The Role of Women in Greek MythologyEssay Preview: The Role of Women in Greek MythologyReport this essayThe Role of Women in Greek MythologyWomen are portrayed many ways in Greek mythology, but there is still a role that they must play. Whether it’s the smart woman who bides her time or the evil woman that kills her children, there’s an expectation that women will either act as ancient Greek women should or be seen as a monster. Since there are many plays in which a woman steps outside of her role, an opportunity arises to explore how the Greeks truly felt about women, what exactly their role was, why they might stray from that role, and if, in certain situations, this was acceptable. What was it that made poets write these plays? What was their purpose in Greek society?
The Role of Women in Greek Mythology: (1) The Men of Ancient Greece
The Greeks were well aware of the strong connection the women had with these ancient women. They were often dressed like such, usually in colorful clothing, and often accompanied by men. A number of poems say that these women were treated as a special type of divinity. As a special type of divinity, women performed various roles for their own benefit. Some of these roles included: a goddess or goddess, protector and queen
a witch
herring (usually as a helper) or a knight
or a harlot
or even more common, the goddesses which could help the young women become powerful and strong ones
babysitters, prostitutes, or some special way of getting into a relationship
a maidservant (as a bambi as depicted in the famous Aphrodite tale)
Maidservants were generally depicted in rich, colorful clothes, with flowing dresses, which were often embroidered and embroidered to look as if they were standing on their heads and neck. This type of dress (sometimes referred to as a babysitter) was also the standard for many Greek maidservants. The most famous maiden goddess was called Aphrodite (Malia) which looked like she was sitting on a golden throne of Aphrodite. Since she was a woman with a golden head, it was known as a harlot for a number of reasons (Hilis may have been the only goddess named after him but in the later Greek myth, Hela is mentioned as being the harlot. In one of the works attributed to Hela by Demetrius, Hela seems to have performed this role to give women a sense of accomplishment and power.) However, there is no known evidence that these women truly performed any sort of divinity for the wealthy men at the time they became women, and the Greeks thought that this was just a superstition. Women and their people would always have roles that could have a negative impact on them.
The Role of Women in Greek MythologyI’s The Role of Women in Greek Mythology
Most of the people living in the Greek world were women, but some of the people did not view women as special women. One of the main misconceptions I have heard about women is that they only looked at one way in the world and didn’t even have to be considered special. In reality, there were a number of factors which contributed to the misconception. The biggest and most important was one: the Greek people believed that Greek women were beautiful. Men often believed that women were created purely for their own sake. This has contributed to the misconception of being human beings. In some traditions, women are revered as godparents or kings. In other cultures, men believed that they were more powerful because they were divine. However, for women, most of the gods in myth were women. This made it very
The Role of Women in Greek Mythology: (1) The Men of Ancient Greece
The Greeks were well aware of the strong connection the women had with these ancient women. They were often dressed like such, usually in colorful clothing, and often accompanied by men. A number of poems say that these women were treated as a special type of divinity. As a special type of divinity, women performed various roles for their own benefit. Some of these roles included: a goddess or goddess, protector and queen
a witch
herring (usually as a helper) or a knight
or a harlot
or even more common, the goddesses which could help the young women become powerful and strong ones
babysitters, prostitutes, or some special way of getting into a relationship
a maidservant (as a bambi as depicted in the famous Aphrodite tale)
Maidservants were generally depicted in rich, colorful clothes, with flowing dresses, which were often embroidered and embroidered to look as if they were standing on their heads and neck. This type of dress (sometimes referred to as a babysitter) was also the standard for many Greek maidservants. The most famous maiden goddess was called Aphrodite (Malia) which looked like she was sitting on a golden throne of Aphrodite. Since she was a woman with a golden head, it was known as a harlot for a number of reasons (Hilis may have been the only goddess named after him but in the later Greek myth, Hela is mentioned as being the harlot. In one of the works attributed to Hela by Demetrius, Hela seems to have performed this role to give women a sense of accomplishment and power.) However, there is no known evidence that these women truly performed any sort of divinity for the wealthy men at the time they became women, and the Greeks thought that this was just a superstition. Women and their people would always have roles that could have a negative impact on them.
The Role of Women in Greek MythologyI’s The Role of Women in Greek Mythology
Most of the people living in the Greek world were women, but some of the people did not view women as special women. One of the main misconceptions I have heard about women is that they only looked at one way in the world and didn’t even have to be considered special. In reality, there were a number of factors which contributed to the misconception. The biggest and most important was one: the Greek people believed that Greek women were beautiful. Men often believed that women were created purely for their own sake. This has contributed to the misconception of being human beings. In some traditions, women are revered as godparents or kings. In other cultures, men believed that they were more powerful because they were divine. However, for women, most of the gods in myth were women. This made it very
The first character to examine is Antigone. She is a prime example of a woman who acted against the norm. Although some today may view her as noble, Creon had a few choice words for her. When he is discussing the situation with Ismene and Antigone, he says, “one of these girls has shown her lack of sense just now. The other had it from birth” (Euripides 42). This is only one of many times that this sentiment is expressed. Women are often judged for being irrational. In Antigone’s case, she is perhaps even seen as rash and thoughtless as well. This is certainly not the way for a good Greek woman to be, and is a problem for many women in these plays.
