Women in Ancient World

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Women’s roles in different civilizations had many similarities and just a few contrasts. Women in civilizations, for instance, Egypt, Greece and Rome encountered many similar prejudices, struggles, and hardships, some of which did not end until the 1920’s. In some of these civilizations, however, women managed to rise in their societies even though this came with a lot of interference and opposition. When it came to their rights, women did not have any whatsoever. For instance, in Greece, women were considered second-class citizens. They were forbidden from owning property, attending political debates, voting, or even inheriting their name. They were seen as nothing of real significance, fearful, irrational, and only useful physically to satisfy men’s desires. In Egypt, Women were treated better than other places. They had similar economic and legal rights as men, they could own slaves, land, and could accumulate properties for themselves in many ways. For instance, the code of Nesilim states that “if anyone kills a male or female slave in a quarrel, he shall be declared liable for him/her. He shall give two persons, man or woman, and pledge his estate as security.” In Rome, women were not fortunate enough; they were not considered essential members of the community. This paper will analyze the role of women in ancient world by looking at the three civilizations, Rome, Greece and Egypt.

Women in Ancient Egypt

In the ancient world, Egypt is considered as the civilization that treated its women best. This is because the Egyptians believed that happiness and joy were legitimate life goals and considered family and home as the key foundation of that happiness. In Egypt, women had a lot of freedom. They could come and go whenever or wherever they wanted, could sign contracts and own property.[1] Also, women could divorce their husbands. Since there was a great deal of work to do as homes were mostly self-sufficient, many women preferred working in the home. Women prepared food and made families clothes. Indeed, even in a wealthy family, women were always busy organizing the slaves. The freedom and roles of women is shown by for instance the Hammurabi’s Code which states that;

”If a woman quarrel with her husband, and say: ”You are not congenial to me,” the reasons for her prejudice must be presented. If she is guiltless . . ., but he leaves and neglects her, she shall take her dowry and go back to her father’s house.” Hammurabi’s Code

However, women’s contribution was not limited to the home. There were women doctors and physicians in Ancient Egypt. For instance, Merit Ptah (2,700 BC) was a prominent woman doctor in ancient Egypt.[2]

The Egyptians had many goddesses including Seshat, the goddess of arithmetic, reading and writing. Girls from middles class and wealthy families were usually taught at home.

Women also riled in ancient Egypt for instance, Sobekneferu ruled Egypt around 1800 BC. Later on, Hatshepsut ruled Egypt between. 1479 and 1458 BC. Another woman famously known as Twosret ruled Egypt between 1191 and 1189 BC.

In essence, there was a concept in the in the old world that the man was the head of the house. The real implication of this reality for women differed from place to place, and its effect was substantial especially where the law created a difference between a woman and a man.[3]

Marriage and consequently, children were desirable, however, married women in many societies were only domestic servants and children attained status only when they become adults. Women in Egyptian were lucky in two ways:

Even though women could only become Pharaoh in special conditions, they were generally viewed as absolutely equal to men legally. Apart from being able to sign contracts, borrow money and own property, a woman could also act as a witness in court, et cetera. Consequently, they were subject to all duties accompanying those rights.

Emotional support and love were viewed as essential parts of marriage. In ancient Egypt, children were loved as people and not only as care-takers and potential workers.

Women in Ancient Greece

Educated, wealthy men created the majority of the written evidence from the ancient world. They left a precise picture of their own life; however, a little trust could be placed on the remarks they made on the lives of other people. There is no place more disturbing in this context than in Ancient Greece where women were seen as inferior creatures, hardly more intelligent than children.[4] Many of the written accounts originate from Athens.

The Greeks worshipped both gods and goddesses. Women participated in religious festivals, however, in rich family women were separated from men. They sat on the upper part of the house or at the back. In such families, wives were expected to manage finances and run the home. Conversely, wealthy women would ordinarily remain at home and send slaves on errands. For poor women, there was no alternative; they would also help with farm work. Generally, women both poor and rich were expected to weave and spin fabric and make garments. In Sparta, women owned most of the land. In Greece, women played other roles such as tavern keepers, sold perfume or food, while others were wool workers.

