (to ward off evil spirits)
  • groom dragged bride away from her family
  • put her in a cart which was burned after their journey to his house
  • spent the night *together* with people outside the door
• day three:


  gifted jewels from new hubby's family