Women in the home

• How is female virtue presented in Athens?

  A quote by thehistorian,Thucydides:´[the] greatest [glory] will be hers who is least talked of among the men´>> importance ofmodesty>> an ideal woman did not involve herself in thepublic spheresof politics, culture or war>> her place was in thehomeand her greatestglorycould be won by simplyavoiding criticism
• What was the most important duty of an Athenian kyria and why?

  producing asonto be theheirto the kyrios´ property
• A: What was the female head of the household called?

  kyria
• A: What was an unmarried girl referred to as?

  parthenos, meaning virgin
• A: What was a married woman who had lost her virginity called?

  nymphe, meaning bride
• A: What was a woman called once she had a baby?

  gyne, meaning wife-considered a fully grown woman
• A: Why was it so important to produce a legitimate heir?

  -toinheritand carry on the family´swealthandlegacy-boys could work >>financial security
• A: Evidence showing that women were greatly valued for their ability to produce children (prescribed source)

  -The number of women´sgrave markersthat reference childbirth-Grave markers would be placed along the side of roadsnear city gates wherepassers-bywouldlearnabout the deceased-As such, they would showvirtues/achievementsof the diseased>> shows the amount ofhonourplaced on women who had children as it was displayed on their grave markers for many to see

  e.g.The grave stele of Ampharete
• A: How does the grave stele of Ampharete show female virtue and how bearing children was an important duty for Athenian women?


  -astelecommemorating the life and death of an Athenian woman-depicts a grandmother holding her grandchild

  -she islooking down at the baby, showing herself being a goodkyria, despite it being her grandchild >> not drawing attention to herself

  -theframearound her and the child, implies that she is in thehousehold>> ideal for a woman

  -the fact a stele was made of her, although she is not the mother of the child, shows how she is beingidolisedand should beadmired by other women

  
• How did many women and children die in Athens?

  in childbirth
• A: Why was infertility an issue?

  Why would a kyria feel pressure because of this? What is some evidence for this?

  -asproducing children was seen to be the wife´s main duty, there was a great deal of anxiety around the issue of infertility

  -a kyria felt pressure to have children to provide alegitimate heirto inherit the wealth and legacy of the kyrios

  -In one of hiscomedies,Aristophanesdepictsthe story of a woman who had been unable to conceive andtricked her husband into believing that she was in labour>> although this is a comedy,jokes are often rooted in the truth. we might easily imagine the scenario considering thepressuremany women may have felt to provide children for their husbands
• A: What would women do if they could not have children?

  - use remedies such asfragrancesandointments- spend the night at theshrineofAsclepius(god of medicine) inEpidauros- trade in theblack markete.g. in Aristophanes´ comedy
• What was the responsibility of the kyria in society?

  Where was their place in society?

  -the smooth running and management of the household

  Athenian writerXenophon,´Oeconomicus´:´For the wife, it is more noble to remain inside than outdoors´>> women had to stay in theprivate sphereof the household and do their duties
• State the duties of the kyria from the source ´Oeconomicus´ by the Athenian writer Xenophon

  -Xenophon states all the duties of a kyria to achieve the ultimateself-sufficiencyof the household:-The organisation and use ofresources>> resourcesfinancedaccordingly, must ensure abalance>> level of education in arithmetict

  -Making clothes´when wool is brought to you´>> spinning, weaving, sewing

  -´You must see that all the members of the household who fall ill are cared for´>> all members of the householdrelyon her
• What was the main way an Athenian woman could boost the honour and reputation of the household?


  upholdingself-sufficiencyof the household
• How else could the kyria increase the wealth of the household?


  -to train/teach theslavesin the household her skills (e.g. weaving)>> more people making the household asself-sufficientas possible>> taking something valueless and making them useful
• Why was the role of the kyria important and honourable for an Athenian woman?


  -they were upholding the Athenianethosofself-sufficiency-so had an important role in society as thefunctionalityandhonourof a household relied on them
• What was the greek home called?

  oikos
• What was a

  gynaeceum?Where was it located in the house?-a room in an Athenian household in which thefemalemembers of the household wouldworkandstay(e.g. weaving, looking after the children)-at the back of the house or upstairs
• What was an

  andron?Where was it located in the house?-a room reserved formentorelaxin and havedrinking partiesknown assymposia-the only room in the house that was well decorated-by the front door of the house
• With particular reference to the male and female quarters, what reasons do you think account for the layout of an Athenian house?

  - theandronis located at thefront/centreof the house>> symbolised the andron and consequently men being the mostimportantpart of the household>> closer to thepublic sphere

  - kitchen located next to the andron>> easy to get food and drink

  -gynaeceumlocated at thebackof the house orupstairs>> out of the way>> above the andron so women would have to be silent to remain unseen
• What freedoms did Athenian women have?

