List of figures -- List of charts -- List of boxes -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Timeline of the Classical world -- Maps. Introduction. 1 APproaches to women and gender in Classical antiquity : Ancient Greek and Roman sources -- Gender in context: social identity in the Ancient world -- Critical approaches -- Structuralism -- Psychoanalytic criticism -- Feminist criticism -- Cultural criticism -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- References -- Further reading. Greece. 2 Introduction to ancient Greece : Greece in the Bronze Age: Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations -- Iron Age -- The rise of the pois in the Archaic Period -- Athens and the Classical Period -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Reference -- Further reading. 3 The Greek family and household : Oikos: family and household -- Greek domestic space -- Textile production: women's work -- Growing up female in the Greek family -- The ritual activities of girls -- The family in ancient Sparta -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Reference -- Further reading. 4 Female adolescence in Greece : Medical views of female adolescence -- Aidos: protecting purity -- Nausicaa: a teenage girl in a heroic world -- Choruses of young girls -- Brides of death -- The Greek wedding -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 5 Greek marriage and motherhood : Pandora: the ambiguity of wives -- Aphrodite: the power of female sexuality -- Virtuous wives: Penelope and Alcestis -- How to train a wife -- The legal status of Athenian women -- Pregnancy and childbirth -- Mothers and children -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 6 Adultery and prostitution in Greece : Eros unbound -- Helen: archetype of adultery -- Adultery and Athenian law -- Desperate housewives -- Courtesans and prostitutes -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 7 Women, religion, and authority in Greece : Older women -- Women as ritual agents -- Priestesses -- Women-only religious festivals -- Women and funerary ritual -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. Interlude: women in the Hellenistic world. 8 Women in the Hellenistic world : The rise of Macedon and Alexander the Great -- Olympias: mother of Alexander -- The spread of Hellenism -- Women and Hellenistic literature -- Aphrodite and the female nude -- Traces of women in Hellenistic Egypt -- Ptolemaic queens: Arsinoe II -- Ptolemaic queens: Berenice II -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Reference -- Further reading. Rome. 9 An introduction to ancient Rome : Roman foundation myth -- The early republic -- Expansion of Roman rule -- Roman spectacles -- The collapse of the republic -- Julius Caesar -- The transition to empire -- Augustus and imperial Rome -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 10 The Roman family and household : Familia and domus -- The family of Augustus -- Roman domestic space -- Lanificium: women's work -- Growing up female in the Roman family -- Girls and Roman religion -- Educating girls -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Reference -- Further reading. 11 Female adolescence in Rome : Pudicitia: protecting purity -- Medical views of female adolescence -- Age at first marriage -- Adolescent girls in Roman religion -- Virgo docta -- The Roman wedding -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 12 Roman marriage and motherhood : Marriage and property -- Divorce, Roman style -- Cultus: the art of self-fashioning -- Managing the household -- Roman views of contraception and abortion -- Childbirth and nursing -- Mothers and children -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 13 Adultery and female prostitution in Rome : Clodia Metelli: a woman of pleasure -- Women in Latin love elegy -- The Augustan law against adultery -- Concubines -- Female prostitution -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. 14 Women and public life in Rome : Benefactors and businesswomen -- Female political protests -- Women and Roman religion -- Priestess -- Matronal cults -- Women and foreign cults -- Conclusion -- Questions for review -- Further reading. Glossary -- Index.
Summary:
Focuses on the important objects, events and concepts that combine to form a clear understanding of ancient Greek and Roman women and gender. Drawing on the most recent findings and research on the topic, the book offers an overview of the historical events, values, and institutions that are critical for appreciating and comparing the life situations of women across both cultures. The author examines the lifecycle of women in ancient Greek and Rome beginning with how young females acquired the gendered characteristics necessary for adulthood. The text explores female adolescence, including concerns about virginity, medical views of the female body, religious roles, and education. Views of marriage, motherhood, sexual activity, adultery, and prostitution are also examined. In addition, the author explores how women exercised authority and the possibilities for their civic engagement.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.