The 10 differences between Greek and Roman women

Greece and Rome are two of the great pillar civilizations for Western culture. The form of government, the culture, the form of organization, its laws, politics and the different disciplines that they developed, continue to be a reference for today's life.

The role of each citizen, both men and women, tells us a lot about the organization and worldview of cultures. One of the most revealing situations is in the role of women. The differences between Greek and Roman women are remarkable and interesting.

Know the differences between Greek women and Roman women

From childhood to old age, women had a very limited place in both cultures. The rights and obligations that characterized the lives of Greek and Roman women are different, although there are coincidences in some aspects.

Although there was a social and technological evolution, especially in the Roman Empire, which differentiated between Greek women and Roman women, the truth is that in general terms women had very determined roles throughout the rise and fall of each of these empires. Let's know the differences between Greek and Roman women.

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1. Political power

In ancient Rome and Greece, women had no political power. In other words, in neither of the two cultures they could vote or aspire to public office. However in Rome there were free women who, having been born as such, aspired to the title of citizens.

In contrast, in Greece, women had no rights. They were considered on the same level as slaves and, like them, always belonged to some man. First to her parents, then to her husband and in the event of his death, to her children.

2. Education

Education was one of the notable differences between Greek and Roman women. In ancient Rome, women studied during their first years of life, up to the age of 12. Their education was the same as that of the children, that is, they were taught the same thing.

On the other hand, in Greece, girls had a markedly different education from boys. She was totally focused on her work as a mother and wife, so they were taught to weave, spin, dance and also about music. Their own mothers acted as tutors, as they never attended school.

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3. Marriage

Marriage was a momentous event for the woman of Greece and Rome. When Roman women married, they obtained a superior social position. They were part of the decisions of her husband and the wealthiest could have slaves to attend to the affairs of the house.

However, women in Greece did not enjoy these benefits. After a prior agreement with her father, the marriage was arranged and the woman ceased to belong to her father to belong to her husband. She took care of the children and the house, but she did not have any kind of voice or the ability to intervene in decisions.

4. Maternity

Roman and Greek women were primarily intended for procreation. On the one hand, Roman women who had a privileged economic position had slaves who, among other things, also took care of their children.

But if the Roman woman was not wealthy, then she took care of herself. The women were taught activities of married life. Something very similar happened with women in Greece raised and educated their children to prepare them as a work force.

5. Productive activities

Women could carry out some productive activities. As already mentioned, highborn Roman women did nothing themselves, not even dress. The rest of the women spun and wove as seamstresses or worked in the fields.

Of the differences between women and Greek and Roman, this is one of the most notable. Most of the women, from childhood and until marriage, did not do any kind of productive work since everything was focused on parenting, caring for the husband and the house.

6. Cultural and social activities

Various activities took place in the cultural life of Greece and Rome. The women of Rome used to have an active social life, they could go out to meet friends and go to the baths for the mere purpose of socializing. They also attended recreational and cultural events.

On the other hand Greek women could not participate or be spectators of social or cultural events. Even the wealthiest of them did not have access to these events, even if these events were held in their own home.

7. Religious activities

Religion is one of the fundamental aspects of life in Greek and Roman culture. On the one hand, religious life in Rome had a large participation of women, except in some places where it was requested that it be limited. There was the priesthood of the Vestals, for example.

The women who exercised this priesthood gave up getting married and having children, in exchange for dedicating themselves to studying and taking care of religious rites.. Greek women also participated in religious life as it was practically the only activity outside their home that they were allowed.

8. Personal appearance

Personal appearance was important to the women of Greece and Rome. In both cases there was a special care to the physical aspect. They had special makeup and clothing, especially to show their trade or their financial situation.

In both cases it was frowned upon that the wardrobe was very extravagant. But throughout the history of each of the empires, there were various fashions and changes in costumes. They wore jewelry, bracelets, and earrings.

9. Prostitution

In Greek and Roman culture there was prostitution. On the one hand in Rome, prostitutes were divided into three categories: prostitutes, criminals and patricians. All had to be included in a public registry.

On the other hand in Greece the figure of the prostitute was in general terms on the one hand the concubine, the prostitute and the hetera, who in addition to her sexual services, was a cultured woman with a higher education even than any of the women in marriage.

10. Featured women

Despite the restrictions for women, there were some very prominent. On the one hand, Hortensia was known in Rome, who stood out as a great orator and her speech before the members of the second triumvirate was memorable. Faustilla was a moneylender who also became relevant in Rome.

On the other hand, in Greece there were also great women like Teano, the mathematician wife of Pythagoras, Agnocide, the first doctor in Greece, Hypatia, remarkable mathematician and Ferenice who defied the strict rules on the attendance of women to events cultural

Bibliographic references

• Cohen, D. (1989). Seclusion, Separation, and the Status of Women in Classical Athens. Greece & Rome, 36 (1), 3-15. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/643180.
• Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves [electronic resource]: Women in Classical Antiquity / Sarah B. Pomeroy. New York: Schocken Books, c1995