Classics - Women in the ancient world flashcards

Improper women, women in legend, women in religion, women in power, warrior women, women to be feared, women in the home

Pandora - Greece

Greece - First woman who was created by the gods to punish men for receiving stolen fire. Gifts from the gods to make her desirable to men, like weaving and beauty. Also received thievish nature and 'a bitch's mind'. Opened a jar and released all evils and disease to the world whilst hope remained in the jar.

Helen - Greece

Greece - (two interpretations) 1) Left her husband Menelaus due to the influence of Aphrodite and went to marry Paris in Troy, responsible for the Trojan war, unfaithful, regretful. 2) is a phantom version of her went to Troy while she actually remained in Egypt, remained faithful to Menelaus and actually hid in a tomb and prayed to remain pure when a man made advances on her.

Sabine women

Rome - Kidnapped by Roman men as there was a lack of women in Rome. Romulus gave them citizenship as compensation and made them their wives. Intervened on the battlefield in a war between the Romans and Sabines

Tarpeia

Rome - Getting water outside of walls of Rome when the Sabine army arrived. Two interpretations: asked for what was on their arms (jewellery) and got crushed under shields for being a traitor. Other interpretation is that she asked for what was on their arms (shields) and got crushed for trying to trick the Sabines. Considered a traitor by Romans.

Aspasia

Greece: A prominent woman in ancient Athens, known for her intelligence and influence as the companion of Pericles. Aspasia was a skilled orator and played a significant role in Athenian society and politics.

Neaira

Greece - Slave hetaira. Brothel keeper sold her to two men. Two men sold her to Phrynion when they were ready to marry. Phrynion treated her brutally so she escaped term-4with everything she could. Met Stephanus while she was in hiding. Pretended to be Stephanus' wife. Stephanus rented her out as a prositute and also blackmailed her clients by pretending to catch them having adultery with his 'wife'. Taken to court as they found out she was not an Athenian citizen like she pretended and her daughter married an Athenian citizen illegally. Portrayed as a villainess in court.

Lycoris/cytheris

Rome - Prostitute, actress and mime. Born into slavery. Despite being an infamis she was a celebrity. Owned by a leno called Eutrapelus who freed her at the height of her fame so she could earn more. Relationships with important politicians such as Mark Antony and Cornelius Gallus.

clodia / lesbia

Rome - Noblewoman married to her cousin who was also a consul. She defied the ideals expected of her and spent time partying, drinking and gambling. She also had many love affairs which caused scandal. Rumours she had several affairs with married men and slaves. Famous lover was Catullus who wrote love poetry about her. Cicero defended Caelius by dragging her character in court.She was known for her rebellious lifestyle and influence in Roman society.

aemilia

Rome - Vestal Virgin buried alive because the central fire of Rome went out and she was found to be unchasteand thus accused of violating her vow of chastity. This punishment was seen as a severe consequence for a Vestal Virgin, who was expected to maintain purity.

pompeia

Rome - Wife of Julius Caesar, known for her beauty and status. She was divorced by Caesar after a scandal involving her alleged affair with another man, which damaged his political reputation.

Assemblywomen + Praxagora

Greece - comic play by Aristophanes about women trying to infiltrate the Assembly dressed as men and have political power in Athens. Many of the women are more concerned with gossiping and are not competent at public speaking. However the leader gives a passionate speech about how women should run Athens as they are experienced in managing the affairs of their household and would be more traditional rather than trying to find new ways to run things.

Agnodice

Greece - First female doctor. Studied medicine in Egypt then disguised as a man to be a midwife. Women preferred her to regular male doctors so she got brought to court, they thought she was a man having affairs with the women of Athens. She had to undress in court to prove her innocence but then she got accused of deceit and practising medicine illegally and was going to get sentenced to death. Women begged their husbands to drop the charges and change the law and were successful

Sempronia

Rome - Co-conspirator in Catiline conspiracy. Wife of senator, wealthy and influential. She was also intelligent and highly accomplished - for example she could sing, play music and dance. She was thought to have convinced women to try and get the support of their slaves and husbands, some even killing their husbands if they couldn't be persuaded. She broke oaths and was privy to murder and adultery. The conspiracy failed, but she was never prosecuted as the Roman law didn't recognise the possibility that a woman could commit treason.

