Cultural Differences Between Greek And Roman Women

This essay explores how Greek and Roman myths reflect aspects of the ways in which women in particular are seen within the societies of ancient [and in some cases modern] Greek/Roman culture. Drawing on the myths of Hera, Dionysus, the Amazons, Athene, Pandora and Aphrodite the essay will reflect upon social, financial and diplomatic relations of Greek/Roman woman.
In ancient times Greek and Roman women were oppressed due to the mistrust of the female. The myths reveal warnings, morals and philosophies; quite a few tell stories of woman’s deceitful and devious ways, justifying the fear and giving reason for the laws women lived by in ancient times. Even Hera, one of the more trustworthy goddesses, the goddess who protects marriage, deceived
Sex features heavily in mythology and the favoured Greek goddesses and heroines were all virgins. It was believed that Hera could actually regain her virginity each year through ritual (Pausanias 3.28.2). To protect themselves from the promiscuous and manipulative female, the Greek and Roman societies had three ‘safety valves’ put in place. The first was arranged marriage; these marriages took place as soon as puberty commenced. To protect upper class families from any embarrassment their daughters were often married before puberty as young as 12 years old. Secondly, a dowry was seen to encourage a better marriage and in turn kept women faithful to their husbands. Third but not least, women were ‘contained’ within the family home caring for their families. If they went out they were to be escorted. The desirability of having daughters married before or soon after puberty possibly has origins beginning with the myth of Zeus and Hera [brother and sister] as seen in the
They had no rights, owned no property. Women were legally obligated to have a male family member act on their behalf until the 17th century BC, then, the upper class Roman woman, with more than three children and under special circumstances could legally manage her own finances, common Roman women had to have birthed 4 children, and provincial woman 5. One in two infants died within the first year.
Spartan woman on the other hand could own land.
Lower class woman could have a profession and most did, caring for sheep or tilling crops, were midwives or wetnurses.
Double standards were rife throughout Greece and Rome. Greek wives for example were required to be completely faithful; the husbands however could amuse themselves outside of the home. The same standards applied in the heavens. Hera remained faithful to Zeus; he however had affairs with Europa, Io and Semele, each bore him children. The importance of a woman’s fidelity is of course to be sure of legitimate heirs. In the 18th century BC a law was passed by Emperor Augustus that a man must divorce an adulterous wife and the law forbade others to marry the divorced woman. In 18BCE Emperor Augustus introduced new laws in an attempt to reform upper class morals. He made adultery a crime although men were only found guilty if a married woman was involved. An upper class woman could be beaten for consuming wine which was against