Ancient Greek Home Research Paper

In Classical Greece, roles played by males and females in society were well-defined as well as very distinct from each other. Expectations to uphold these societal norms were strong, as a breakdown within the system could destroy the success of the oikos (the household) and the male’s reputation—two of the most important facets of Athenian life. The key to a thriving oikos and an unblemished reputation was a good wife who would efficiently and profitably run the household. It was the male’s role, however, to ensure excellent household management by molding a young woman into a good wife. Women were expected to enter the marriage as a symbolically empty vessel; in other words, a

From the ancient world to modern civilization, Greek civilization has left its impact on our world throughout history. From Greece’s rise and fall, its social, political, and cultural contributions, without the Greeks we would not be as advanced as we are today. The western world was highly influenced by the Greeks, gaining ideas about art, architecture, philosophy, and science.

In Robert Garland’s book, Ancient Greece: Everyday Life in the Birthplace of Civilization, he illustrates what life was like for men, women, children, and slaves living in ancient Greece and the impact it had on modern civilization. Each city state of ancient Greece had their own rituals and beliefs that influenced everything from warfare to raising children. The question is, were these rituals and beliefs made up for the benefit of the state? Males and females had their own individual roles in serving the city state. There were rituals and beliefs specifically for children and their transition into adulthood. Greek children were raised and educated to be able to fulfill their roles to benefit the state.

However, for women in poorer families that is not the case. They had to work along side the husband and most time kids out in the fields. They would normally work their, depending on income, from morning until night (3). Then, she would come back to the house and take care of it. Greek homes were really not that fancy. The walls were made with mud brick that were covered in plaster and topped with pottery tiles to make a roof. The windows were not covered so they were pretty much open holes. Poor families had normally one or two rooms while rich families had multi-roomed and multi-story house. Even though the two classes of people were separated by vast wealth they all had very basic and simple wooden furniture. (3)

Greek Life is a very complex part of college campuses. While many schools have a strong Greek Life presence, others play a very small part on their campus. The same can be said when it comes to whether or not fraternities and sororities have a positive reputation or a negative reputation on campus and in their local media.

Greek life plays a major role in colleges and universities all across the United States. Greek life allows men and women to join an organization and create a long lasting bond, as brothers or sisters, which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. College campuses explore and boast about the positive impacts that Greek life has on students as well as the community around them. However, even with fraternities and sororities being on college campuses for decades, few people outside the Greek life community have discovered the real, enduring process that it takes to become a "brother" or "sister". Throughout my research, I will be focusing on the negative effects that fraternities and sororities pose upon pledges. This includes hazing

How long must a person be dead for it to be considered anthropology and not grave robbing? The answer should be never, but many government officials don’t agree. In the summer of 1996, a skull was found in the Columbia River. After a police investigation, a nearly complete skeleton was found. Forensic anthropologist James Chatters began to study the bones and after a carbon dating test, the skeleton was found to be over 9,000 years old! Almost immediately five tribes, many anthropologists (including Chatters), some government officials, and a few other groups began to sue each other for the rights to the remains. The Native Americans believed the man to be their ancestor donning him the “Ancient One” and wish to rebury him due to religious

They stay at home until they were married like the spartans women. If they get married they are also to be expected to have children. Women in Athens were taught skills they would need to run a home such as weaving, textile, motherhood, embroidering and cooking. They are expected to look after the home, make clothes , and bear children.

For this report, I will write a reflection concerning society in ancient Greece. I will include information pertaining to the lives of those who lived in ancient Greece and what their daily lives consisted of. Social issues and political philosophy will also be discussed along with other material that is considered significant to ancient Greek society. This concludes my introduction. When did Ancient Greece exactly flourish and how?

In 490 BC, Greece defeated the Persian invaders at the famous Marathon. And in 480, Persian warriors suffered heavy losses in the Salamis. These battles have confirmed the mighty military power of Greece. Under the reign of King Alexander the Great of Macedonia, the Greeks had extensive expansions to Egypt, Persia and India. His conquests led to the settlement and dominance of the Greeks in many remote and influential Greek cultures that were more widespread than ever. This period is called the Greek Period. Later, when the Roman Empire was established and became mighty, Greece became a Roman province but the cultural influences of ancient Greece were maintained and developed.

