4.22 Women in Ancient Greece

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be a woman in ancient Greece? Come and learn about their roles in society and at home, a typical outfit, and some famous ancient Greek women who really pushed the envelope.

Ancient Greek Women in Society

Women in ancient Greece had a real struggle. Most of the men did not think much of them or treat them well, and they had no political rights whatsoever. Not only did they not have the right to vote or own land, they also did not have a right to education of any sort. Aside from gathering fruits and vegetables, their main responsibilities were to be a mother and a wife.

Today, when a woman becomes a wife, it is usually the best day of her life. She has found the person of her dreams, has fallen in love and can’t wait to spend the rest of her life with her soulmate. In ancient Greece, this was quite a different story. Instead, the woman’s father chose her husband for her, and she got married when she was around 15 years old. Most of the time, the relationship between a man and his wife was very controlling and not very loving.

Once married, the women could attend the festival of Thesmophoria, which was an event created to honor some of the Greek goddesses. A festival – that sounds fun, right? Think again. This was no party, as the women were required to fast (not eat food) and say hurtful things to one another. What a bummer!

A painting of Thesmophoria

If you had to be a woman in ancient Greece, you better hope that you lived in Sparta, which was a warrior society. Compared to life in other parts of ancient Greece, it was pretty sweet to be a Spartan gal! For one thing, they were allowed to play sports and go to school. Spartan women had many other freedoms, like the right to own land and eat whatever they wanted.

1. Main points:

Women in ancient Greece faced significant struggles, lacking political rights, education, and autonomy in marriage. Their main roles were as mothers and wives, with marriage often being arranged and controlling. The Thesmophoria festival, despite being a significant event, involved fasting and negative interactions.

2. Questions:

• Socio-cultural Analysis: What were the societal roles and rights of women in ancient Greece?
• Contextual Analysis: How did marriage customs in ancient Greece differ from modern perceptions of marriage?
• Thematic Analysis: What was the nature of the Thesmophoria festival, and how did it reflect the status of women?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think the treatment of women in ancient Greece has influenced modern views on women’s rights and gender equality?

4. Answers:

• Socio-cultural Analysis: "Most of the men did not think much of them or treat them well, and they had no political rights whatsoever… Their main responsibilities were to be a mother and a wife."
• Contextual Analysis: "Instead, the woman’s father chose her husband for her, and she got married when she was around 15 years old. Most of the time, the relationship between a man and his wife was very controlling and not very loving."
• Thematic Analysis: "The women were required to fast (not eat food) and say hurtful things to one another."

Ancient Greek Women at Home

Most of the time, the women were expected to maintain the household. This included the cooking, the cleaning and raising the children. Some women had female slaves that could assist with these tasks. The only time a woman could leave the house was to go and visit a female neighbor or to attend a wedding or funeral. Even when the woman was in the house, she could not go wherever she pleased. Instead, she could only stay on the top floor and could not go into a room where her husband was entertaining his friends.

1. Main points:

In ancient Greece, women’s primary responsibilities were household maintenance, including cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing. Their movement was restricted, with limited opportunities to leave the house and confined spaces within the home.

2. Questions:

• Socio-cultural Analysis: What were the main responsibilities of women in an ancient Greek household?
• Contextual Analysis: What were the restrictions on women’s movements both inside and outside their homes in ancient Greece?
• Thematic Analysis: How did the social structure of ancient Greek homes reflect the status of women?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think these restrictions on women’s movements and roles affected their personal lives and relationships in ancient Greece?

4. Answers:

• Socio-cultural Analysis: "The women were expected to maintain the household. This included the cooking, the cleaning and raising the children."
• Contextual Analysis: "The only time a woman could leave the house was to go and visit a female neighbor or to attend a wedding or funeral… she could only stay on the top floor and could not go into a room where her husband was entertaining his friends."
• Thematic Analysis: The text implies that women’s confined roles and spaces within the home were a reflection of their lower status in society.

Women’s Fashion in Ancient Greece

If you like wearing comfortable clothes, then you might enjoy dressing like an ancient Greek woman. During the summer, women would wear loose-fitting, light-colored tunics and sandals. In the winter, they would wear a peplos, which was a tunic made of wool. Since it was just a big piece of fabric, the women could drape them and pin them up in different ways. Richer women would dye their clothes in brighter colors. With the exception of slave women, the hair was to be worn in a long braid or a bun.

A peplos

1. Main points:

Ancient Greek women wore comfortable clothing, with loose-fitting tunics in the summer and woolen peplos in the winter, often styled in various ways. Wealthier women had brightly colored clothes, and hairstyles typically included long braids or buns, except for slave women.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What types of clothing did ancient Greek women wear in different seasons?
• Socio-cultural Analysis: How did the clothing of ancient Greek women vary based on their social status?
• Thematic Analysis: What was the typical hairstyle for ancient Greek women, and who was the exception?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think the clothing and hairstyles of ancient Greek women reflected their lifestyle and social norms?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "During the summer, women would wear loose-fitting, light-colored tunics and sandals. In the winter, they would wear a peplos, which was a tunic made of wool."
• Socio-cultural Analysis: "Richer women would dye their clothes in brighter colors."
• Thematic Analysis: "With the exception of slave women, the hair was to be worn in a long braid or a bun."

Famous Ancient Greek Women

Despite the challenges, there were several women in ancient Greece who accomplished many things. Aspasia, for example, was known for her intelligence and for opening her own school. She used her power to fight for the rights of women, like access to education.

Another impressive woman was Cynisca, who found a loophole in the rules of the Olympics. Back then, women were not allowed to enter, but Cynisca entered her four-horse chariot team. She was allowed to do so because that meant she did not technically participate.

A statue of Aspasia

1. Main points:

Despite societal challenges, some ancient Greek women achieved remarkable feats. Aspasia was celebrated for her intelligence and advocacy for women’s rights, including education. Cynisca cleverly bypassed Olympic restrictions by entering her chariot team, highlighting women’s indirect participation in sports.

2. Questions:

• Ideological Analysis: How did Aspasia challenge the typical roles of women in ancient Greece?
• Thematic Analysis: What was Cynisca’s unique contribution to the Olympics, and how did it reflect on women’s roles in sports?
• Socio-cultural Analysis: How did these women’s achievements reflect the possibilities for women in ancient Greek society?

3. Further Discussion:

• What impact do you think the actions of women like Aspasia and Cynisca had on future generations of women in Greece and beyond?

4. Answers:

• Ideological Analysis: "Aspasia… was known for her intelligence and for opening her own school. She used her power to fight for the rights of women, like access to education."
• Thematic Analysis: "Cynisca… entered her four-horse chariot team. She was allowed to do so because that meant she did not technically participate."
• Socio-cultural Analysis: The achievements of Aspasia and Cynisca demonstrate that despite societal constraints, women in ancient Greece could still find ways to make significant contributions and challenge norms.

Lesson Summary

Being a woman in ancient Greece was not for the weak, though conditions were better for women in Sparta. Women were treated poorly, like at the so-called festival of Thesmophoria. They wore loose-fitting peplos, or tunics.