In Ancient Greece, some girls especially those from affluent families were taught reading and writing. Those women from such families were usually educated. Girls were married under arranged unions when they were around 15 except in Sparta where they were much older.[5]

Women did not take part in the Olympic Games but had their own games dedicated to goddess Hera (Zeus’ wife). The Heraean games were held once at regular intervals of 4 years.

Women made many contributions even in the face of adversity. There were many great women during this period. Some of the well-known women poet in Greece were Sappho (sixth century BC) and Telesilla of Argos (500 BC). Theano (c.546 BC) was an acclaimed mathematician, and Gorgo (c. 508 BC) was a powerful woman in Sparta. Other famous women philosophers were Arete of Cyrene (400 BC), Timycha of Sparta (375 BC) and Hipparchia of Maroneia (350-280 BC). Anyte was also a poet around 250 BC, and Aglaonike (150 BC) was an astronomer.

The position and role of women also manifested in how they dressed. Although Greece climate was warm, women wore dresses that covered all their bodies. Initially, women wore peplos which was a rectangle of clothing folded and pinned together. Later ladies started to wear chiton, a long tunic. Women also wore anklets, himations, jewellery like necklaces and bracelets. Wealthy women had parasols used to protect from the sun.[6]

They did not trim their hair except if they were grieving. This kind of dressing was mainly to serve the interest of men in society since women were expected to wear clothes that were revealing for their husbands only. A woman was considered a ward to man.

Roman Women

The generalizations on women’s status were always difficult in the ancient world, more so in Rome where practice and theory were every so often parallel. At best, Athenian men saw their wives as necessary inconveniences. However, men set a high value on home, marriage and the family who had a significant effect on how society treated women. There is no time in the history of Rome when women eligible to work in the government or hold public office.[7]

For instance, The Twelve Tables state that ”females should remain in guardianship even when they have attained their majority.” At the beginning of the Republic, they were not permitted even to make proposals, but, by the beginning of the Empire, a growing number of men were following and also seeking the advice of their wives. This was considered okay so long as itadvice was given in private. Respectable women were not expected to wander outside alone, but in some way or another, they were able to have a life outside the home.

In Rome, women were not allowed to participate in political activities. Roman women did not have voting right, neither could they hold public offices. According to Roman traditions, a woman’s place was in the house. Most Roman women were wholly involved with taking care of children and doing errands like turning wool, but wealthy women had more freedom, particularly widows.[8] Women could acquire and own property, and some had businesses. For instance, in the Bible, a woman called Lydia sold purple cloths. In some businesses, for example, perfumery and silver working, women helped their husbands. Moreover, some women worked as were hairdressers, midwives or even served as priestesses. A few ladies were fighters. While men did most jobs in the Roman Empire, some women engaged in them for instance; some women became gladiators.

Nonetheless, women took influential roles in the background, whether in the family or the elite universe of government. Livy describes this in Women Demonstrate Against the Oppian Law, which states that “while Rome’s men debated the law’s merits, women took to the streets.” For instance, Aurelia Cotta (54 BC), was the mother of Julius Caesar and took charge of nurturing Caesar and his two sisters. Lucilla (150 AD), was born to the emperor Marcus Aurelius and travelled with Marcus Aurelius during his Danube military campaign. [9]Hortensia was also an orator who made a significant impact with her speech before the Second Triumvirate in 42 BC. Livia Drusilla was Emperor Augustus’s wife and was likely the most influential woman in Rome. Julia Agrippina ruled Rome through her son Nero. Fulvia helped raise troops to support her husband emperor Marc Antony to defeat Octavian. Helena was the mother of Constantine whose conversion to Christianity had a significant influence in bringing Christianity in Rome.

Conclusion

Women’s positions and roles in ancient civilization differed from culture to culture. Generally, it is safe to say that women were not entirely equal or free. However, Egyptian, Greek and Roman ladies enjoyed some level of freedom and exercised great religious, economic, and political job within their communities. Even with such a role, the broader knowledge is that the society of the ancient civilization largely supported the position of subordination and the suppression of women as the ideal. As proved in the discussion, in actuality, the women of history were neither silent nor subordinate. The ideal was contested in the forum of reality. Women of the ancient civilization played an essential role in both economic, political and religious activities. However, among the three civilizations discussed, Egypt treated it women better.

[1]Plutarch, cited in Judge and Langdon, Civilizations, chapter 7.

[2]