Heroines and Subservience in Ancient Athens :: Free Essays Online

Heroines and Subservience in Ancient Athens Women throughout history have played a subordinate role to men; this holds true in even ancient Athens. Though obvious through the writing of ancient poets, playwrights, and historians this subordinate role dominates religion and its practices. Through an examination of modern and ancient sources it will become apparent that women, even goddesses, played certain roles and they did not have the freedom to step outside these roles. Despite this subordinate stature, women could still receive recognition as heroic figures by achieve the status of heroine. Shrines dedicated to women who exemplify a certain trait, usually self-sacrifice, still exist, even on the Acropolis. The dual role of honored and subservient female is a complicated issue, and deserves further examination. Greek religion permeated every pore of society. Each level of society, from the Boule to the family had its own "separate center for its religious activity" (Mikalson, 83). Tribes worshipped together at the sanctuaries of the heroes for which they were named, each deme had a patron god, and families often performed the rites of the dead at their loved ones' tombs (83). With religion and supplication of the gods as a part of daily life, it not unusual that the gods led lives similar to their human worshippers. Gods married, gave birth, had fights and fits of temper, and human desires for love and sex. For these reasons Greeks were able to turn to religion so often; Gods had experiences similar to those encountered in everyday life, and were therefore capable of offering guidance. By turning to the gods the Greeks justified many of their actions, including wars, colonization, and the subjugating of women. Athenian women tended the oikos, or household. An aristocratic woman made clothes, kept the household accounts, oversaw the slaves, and made sure everything ran smoothly so her husband could concentrate on the running of the polis. "The world of the classical polis was a man's world. Only men could attend the Assembly, vote, hold office, serve on juries, appear in court in their own right, or even own property" (Demand 1996: 228). Women were allowed in public only to fetch water from the fountain houses, and during religious processions. Women functioned only as "prostitutes for the sake of pleasure, concubines for daily care of the body, and wives for the begetting of legitimate children and [as] a reliable guardian of the contents of the house" ([Dem.