Women In The Classical World
Women’s equal participation in local cults is a significant contribution to the welfare of the city-state. Because of the infinite number of rituals and festivals mark an integral part of everyday life. All women foreigners, natives, and Anthenials worship together though some rituals and cults limit to married women, these rituals facilitate a woman transition to marriage and motherhood (grecques). Also, celebrating a woman’s role as a weaver is a way of harnessing her reproductive powers. These powers are what promote society’s fertility.
Monuments of the goddesses are considered sacred, and girls take a noble task of maintaining them. There are only two Arrephoroi in one year, which is a great honor to the families of the girls. A robe is woven for the goddess by the chief magistrate with the help of small girls. girls deliver stools to the priestess of Athens while carrying them on their heads; girls who take part in weaving the robe take priority. (Elaine Fantham) Moreover, between seven and ten girls are chosen to serve in the cult of Athena. These girls will live at Erechtheum under the supervision of a priestess of Athena.
During the Arketia rituals, significant consideration goes to girls; this is because girls take part in races at the sanctuary of Artemis in honor of her. The girls carry the title of a bear, an animal that associates with huntress Artemis. Moreover, these girls wear palm tree leaves, a tree that stands for Delos, a representation of Artemis, and her brothers’ birthplace.
Women play a significant role in the temple during critical events. Choruses of young girls participate in an all-night vigil on the Acropolis during the great Panathenaic. Furthermore, the carry branches of sacred oil in the Delphinium and take part in the supplication of Apollo and Artemis. These girls will also remove and wash garments of the statue of Athena on the Acropolis
In classical Athens, the minds of women and men have the same intellectual and moral potential; This is because, in Athens, men and women undergo the same educational training. Besides, athletic training that seems appropriate for males only goes to women. There is equality in the Provisions governing Women and family.
A woman can also hold a supreme position in the government; This is because a woman can serve as a philosopher queen in either a totaling, authoritarian or hierarchical government. Besides, women perform in the public sector, serving in government jobs and the military.
In contrast, women’s roles and rights receive little consideration.The marriage of an Athenian woman does not accord her respect; This is because a woman will acquire the name Alcestis; this means that because of her loyalty to her husband, she can willingly die in her husband’s place.
Women are less significant in the absence of men. A short description is necessary for women’s tombs. Additional names of males or relatives describe women’s contributions.
Women determine the fate of their marriages following the rules in society; This is because women are under strict instructions to marry men with whom they share the same citizenship exclusively. Moreover, they should organize their festivities and spend three days at Demeter’s hilltop sanctuary.
The societies engage in activities that promote the subduction of women’s values at the expense of men’s rituals; This is because only women should care for the dead. Women have to visit and provide offerings to the graves continually. When taking care of battlefield warriors graveyards, women put on sheer garments mimicking the costumes worn by the warriors. These garments cling to the bodies revealing the forms of underneath, This is an attempt of eroticizing women bodies.
Works Cited
Elaine Fantham, Hellene Peet Folley, Natalie Boymel Kampen, Sarah B Pomeroy, h. Allan Shapiro. Women In The Classical World. Oxford University Press, 1994.
grecques, Mères. “Women Dedicators on the Athenian Acropolis and their Role in Family Festivals: The Evidence for Maternal Votives between 530-450 BCE.” CAHIERS MONDES ANCIENS (2015).
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