Question 1

What sources do I need to know for Women in the Ancient World?

Accepted Answer

You need to study prescribed sources from Homer's Odyssey (e.g., Penelope's web, the meeting with the suitors), Euripides' Medea, Virgil's Aeneid (Dido and Aeneas), Ovid's Heroides, and historical texts like Livy's account of Lucretia. Also, be familiar with material sources such as Greek vase paintings showing women at home or in religious rituals, and Roman tombstones commemorating wives and mothers.

Question 2

How were Greek and Roman women's lives different?

Accepted Answer

Greek women, especially in Athens, were largely confined to the home and had few legal rights; they could not own property or vote. Roman women had more freedom: they could own land, run businesses, and attend public events like gladiatorial games. However, both societies were patriarchal, and women's primary roles were as wives and mothers. Elite Roman women could exert political influence through their husbands, while Greek women's influence was mostly limited to religious roles.

Question 3

Why is Medea considered a dangerous woman in Greek tragedy?

Accepted Answer

Medea defies traditional female roles by using her intelligence and magic to take revenge on Jason, even killing her own children. Euripides portrays her as both victim and villain, challenging Athenian ideals of the submissive wife. Her actions reflect male fears of female power and the consequences of betraying a woman. The play raises questions about justice, gender, and the limits of revenge.

Question 4

What can we learn about real Roman women from tombstones?

Accepted Answer

Roman tombstones often praise women for virtues like chastity, wool-working, and devotion to family (e.g., the 'Laudatio Turiae' inscription). They reveal that women were valued as wives and mothers, but also show that some women were literate and managed households. However, these inscriptions are idealised and written by male relatives, so they reflect societal expectations rather than full reality.

Question 5

How do I compare Penelope and Dido in an exam?

Accepted Answer

Both are queens and central female figures in epic, but they respond to male heroes differently. Penelope is faithful and clever, using tricks like weaving to delay remarriage, while Dido is passionate and ultimately abandoned, leading to her suicide. Penelope represents the ideal Greek wife, whereas Dido embodies the dangers of female emotion in Roman epic. Compare their agency: Penelope controls her household, Dido rules Carthage but is undone by love. Use quotes to show how each poet shapes their character.

Question 6

What role did religion play in women's lives?

Accepted Answer

Religion was one of the few public spheres where women could participate. In Greece, women led festivals like the Thesmophoria (honouring Demeter) and served as priestesses, such as the Pythia at Delphi. In Rome, the Vestal Virgins held great prestige and were responsible for keeping the sacred fire. Religious roles gave women authority and community, but also reinforced their connection to fertility and the household.

Content of Women in the Ancient World (J199/12)

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation

'Improper' Women

Athens at War in the 5th century

Characterisation

Content of Myth and Religion (J199/11)