  Expression:-Athenian women learntspinning, weaving, sewingetc. as part of their duty as a kyria. This would give women the freedom ofcreative expression

  Control over the household (to some extent):-The kyria would be in charge of the householdresources and finance

  Dress:-were allowed and expected to dress nicely e.g. Grave stele of Hegeso
• What freedoms did Athenian women

  nothave?Complete control over the household:-Although the kyria had authority over certain members of the household (e.g. children, slaves), she was under theauthority of her husbandand had toobey his orders. Any orders she gave could beoverturnedby thekyrios

  Owning property/wealth:-Athenian women could not buy or sell land, and could not personally own property of any real value-Women not allowed to inherit-There were laws that restricted how much money the kyria was allowed to spend

  Movement:-The kyria was expected to spend most of her time in thehouseholdin thegynaeceum, in theprivate sphere-They were not allowed to be amongst the men in thepublic sphere-The kyria would not be allowed to leave the house without amale escort-Women were also not allowed to attend asymposium

  Dress:-had to dress modestly, cover their hair etc
• Describe the clothing and presentation of Athenian women from the grave stele of Hegeso (prescribed source)

  -Athenian women tookgood care of their looks

  -This can be seen on thegrave stele of Hegeso>>she is opening a jewellery box given to her by a slave girl– shows how women would adorn themselves withjewellery

  >>wearing a veil– shows themodestyof Athenian women

  >>frame around her– shows her time spent in theprivate sphereas a good kyria

  
• Why were the laws surrounding adultery so severe in Athens?

  one of the main reasons for marriage was to have legitimate heirs
• A: What happened if a woman committed adultery?

  -If caught, the husband waslegally allowed to kill her lover-lover could be made to pay alarge fineand bepublicly humiliated-The woman´s husband woulddivorceher immediately and keep herdowry-She would be barred from joining inpublic religious festivalsfor fear she might corrupt other women>> severe punishment as festivals like theThesmophoriawere one of the only times women had a lot of freedom
• A: How did the rules of adultery differ for men?

  -men were free to engage in sexual activity outside of their marriages

  -as long as they did not seduce another married woman or the unmarried daughter of an Athenian citizen

  >> was legally allowed to be killed by the woman´s husband
• How easy was it for a woman in Athens to get a divorce?

  -it wasdifficultfor a woman in Athens to get a divorceThis is shown through an extract inPlutarch´s´Life of Alcibiades´:

  - when Alcibiades´ wife attempts to divorce him, he seizes and carries her off and it is said that´no man dared to approach him or take her from him´>> shows how men hadtotal controlover their wives, and this wasacceptedby society

  -´on her appearing publicly to do this´>> women were meant to stay in thehousehold, but the law of divorce required apublic appearanceso she may belooked down uponby other Athenians
• A: How would women become slaves?

  -prisoners of war

  -captured by pirates

  -born

  -exposed baby found by slave dealer
• What were the main jobs of an Athenian female slave?


  Prostitution or domestic work
• Why was being a female slave in Athens difficult?

  -no hierarchy or status >> a slave-girl would live with no incentive other than serving their master

  -rare chance of freedom >> masters expected their slaves to remain in perpetual servitude and be passed onto their heirs

  -no chance to marry
• How would an Athenian woman feel about her role as a kyria?


  -the role of a kyria broughtextreme honourandgloryon an Athenian woman as they were upholding the Athenianethosofself-sufficiency- therefore had animportantrole in society as thefunctionalityandhonourof a householdreliedon them
• How is female virtue presented in Sparta?

  An extract fromPlutarch´s´Moralia´:A Spartan woman burying her son. An old woman pities her, but she says that it was´good luck´and´gave birth to him so that he would die for Sparta´

  >> A woman´s purpose was to give birth to children who wouldhonour Sparta>>Statecomes before family/motherhood>> Showsdevotionof Spartan women to their city
• What was the most important duty of a Spartan woman?

  How was this presented to be important in Spartan society?

  -Bearing children

  -No Spartan woman could be commemorated with agrave markeruntil she had borne children-All theeducationfor women was to producestrong and healthy babiesfor the state-Spartan women would bear children until they wereno longer fertile
• In Sparta, sex with multiple partners was not really considered adultery at all. Why was this?

  -spartan society valuedservice to the statemost

  -adultery did not hinder the state, but did more to help the state by producingchildren

  -role of the woman was to producehealthy children,notlegitimate heirs

  -all male children sent off at an early age formilitary education(agoge), reducing the importance of which family you belonged to
• Why was legitimacy less important in Sparta?

  Evidence showing the purpose and benefits of polyandry in Sparta

  -all male children sent off at an early age formilitary education(agoge), reducing the importance of which family you belonged to-less concerned about producing amale heirto continue thelegacyof the family

  
  

  -A quote fromXenophonsays:´if an old man had a young wife he would bring in his house a man whosebody and mind he admiredfor thepurpose of bearing children´>> shows how legitimacy does not matter>> shows the importance of health in the process >> not for sexual gratification>> purpose only to bear healthy children
• What were women not expected to do in Sparta and why?

  -not expected towork woolandstay indoors>>self-sufficiencyless important-they believed that theirslavesshould do this work
• What were the main duties of Spartan women?

  -focussing onphysical training-managing thehouseholdand itsfarm(kleros)-upholding the Spartanethos-bearing children until she was no longer fertile
• Why did Spartan women continue to train after they were married?

  so they could maintain theirgood healthin order to bear healthy children for Sparta until they wereno longer fertile
• What is a

  kleros?farm

  spartan women were responsible for the management of their family´s kleros