Question 1

What were the main duties of a wife in ancient Greece?

Accepted Answer

In ancient Greece, a wife's primary duties were to manage the household (oikos), bear legitimate children, and oversee domestic slaves. She was expected to be modest, obedient to her husband, and skilled in weaving and textile production. Xenophon's 'Oeconomicus' describes the ideal wife as a 'good housekeeper' who ensures the household runs smoothly, while also maintaining her own virtue and reputation.

Question 2

How did Roman women have more freedom than Greek women?

Accepted Answer

Roman women had greater legal and social freedoms than their Greek counterparts. For example, under the form of marriage called 'sine manu', a Roman woman remained under her father's legal authority (patria potestas) but could own property independently. Elite Roman women could attend public events, dine with their husbands, and even influence politics, as seen with Livia, wife of Augustus. In contrast, Athenian women were largely confined to the home and had limited property rights.

Question 3

What role did women play in ancient Roman religion at home?

Accepted Answer

In the Roman home, women were responsible for maintaining the household cult, including offerings to the Lares and Penates (household gods). The Vestal Virgins were a notable exception, serving a public religious role, but most women performed domestic rituals like tending the hearth (sacred to Vesta) and participating in festivals such as the Matronalia. These duties reinforced their role as guardians of the family's spiritual well-being.

Question 4

Were there any famous women in ancient Greece or Rome who were known for their domestic virtues?

Accepted Answer

Yes, several women were celebrated for their domestic virtues. In Rome, Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, was praised for her devotion to her children and her refusal to remarry after her husband's death, embodying the ideal of the 'univira'. In Greece, Penelope from Homer's 'Odyssey' is the archetype of the faithful wife, known for her weaving and cunning in delaying suitors. These figures were held up as models for women to emulate.

Question 5

How did the lives of poor women differ from elite women in ancient Rome?

Accepted Answer

Poor women in ancient Rome often worked outside the home out of necessity, taking jobs as shopkeepers, midwives, or in textile workshops. They had less leisure time and fewer opportunities for education compared to elite women, who could manage large households and slaves. However, poor women also had more practical freedom, as they were less constrained by ideals of seclusion. Archaeological evidence from Pompeii shows women working in taverns and markets, challenging the idea that all Roman women were confined to the home.

Question 6

What does the term 'kyrios' mean in the context of ancient Greek women?

Accepted Answer

In ancient Greece, a 'kyrios' was a male guardian responsible for a woman's legal and financial affairs. An Athenian woman always had a kyrios, first her father, then her husband, and if widowed, her son or another male relative. This meant women could not own property or enter contracts independently. The kyrios system reflects the patriarchal structure of Greek society, where women were considered perpetual minors under male authority.

Women in the home

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