In both Xenophon’s Oeconomicus and Lysias’ defense of Euphiletus’ murder of Eratosthenes, insight into the purpose and function of Athenian marriage may be gained by examination of the speeches of two citizens about their wives and their homes. Through both texts, it becomes apparent that the citizen’s value of his wife is based upon his wife’s ability as an “oikonomikos” or “skilled household manager” (Strauss, 3). It is through filling this role as her husband’s housekeeper that an Athenian woman experienced a loss of personal freedom and found herself trapped within a marriage in which she had little contact or much in common with her husband. A woman’s role as oikonomikos is described by Euphiletus’ address

The groom’s choice in bride was largely determined by the amount of dowry the bride would bring with her. Although the wedding was a happy ceremony, it was only the beginning of a woman’s loss of independence. Not only did women possess no independent status in the eyes of the law; she always remained under the supervision of a male. If her husband died, she was returned to her father’s or brother’s home where they would take charge of her. After the wedding, the wife’s duties were centered on the management of the home. She would overlook the slaves, mend and make clothing for her family, usually done by spinning or knitting, weave rugs and baskets for the home, or just fold and refold the clothing kept in the family chest. The wife was also responsible for maintaining her attractiveness for her husband. A proper Athenian wife would adorn herself with jewelry and use rouge upon her husband’s arrival home. Sometimes she might spend an entire evening sitting next to the couch where her husband lay reclining. Most importantly the Athenian women were seen as “fine upstanding matrons” fit to bear a race of excellent athletes” (Everyday Life in Ancient Greece, pg. 86). An Athenian man married primarily to have children. These children were expected to care for him in his old age, but more importantly to bury him with the “full appropriate rites” (Daily Life in Greece, pg. 57). Moreover, Athenian men married to have male children in order to perpetuate the family

In every facet of life men and women are isolated from one another. Women were intended to stay within the confines of their home, rarely leaving except on special cases. The best Greek woman was one that no one knew about because of the fact that they were never supposed to leave the house. Women were solely intended to be controlled by men and remain in the home to provide for their husbands. In addition women did not bear much value to society, and were not much more than slaves under the wing of a male counterpart. Marriage in the Ancient Greek world also did not bare the equalities we see today. Women were required by law to remain loyal to their husbands and were never allowed to leave the house without his permission. Men on the other hand could have relationships with multiple women or mistresses despite the wife’s disapproval. In The Bacchae we begin to see the contrast between genders when King Pentheus thinks that it is a disgrace for him to have to dress of and disguise himself as a woman. "Do I have to be demoted to a woman?...A woman's costume? No, I won't; I can't"(Bacchae 50-51). Coming from the king, his beliefs reflect that of his people and city of the troubles and negativity women were faced with

Women were responsible for training, overseeing, and maintaining the slaves, ensuring that all members of the household are clothed and fed, and keeping track of material goods and supplies in the house. In Xenophon’s work Oikonomikos, his character Socrates states that a good wife is the partner of her husband, for he is the one who works for and supports the family financially. “It is by means of the wife’s economy and thrift that the greater part of the expenditure is checked, and on the successful issue or the mishandling of the same depends the increase or impoverishment of the whole estate.” Xenophon adds to his philosophy by using the character Isomachus, who is portrayed as an arrogant fool. He says to his young wife, referring to her household duties, “Over those members of the household whose appointed tasks are conducted indoors, it will be your duty to preside; yours to receive the stuffs brought in; yours to apportion part for daily use, and yours to make provision for the rest, to guard and garner it so that the outgoings destined for a year may not be expended in a month” (Economy,

Life for slaves in ancient Greece was often unfair. 30,000 slaves worked in silver mines at Athens. If you were a slave and not working in the mines, you were working in households. Woman as a slave had more freedom and more time outside than the owner's wife, but very often women slaves often helped out with taking care of the children and chores, they helped make beds and clean. Male slaves often answered the doors for visitors and others worked in the kitchen. Male slaves had more freedom than women for they could work as potters and made tools. As you can see, life for slaves in ancient Greece was often unfair.