The Women Og Greece A Transition From Ancient Power To Classical Subservient Weakness Term paper

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The Women of Greece:

A Transition from Ancient Power to Classical Subservience

Women's conquest for political and social

freedom is a battle that has gone on for centuries. Perhaps the breaking point in women's

liberation was the Women's Movement of the 1900's, which encouraged women all over

America to join in the fight for their right to vote. Because of this struggle for equality,

women are now able to vote, receive a standard of fairness in the workplace, hold

political positions, and play professional sports, as well as a wide array of other privileges

enjoyed by men. Unfortunately, these civil rights have not been made available to

women worldwide.

In some cultures, especially those of the Middle East, women have

gained little if any rights at all since the societies of the past. In Greece, an almost

opposite effect can be seen in its history in which women in their country went from

being recognized as equals and above, to becoming a much weaker sex. This odd

transition of status of Greek women is evident through the art, mythology, and philosophy

of a much older Greece. Thus dominant role of women portrayed in Ancient Greek

mythology and artwork is in direct contrast to the more subservient role of women during

the classical era in Greece.

Ancient Greece, otherwise known as the Archaic period (650-450 B.C.), was a

time of great development for Greece. The first major developments in Greece were

cities or towns and their surrounding villages called city-states(Greece 366). Much

rivalry consisted between city-state residents which resulted in a great deal of patriotism

for one's city-state. Some of the best known city-states are Athens and Sparta (Greece

366).

During this time of growth, numerous tyrants came into control of the city-states.

These tyrants caused the people to become bitterly rebellious, which later ended in revolt

and the birth of the first known democratic government (Greece 372).

City-states were once again threatened by takeover in the 500's B.C., when

Persian kings tried to overrun the city-states; however, the city-states revolted against the

Persian kings. These uprisings did nothing more than cause a war with Persia. The

Greeks, who were outnumbered, fought Persia and surprisingly won (Greece 372).

Another problem that Greece faced was the rivalry between the city-states of

Athens and Sparta. The cooperation between the two city-states in the Persian War was

short-lived. Athens and Sparta were constantly feuding for control of Greece (Greece

373).

The Archaic period, though constantly growing, was one of a somewhat primitive

nature. Due to this, not much written philosophy has surfaced; however, creative thought

was very encouraged during this time (Greece 367). Because of the lack of written

documents, many of the holes in the philosophy of the time must be filled with

speculation. The philosophy of ancient Greece, that could be found, was very favorable

towards women. During the Archaic period, a woman held a position almost equal to that

of a man. Women were able to hold political positions, possess land, and overall enjoy a

majority of the same rights that a man had. This philosophy of women's equality is best

expressed by J.P. Mahaffy when he states: "This equality upon the position of women is

obvious... The wives and daughters of the chiefs were respected and influential because

they were attached to the centre of power, because they influenced the king more than

free men did" (146). The whole idea of women being not only respected but influential

during this period in Greece is phenomenal when one considers the more abject role that

women in many other cultures of that time were faced with. This immense influence also

proves the power women were given in Greece during the Archaic period. Socrates, as

well as others, "Sees women, as, if not truly equal, at least not inferior to men, and

believes it possible for women even to achieve personal and intellectual fulfillment not

tied exclusively to motherhood," Eve Cantarella remarks in her book Pandora's

Daughters (61). This theory is another confirmation of women's strong position in

Archaic Greece.

Mythological women of the Archaic period in Greece strongly suggest a

dominant, mighty role for the women of ancient Greece. Athena, patron goddess of

Athens, was worshipped throughout Greece for her warlike aspects, but she was also

protectress of women's work and crafts (Spivey 423). Athena was also known as the

goddess of justice, wisdom and warfare, and masculinity. She was a fearless warrior, an

excellent spinner and weaver, and overall an all powerful woman (Larrington 68).

During the Archaic period, Athena was a role model for the women of Greece, because

she possessed all of the skills of a man and still managed to keep a feminine side at the

same time.

