Women living during that time period had extremely limited property, business and inheritance rights. They also had no say in the affairs of government. A woman’s business was conducted by first her father and then later her husband. A woman rarely had choice in her spouse, instead entering an arranged marriage set up by her father. The position of a woman, and the life she led, depended largely on her place in the structure of ancient Greek society.
Wives of Athenian citizens
The age of marriage for women in Athens was very low, usually around the age of 15, whereas men usually waited until the age of 30 to marry. For women to be respected at all marriage was their only choice. Marriage to close relatives, such as first cousins, was common and done to perpetuate the father’s family. Most Greeks during this time period had only one spouse at a time but men often had multiple sexual partners.
Once women were married they became part of their husband’s household and therefore part his family. Much like modern marriages religious rituals could be included in the marriage ceremony but the marriage was in essence a civil contract and could be dissolved by either party. Males usually had a much easier time dissolving a marriage and females had a much harder time because the males would have to repay the dowry and were reluctant to do so.
Women of the Household
All women, including any female slaves, slept in a women’s quarter. They also stayed in the women’s quarters when strangers or any nonrelatives entered the house. Women rarely left the home and if they did they were accompanied by female slaves. Women occasionally left the house to shop or get water but these tasks were usually left to the female slaves. Women who were older or widows had more freedom, as did poor women. These women often were allowed to work outside of the home or alongside their husbands.
Women were expected to run the households. Their duties included supervision of slaves, caring for children as well as the elderly, cleaning, making clothing, as well as other tasks. If the household had a substantial amount of slaves then theses duties were performed by them under the supervision of the wife. Women generally bore more than 4 children, about half of which survived into adulthood.
Religious Women
Women, despite their roles elsewhere, did have important roles within religious sectors. They even had dominant roles in weddings, several festivals and at funerals. Priestesses like priests had an elevated social status which allowed them to act on their own behalf with no male intervention. They were also entitled to a portion of the animals sacrificed at religious centers and sometimes even to housing. Although there were some exceptions priests usually served the gods while goddesses were served by the priestesses.
