SPARTA

• What is the modern-day capital of Greece?

  Athens
• What is the name of Homer’s prescribed Helen source?

  Iliad
• What is different about Euripides’ version of Helen compared to Homer’s?

  Euripides portrays Helen as more complex and sympathetic
• What is the term for the male guardian of an Athenian woman?

  Kyrios
• Why were baby girls at greater risk of exposure than boys in ancient Athens?

  Girls were seen as a financial burden due to dowries
• What percentage of a kyrios’ wealth was typically given as a dowry?

  Five to twenty percent
• What is a hydria?

  A water jar used in ancient Greece
• What is a wetnurse?

  A woman who breastfeeds and cares for another’s baby
• Why were wetnurses commonly used in ancient Athens?

  To allow mothers to focus on household duties
• What was the primary form of education for Athenian girls?

  Home education by their mothers
• What skills were Athenian girls typically taught at home?

  Spinning wool, weaving, and managing household finances
• At what age were Athenian girls typically married?

  Around fourteen
• Why was the dowry important in Athenian marriages?

  It compensated the groom’s family for the bride’s upkeep
• How many days did an Athenian wedding last?

  Three days
• What was the significance of the bride’s veil in Athenian weddings?

  It symbolized her modesty
• What did the bride offer to Artemis during the wedding ceremony?

  A lock of hair and childhood toys
• Why was the torchlight procession significant in Athenian weddings?

  It symbolized the bride joining her groom’s household
• What was burned at the end of the wedding procession?

  The wooden axle of the processional cart
• Why did friends stand guard outside the couple’s bedroom during the wedding night?

  To ward off evil spirits or offer moral support
• What gifts were typically given to the bride by her new family?

  Clothing, perfume, jewelry, and cosmetic tools
• Why were eyewitnesses important in Athenian weddings?

  To provide evidence of the marriage in legal disputes
• What were the key features of Athenian New Comedy?

  • Two lovers
  • A blocking character
  • A helpful servant
  • Typically ended with a wedding or happy ending
  • More realistic and "higher brow" than Old Comedy
• What were the social and economic implications of dowries in ancient Athens?

  • Dowries compensated the groom’s family for the bride’s upkeep
  • They could prevent divorce if the dowry was large
  • They were a financial burden on the bride’s family
  • They reinforced the economic dependency of women
• How did class differences impact the education of Athenian girls?

  • Upper-class girls were taught domestic skills at home
  • Lower-class girls might receive training in finances and record-keeping
  • Education was largely informal and varied by family resources
  • Literacy was rare and often discouraged for girls
• What were the symbolic elements of an Athenian wedding?

  • Offerings to Artemis, Hera, and Aphrodite
  • The bride’s veil symbolizing modesty
  • The torchlight procession symbolizing the bride’s transition
  • Burning the cart axle symbolizing permanence
• How did Athenian marriage customs reflect societal values?

  • Emphasis on family alliances and economic benefits
  • Control of women by male guardians (kyrios)
  • Symbolic rituals reinforcing gender roles
  • Limited social freedom for women
• What were the roles of women in Athenian society?

  • Managed household finances and slaves
  • Educated daughters in domestic skills
  • Participated in religious rituals and weddings
  • Lacked political and legal rights
• How did Athenian views on female literacy reflect societal attitudes?

  • Literacy was seen as unnecessary or dangerous for women
  • Education focused on domestic skills rather than intellectual pursuits
  • Menander’s quote suggests fear of educated women
  • Class differences influenced access to education
• What were the economic and social consequences of exposure in ancient Athens?

  • Reduced financial burden on families
  • Reinforced male preference in society
  • Reflected the low status of women
  • Seen as a moral and legal norm
• How did Athenian marriage rituals reinforce gender roles?

  • Bride’s transition from father’s to husband’s control
  • Symbolic acts like the veil and procession
  • Limited social freedom for women
  • Emphasis on modesty and domesticity
• What were the key differences between Old and New Greek Comedy?

  • Old Comedy: Satirical, political, and fantastical
  • New Comedy: Realistic, focused on domestic life
  • New Comedy featured two lovers and a happy ending
  • New Comedy was more "higher brow" and less crude
• How did Athenian marriage customs differ from modern practices?

  • Arranged marriages based on family alliances
  • Dowries as a financial transaction
  • Limited role for romantic love
  • Symbolic rituals emphasizing permanence and modesty
• What were the religious elements of an Athenian wedding?

  • Offerings to Artemis, Hera, and Aphrodite
  • Ritual bath and sacrifices by the bride
  • Torchlight procession to ward off evil spirits
  • Songs and prayers for fertility and protection
• How did Athenian society view the role of women in marriage?

  • Women were seen as property transferred between families
  • Their primary role was domestic and reproductive
  • Limited legal and social autonomy
  • Symbolic rituals reinforced their subordinate status
• What were the economic implications of dowries for Athenian families?

  • Dowries were a significant financial burden
  • They compensated the groom’s family for the bride’s upkeep
  • Large dowries could prevent divorce
  • They reinforced the economic dependency of women
• How did Athenian marriage customs reflect the status of women?

  • Women were under the control of male guardians
  • Marriage was a financial and social transaction
  • Limited rights and autonomy for women
  • Symbolic rituals emphasized their subordinate role
• What were the key differences in education between Athenian boys and girls?

  • Boys received formal education in various subjects
  • Girls were taught domestic skills at home
  • Literacy was rare and discouraged for girls
  • Class differences influenced access to education
• How did Athenian society view the exposure of infants?

  • Seen as a moral and legal norm
  • Reflected economic and social pressures
  • Female infants were at greater risk
  • Justified as leaving the child to the gods
• What were the key features of Athenian marriage negotiations?

  • Arranged by the bride’s kyrios
  • Focused on family alliances and economic benefits
  • Dowry as a central element
  • Betrothal considered legally binding
• How did Athenian marriage customs reflect societal values?

  • Emphasis on family alliances and economic benefits
  • Control of women by male guardians (kyrios)
  • Symbolic rituals reinforcing gender roles
  • Limited social freedom for women