Gender in Ancient Greek Literature

Main thing

Gender roles in Ancient Greek literature reflected the patriarchal society of the time, with men being dominant and women subordinate.

In many works, women were portrayed as passive, deceptive, and confined to domestic roles like marriage and childrearing. They were often blamed for the downfall of men and seen as inferior. Misogynistic views were promoted in influential works like Hesiod's Pandora myth. Men were shown as active, dominant, and participating in public life.

However, Ancient Greek literature also featured powerful goddesses like Athena and Artemis who had more freedom and authority than mortal men. Some works, like Sophocles' Antigone, portrayed women making bold choices. In the domestic sphere, women had important roles in managing the household and could sometimes influence their husbands. Compared to later eras, Ancient Greek women had some power, especially in Sparta where they could own property.

Example: Homer's Odyssey portrays Odysseus' wife Penelope as loyally waiting for his return and cleverly fending off suitors, showing some agency. Meanwhile, Odysseus has adventures and ultimately controls her fate.

Terms

• Patriarchy - a social system where men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. Example: In Ancient Greece, men dominated politics, owned property, and controlled households.

• Misogyny - feelings of hating, disliking, mistrusting, or mistreating women. Example: Hesiod's myth of Pandora, the first woman, blamed her for releasing all evils on mankind.

• Pandora myth - a story from Hesiod's Works and Days that depicts the first woman, Pandora, as a curse to mankind, reflecting misogynistic views.

• Athena - the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts, who was born from Zeus' head and often helped male heroes.

• Artemis - the goddess of the hunt, moon, and chastity, who fiercely defended her autonomy and punished men who crossed her.

• Antigone - the protagonist of Sophocles' play who defies the male king Creon's edict to bury her brother, showing courage and agency.

• Penelope - Odysseus' faithful wife in Homer's Odyssey who cleverly fends off suitors and preserves the household while he is away.

An analogy

The portrayal of gender in Ancient Greek literature is like a play where men are the lead actors and women are supporting characters. Men drive the plot and make the important decisions, while women exist to highlight men's stories rather than being fully developed characters themselves. The play reflects the worldview of its authors and audience. However, some supporting female characters occasionally steal the scene with bold actions or clever ideas.

Example: In Euripides' Medea, Medea takes center stage as a complex character who challenges Jason and the male power structure, although she is ultimately punished for it.

A main misconception

Many people think of Ancient Greek society and literature as enlightened and progressive, but when it comes to gender roles, they were quite restrictive and sexist by modern standards. While Ancient Greek women had some influence and freedom compared to other ancient cultures, they were still seen as inferior to men.

Example: Aristotle argued that women were inherently inferior to men, but he also said "a husband and wife are each a part of a household, and the household cannot be well managed without both."

The history

1. 8th century BCE: Homer's epics (Iliad, Odyssey) largely exclude female perspectives but show some strong female characters.

2. 7th-5th centuries BCE: Lyric poets like Sappho emerge, giving rare female voices.

3. 5th century BCE: Classical Athens sees the rise of misogynistic works like Hesiod's Theogony, but also tragedies with complex heroines like Antigone.

4. 4th century BCE: Aristotle argues women are inferior to men in his Politics, but also discusses their role in the household.

5. Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE): Some women gain more influence, like Cleopatra VII of Egypt, but gender norms persist in literature.

"Man, the natural ruler, is free; but woman, the natural subject, is a born slave." - Attributed to Aristotle, influential Ancient Greek philosopher who wrote about gender roles.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. When reading Ancient Greek myths and stories, analyze how the male and female characters are portrayed differently and what this reveals about Ancient Greek gender roles and values. Notice the trends of men being active and women being passive, but also look for examples of female agency and power.

2. Compare the portrayal of mortal women in Ancient Greek literature with the goddesses. How are they similar and different? What does this ironic contrast reveal about how the Ancient Greeks thought about gender? Consider how the goddesses were both idealized and used to reinforce patriarchal norms.

3. Apply the Bechdel test to Ancient Greek stories: Do two female characters ever talk to each other about something other than a man? Very rarely. This reveals how male-centered this literature was. Consider how this compares to modern media and stories, and whether progress has been made.

Interesting facts

• The works of the influential Greek poet Sappho from the island of Lesbos are some of the only surviving literature written by a woman from Ancient Greece. Her poems express romantic love and desire between women.

• The famous Greek playwright Euripides featured complex female characters and challenged some misogynistic ideas in plays like Medea and The Trojan Women.

• Spartan women had more rights and freedoms than other Greek women, including the ability to own land, but were still seen as inferior to men.

• The all-female festival of Thesmophoria honored Demeter and Persephone, but men still controlled women's religious roles overall.

• The Amazons, a mythical tribe of warrior women, were popular subjects in Greek art and literature as an example of gender roles reversed.