Praecia

Rome - Lover of Cethegus, thought that she had influence over his political decisions. Prostitute. 'No public measure was passed unless Cethegus favoured it, and Cethegus did nothing except with Praecia's approval'

Fabia

Rome - able to change the law to allow plebian men to apply for the consulship; as she married a wealthy man of plebian origin and was jealous of her sister, who's patrician husband was a consul. Her father was moved and put forward an amendment to the law which was passed.

Hippolyta

Greece - Sister of Penthesilia who Penthesileia accidentally killed whilst hunting

Penthesileia

Greece - Amazon queen who searched for a 'glorious death' due to the grief she had after accidentally killed her sister whilst hunting. She was the only woman to look for death in battle, blend masculine and feminine qualities. Killed many Greek men in the Trojan war, but was killed by Achilles. Achilles 'fell in love with the Amazon after her death'

Camilla

Rome - Favoured by Diana as she and her father are spared when they are exiled. Has masculine skills as she learns to hunt and is proficient with weapons. She is attractive as a wife as she is beautiful and chaste, she has sworn to maidenhood. She is equals with men in battle and kills many. Her downfall is due to her desire for spoils of war. She sees Chloreus wearing gold armour which distracts her and allows Arruns to kill her and flee, giving no sympathy to Arruns as he is a coward.

Cleopatra

Rome - Queen of Egypt. Good general, leader and intelligent. Had affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Cause of civil war in Rome and end of the republic. Hated in Rome and was defeated by Octavian in the battle of Actium. Committed suicide by poison to avoid shame of being paraded through Rome.

Medea

Greece - Granddaughter of Helios and priestess of Hekate. Helped Jason to complete the challenges and obtain the golden fleece from her father and killed + mutilated her brother to allow them to escape. Married and had 2 sons with Jason. They got exiled from Thessaly as she tricked the daughters to kill the king. They stayed in Corinth where Jason left Medea for Glauce, the princess of Corinth. Medea was upset and was going to be exiled by King Creon. She poisoned Glauce and Creon with a poison dress and killed her and Jason's two sons before escaping. Was a barbarian.

Cynisca

Greece - Spartan woman who trained horses that won the Olympic games - physical prowess in Spartan women

Hipparete

Greece - Athenian women who tried to divorce her husband, Alcibiades, as he was having affairs with too many prostitutes. She got carried out of court by her husband.

Phano

Greece - Daughter of Neaira, got taken to court for marrying and Athenian citizen, the reason we know so much about Neaira

Nicarete

Greece - Brothel keeper who owned Neaira

Oppian Law

Rome - Law put in place during the war against Carthage forcing men to contribute some of the gold and silver from their wives' jewellery to the city treasury. Women banned from public displays of wealth. Law still in place twenty years later after the financial crisis had ended. Women protested against the law for multiple days. After a debate, the law got repealed.

Lucretia

Rome - Married to Collatinus. Considered the most virtuous woman as she was weaving while the other women were enjoying themselves. She and Collatinus hosted the companions. Sextus Tarquinius Superbus, son of the king, was impressed and wanted to sleep with her so he begged and threatened her with death. That didn't work so he threatened to make it look like she had committed adultery with a slave, then he raped her. She called back Collatinus and her father and made them swear to avenge her before killing herself, as she did not want to be an example to shameless women. This made the men revolt against Superbus and the king and ended the Roman monarchy. Shows the perception of women were valued above the women themselves

Ampharete

Greece - The grave stele of a woman holding a baby, her grandchild - showing her to be fulfilling her role and producing 2 generations in her family

Hegoso

Greece - The grave stele of a woman being shown jewellery by her slave - showing a relationship with the slave, she is wealthy and a good woman as she is inside

Turia

Rome - Married to a man who praised her on a grave stone. Advocated for her husband while he was in exile. Educated, loyal and obedient. Was abused by people but managed to eventually secure her husband's safety. Thought that she was infertile but her husband still did not divorce her - true love.