Heavily used in Greek mythology are female monsters such as Gorgons, Sirens,

Harpies, and Moirai. These monsters are vivid symbols of powerful, dominant women of

the Archaic era in Greece. Probably the best example of these symbolic creatures is the

Gorgon, Medusa (see Plate 1). This figure of Greek mythology is well illustrated by

Carolyne Larrington when she explains that "Medusa, the Greek Gorgon with hair of

snakes who was able to turn men to stone merely by gazing upon them, has been a power

symbol" (431). This mythological character undoubtedly has an abundant amount of

power over men and is obviously a reflection on women living in Archaic Greece.

The Sirens, Charybdic and Scylla, are also two of the more frightening female

monsters from ancient Greek mythology (see Plate 2). The two sirens dwelled in the sea

and sang an irresistible song that attracted sailors, which then caused them to crash on the

rocks (Larrington 87). Their song is symbolic of sexual power that Greek women had

during the Archaic period and is also symbolic of Greek women's intelligence. In ancient

Greece, women were obviously portrayed as powerful enough to be believable characters

that are frightening, due to the monsters that are female in early Greek mythology.

Another of the Archaic period's female mythological monsters are evil

winged-spirits that carry off people or things and are called Harpies (Larrington 84). The

Harpie is found to be symbolic of female's power of possession in ancient Greece.

Considering that the Greek wife of the Archaic period was entitled to half of the marital

assets, this idea of possession would appear to be accurate. The Harpies are yet another

example of mythology's way of reflecting the society of its origin.

Moirai, another female monster from ancient Greek mythology, is much like a

witch. The three fates, who determine the fate of both mortals and immortals, are all

Moirais. The three fates are so terribly powerful that "although Zues was the 'father of all

gods and men' even he had to bow to the power of the fates" tells Larrington (86). The

fates are, without question, symbolic of women's role and the influence they had on men

during the Archaic period in Greece.

Women's role of equality is greatly indicated in the art of Ancient Greece. There

is a plethora of evidence showing a stronger, more respected woman than that of the

Classical period in Greece. In Paeonius of Mende's sculpture The Victory of Olympia, a

woman has been chosen to portray victory (see Plate 3). She stands very proud and tall

with widespread wings and definitely takes on a great deal of intensity. These

characteristics are not that of a subservient house wife. For such a symbolic figure, it is

strange to have chosen a female for the subject, unless women were interpreted as

important figures at the time. This piece depicts a sense of respect and equality that

reflects the women of ancient Greece.

A constant subject of art for the Archaic period in Greece, Athena- to an extreme

sense- is how women were perceived or perceived themselves during this era in Greece.

In this Grecian amphora (large lidded jar used for wine or oil storage) from 530 B.C.,

Athena is illustrated standing tall with her head up, holding a shield, and wearing a tall

headdress and a finely woven robe (see Plate 4). From her appearance, one must interpret

Athena to be proud, a skilled warrior, fearless and feminine. For being such a persevering

figure in ancient Greece, Athena must reflect the women of the Archaic period in Greece.

Even today, most countries do not allow women to be present on the battlefield

with men, which many consider unequal standards for men and women, but in ancient

Greece there are many samples of art that depict men and women fighting on the

battlefield together. On the red-figured calyx-krater (a large open-topped vase),

attributed to the Niobid Painter, men and women are not only fighting together but are

also dying side by side on the battlefield, which is extremely symbolic of equality (see

Plate 5). This obviously portrays the women of Archaic Greece to be seen more strong

and powerful, seeing as they do not need men to take care of them.

Perhaps one of the most obvious symbolic figures of women's role in ancient

Greece were the Sirens. Not only could these mythological creatures capture men, but

they could also cause their ships to crash amongst the rocks. One incidence of a captured

ship full of men, which was lead by Ulysses, is exquisitely painted upon a Greek vase

(refer to Plate 2). In this scene, the men look helpless to the dominance of the Sirens.

This suggests that women were given much freedom and power in Archaic Greece.

The Classical period in Greece was a time of an amazing amount of growth and

change, but along with it much hardship and war. In the beginning...

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