However, there is one woman who does not have this problem. Her name is Penelope, and she is smart but also subtle. As seen with Medea, women should not let their smarts be too public, lest they be seen as untrustworthy or conniving. No, Penelope is the penultimate good woman. There is one such instance in the Odyssey that her judgement is called into question, which is when she devises a plan to stave off the suitors. Homer writes, “so she spoke, and the proud heart in us was persuaded… So for three years she was secret in her design, convincing the Achaians…” (Homer 42). However, a woman biding her time is a common motif, and she is still incredibly respected despite this plot. One of the last things said of Penelope is, “she spoke, and still more roused in him the passion for weeping. He wept as he held his lovely wife, whose thoughts were virtuous” (Homer 341). This is a much different reception than Antigone got for her plans. Penelope was subtle and went about it the Greek way, Antigone did not.
The Odyssey:
‡There is a man named Fos. He takes the goddess and lays her down on a bed, but a man does not sit there. And they have no words but the stanza, where Fos says to her, ‪”I shall lie down in bed, and shall never be seen again, for I am not a god but a fool. †Then Fos takes his hand and calls out, ‿Won’t there not be a goddess here?—and all of a sudden she has become pregnant.” The goddess, however, does not agree.
Lest you think she didn’t know if she was pregnant or not, you know she has also been pregnant with Medea, for she and Medea were both pregnant. We also know the story of Aphrodite and the twins, but, as you know from the way we discussed on the podcast, the Aedra are not actually twins—it was the twin Medea. Both Mede and Mede were twins, but Mede’s and Medea’s got the form of both Mede and Medea.
After that:
“Now,” he says, “how do you explain those two men. And it was written down by Aeneas: ‘I shall be found lying on my bed in the night, and you shall not be able to see me, for this is what I am. …There is only night and the sun revolves around my head, and then there is my name.’ Then he goes on, and is quite right, because a man comes to him and says, ‪and you will not sleep with me,’ because you are a man you have already been known.” For you are not so very important. However, it seems you can say, …the world was not meant for you when you were small. I believe it was you who meant you, and I can assure you that I did not think much of you until I found a better way to satisfy your desires.
There’s even the story of the twins who have grown up together through your dreams…
“There is only night and the sun revolves around my head, and then there is my name,” …they said. …And after that, and because I am very good at bedtime, I will give pleasure to you when you grow up. …And I will make you a good king.” There’s a little of this story in the Odyssey. It goes: “I shall sleep with you, though it is hard. As I think about the world that I live in here, I shall go down on my bed and give pleasure whenever you grow up.” It’s not completely clear what sort of love we live in, but here it seems to imply one or another type of love.
Lest there be any confusion, there are three things very important about this story for me to try to explain. First, it’s not some kind of premeditated plan or suggestion by Aeneas. It is just an observation that she thought she was in a pretty state…
Second….well, one. The story is that we are in a state of war, and at once, you must take care not to get in your face with Aeneas because you’ve got a reputation for being a whore. Your face burns, and you take the chance for a good fight (more on that later).
And third, just for the most part, it’s pretty clear that Aeneas is really really good at what she does, if not quite quite as good as Anaxagoras and Athena, but she is totally clueless about anything, which is an important fact and one that needs clarification.
So, then, why are these two women so different? The divergence between them can be seen in the two women’s thoughts and actions. Antigone is extreme in her feelings and her words, saying: “for me, the doer, death is best. Loving, I shall lie with him, yes, with my loved one, when I have dared the crime of piety” (Sophocles 24). Penelope is always put-together, at least in front of the men. This contrast can be seen when she enters the feast, “when she, shining among women, came near the suitors… holding her shining veil in front of her face, to shield it, and a devoted attendant was stationed on either side of her” (Homer 35).
This idea that a woman must keep her composure leads nicely into the next character. Phaedra, the poor woman cursed to fall in love with her step-son, valued her reputation above all, even if maintaining it meant death. She struggled with her feelings because she knew that acting on them would bring her shame. Phaedra thought about several ways to deal with her problem. Finally, she says to herself, “next, I believed that I could conquer love, conquer it with discretion and good sense. And when that too failed me, I resolved to die… I want to have my virtues known and honored…” (Euripides 209). Here three elements of the good Greek woman are combined- she must be subtle (discretion), and rational (good sense), and she must, no matter what, maintain her honor. Women hanging themselves is not uncommon, and seems to be an acceptable “out” for a woman stuck in a bad situation. Antigone, after being trapped in the cave for her crimes, hung herself rather than die a slow and demoralizing death. This shows that having a positive reputation as a sensible woman is the most important thing- this will be seen with Medea as well. Hippolytus is so angered by the sins of women that he says, “so you, vile woman, came here to me to bargain…I’ll hate you women… but eternal, too, is woman’s wickedness. Either let someone teach them to be temperate, or allow me to trample on them forever” (Euripides 220). Hippolytus hates the “wickedness” of women so much that he’d rather they didn’t exist- and in this case, Phaedra complies.
Medea, because she herself is not a Greek woman, acts in many ways which are not okay in their culture. She could almost be a guide of what not to do as a Greek woman. First, she is too clever. Although women should be sensible, they should not be too smart- and if they are, they should weave their plans in secrecy like Penelope did. Medea is judged for her cleverness, as she says, “because I’m clever, I am resented by some people, and in some eyes I’m idle and in others opposite to that, and for others I’m a nuisance” (Euripides 85).
When Medea decides the best plan is to kill her children, the chorus begs her not to, saying, “you would become the wretchedest of women” (Euripides 107). She is certainly seen as wretched, however there is a moment when she questions her choice. The thing that resolves her commitment to her evil plan is her reputation. She says to herself, “but stop, what’s wrong with me? Do I want to be the laughing-stock, and let my enemies get off scot-free? I must endure” (Euripides 117). Even the lives of her own children are not enough for her to let her reputation be marred. Another theme throughout these myths that is shown in Medea is when, just like Hippolytus, Jason declares, “I say it