Women in ancient Greece

Unfortunately, there aren`t a tones of information about every detail of ancient Greeks’ lives, especially women`s
due to belonging of leading role to men and bereaved pieces of artefacts. Also it should be said, that from polis to
polis data differ.
There were also categories of women which are less well-documented than others such as professional women who
worked in shops and as prostitutes and courtesans.
Greece was really developed in comparison to other states, therefore some rights for women used to exist. As we
now, in ancient times people didn`t tolerate any weaknesses, and during meetings girls were tend to be rejected and
killed more, than little boys. But if you`re Greek female and survive, then you had right to get an education, where
the curriculum covered reading, writing, and mathematics. After these basics were mastered, studies turned to
literature, poetry, and music (especially the lyre). Athletics was also an essential element in a young person's
education. Girls were educated in a similar manner to boys but with a greater emphasis on dancing, gymnastics, and
musical accomplishment which could be shown off in musical competitions and at religious festivals and
ceremonies. However, still ultimate goal of a girl's education was to prepare her for her role in rearing a family and
not directly to stimulate intellectual development.
But a chance to become more, than just wife was possible. Exceptional women rose above the limitations of Greek
society and gained lasting acclaim as poets (Sappho of Lesbos), philosophers (Arete of Cyrene), leaders (Gorgo of
Sparta and Aspasia of Athens), and physicians (Agnodice of Athens).
But! Negative practices are the following(from modern point of view)
 Pederasty(a relationship between an adult and an adolescent which included sexual relations)
 Inability to choose your husband
 Absence of role for single mature females
 Impossibility to attend public assemblies, vote, or hold public office/they were not citizens
 Women couldn`t make a last will
 Permanent stay under the protectorate of man(brother, father, husband, uncle)
Sparta vs Athens
Sparta was probably the best place for women to be during those times. Women could inherit property, own land,
make business transactions, and were better educated than women in ancient Greece in general. Unlike Athens,
where women were considered second-class citizens, Spartan women were said to rule their men. Athens, criticized
the independence and influence of Spartan women in his Politics, claiming that women’s autonomy in Sparta was
responsible for its decline because nature had intended for men to rule over women while, in Sparta, the reverse
policy was practiced, a significant amount showing how the equality of the sexes in Sparta actually made the city-
state stronger and more efficiently run than others.
The purpose of sex within marriage was to create children, but here women were allowed to take male lovers.
Same-sex relationships among men and women were for pleasure and personal fulfilment. Although Athens is
frequently referenced as the “birthplace of democracy”, Athenian women had no voice in politics or their husband’s
business whereas Spartan women participated freely in almost every aspect of their city-state’s political and social
life. Daily chores which were considered "women’s work" – especially weaving, house cleaning, and childrearing –
were done by helot women. The helots were a class of people subjugated by the Spartans who were not slaves but
not regarded as equals. Some scholars have claimed that Spartan mothers did not even breastfeed their children as
they had helot wet nurses for that. Spartan women concentrated on finance, agriculture, and the efficient operation
of the home. The female head of the house had the last word in whatever decisions were to be made and kept the
farm and home running smoothly.
Concluding, the position of women, like other aspects of life, in ancient Greece varies depending on the polis. But
anyway, some could own property, enjoy athletics (which not a lot of ancient Greek women got to do that!), go
through similar training as the men. The women were respected because they had to raise the future defenders of
Sparta, since the men weren't around that. Women were represented in a way, though, as a religious figure. The
goddesses Hera, Athena, Nike, Demeter, Aphrodite and Hestia were much admired through Greece.