Ancient history - Research Paper Example

In every sphere of life, the Greeks were accustomed to see women as an addendum to the males. Some Greek medical treatises, which were written by Hippocrates1 and other anonymous Greek authors, reveal that though Greek medical scholars had endeavored to look deep into women’s physical realities from a neutral scientific perspective, they showed a tendency to see women as addendum to male. Consequently, such view seemed to dominate their medical interpretations of women’s physical realities (Pomeroy 34-37).

Similarly, in other spheres of life, such as economy, politics, religion, law, etc, they would draw strict demarcations between men’s and women’s status as well as roles. Women’s Socioeconomic Status in Ancient Greece Like all other patriarchal societies, ancient Greeks used to see their women as men’s properties. As a result, the Greeks would not allow their women to inherit property. Also those women could not run business or be involved in earning activities. Traditionally it was believed that “A good wife's duty 'tis, Nicostratus, not to command, but to obey her spouse; most mischievous a wife who rules her husband” (Philemon pars. 18). .

Ancient Greek women could achieve wealth in several ways such as inheritance (not in traditional sense), receiving dowry and gifts. In fact, inheritance was a legal condition by a woman could inherit property of their deceased males as a mediator, if the legal inheritors of any deceased man or Kyrios were not mature enough. But they were required to transfer it to the legal inheritors of a Kyrios. Women’s Legal Status in Greek Society In that rigidly patriarchal Greek society, women could not enjoy independent individual existence.

Instead, a Greek woman was bound to pass her entire life under the custody of a “Kyrios or male guardian” (Blundell 114), who was supposedly her father or her husband. In this regard, Sue Blundell comments, “Until she was married, a woman came under the guardianship of her father, or male next-of-kin. On her marriage, her husband took over the role of the role of kyrios.” (Blundell 112) In Greek patriarchy, a Kyrios would have to provide food, clothe, protection, etc to a woman who was under his guardianship.

Such patriarchal norms of the Greek society necessarily would not allow a woman to be involved in economic activities. As a result, women had to remain economically dependent on their male counterparts and their economic dependence would result into their subservience to men. Consequently, this economic dependency excluded women from most of the outdoor activities; thus they would turn into the mere plaything of their men. The Greek society believed that “Good Women must abide within the house; Those whom we meet abroad are nothing worth.

” (Anonymous pars. 45) Also Greek women were not allowed to occupy a judiciary post, as Sue