2+3- ATHENS Funerals

Young Women and Women in the Home

sources for Athenian Funerals

• additional- Pericles funeral oration

• prescribed- grave stele of Ampharete

• prescribed- grave stele of Hegeso

author of Pericles funeral oration and the book he wrote

• Thucydides

• History of the Peloponnesian war

key quote about women from Pericles’ funeral oration

“the greatest glory will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for good or for bad”

why is Pericles funeral oration a trusted source

is a history, meaning that it is recording facts unlike other forms such as plays which have other motives; may still be different and has a motive behind it but still a history

aim of Pericles’ funeral oration; what does he want to achieve with it

• he was a popular politician; could be trying to cheer up the women by making their contribution at home important

• trying to motivate his army so makes Athenian women who don’t do anything are better than Spartan women who do not do this; makes the Spartan men want to go to war more

what does Pericles funeral oration show about women and their role in society

• women good when modest, only staying inside their own house

• the only thing he says about women in this speech

• to have a positive reputation is to have no reputation

• Pericles trying to inspire everyone as the war isn’t going well

• quiet and unnoticed

• lesser than men

Grave Stele of Ampharete date

c.400BCE

Grave Stele of Ampharete style

relief sculpture, classical style

Grave Stele of Ampharete original and current locations

• original= Athens, Kerameikos on the sacred road

• current= Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos

Grave Stele of Ampharete artist

unknown

Grave Stele of Ampharete purpose

a stele commemorating the life and death of an Athenian woman

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does it show

• a woman, presumed to be Ampharete, sitting down holding a baby

• she is completely covered, wearing a veil

• wearing an earring

• she has excess drapery

• she is holding a bird

• she is sitting down

• the clothing she is wearing accentuates her breasts

• top of the stele is shaped like a house

Grave Stele of Ampharete- how does her wearing a veil show her to be a good woman

even though she is in the house she is still modest, and good women were modest

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does her wearing an earring show about her

jewellery is expensive therefore showing that she is rich

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does her holding a baby show about her nature

• involved in caring for children, which is honourable and nurturing

• a good woman as she is a good mother

• she is in side profile, showing she is completely engaging with the child and not the audience, taking her role very seriously and is a good caregiver

• symbol of fertility and motherhood as she is holding a baby

• this baby is her grandchild

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does her excess drapery show about her and her family

• symbol of wealth as she can afford unnecessary fabric

• commemorates her wealth as well as the wealth of the family

• family showing off

• also shows her modesty as she is fully covered

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what could the bird she is holding be an what does it show about her

• could be real or a toy

• using it to play with the baby, showing she is nurturing and motherly

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does her clothing excentuating her breasts show about her

symbol of her as a mother as she is good and can breastfeed

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does the top of the stele looking like a house represent

shows she is in the home like women should be

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does getting the stele show about her in the first place

• quite big

• made of stone, which was expensive and hard to carve, so would have to hire a skilled carver

• wealth

Grave Stele of Ampharete- how does the stele show off the kyrios

• self sufficient

• how well he manages and controls his family as this woman in his family is honourable and behaving like women should

Grave Stele of Ampharete- what does her sitting down show about her

• shows that she is rich as she does not need to go out and work

Grave Stele of Hegeso- type of source

stele/relief sculpture

Grave Stele of Hegeso- datee

410-400BCE

Grave Stele of Hegeso- artist

Callimachus

Grave Stele of Hegeso- style

classical style

Grave Stele of Hegeso- original location

Kerameikos graveyard just outside of Athens

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what does the source show; any features noticed

• a lady sitting down and being served by a slave

• shaped like a house

• woman sitting down is almost the same height as the slave standing

• slave girl wearing hardwearing shoes not sandals

• the woman is completely covered

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what does the woman sitting down being almost the same height as the slave standing symbolise

shows that the woman sitting is superior and richer as she is bigger and therefore better

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what does the slave girl wearing hardwearing shoes show

shows that she is poorer as she has to have a job and can’t afford sandals

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what else shows that the slave girl is poor

she has a plain and simple hairstyle

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what about the source shows that the woman is richer

• can afford the stele

• wearing sandals

• has a footrest

• excessive drapery

• sitting down in the first place

• wearing a necklace; expensive

• elegant hairstyle

• can afford sllaves

Grave Stele of Hegeso- how is Hegeso shown to be modest

she is completely covered even inside the home, like a woman should be

Grave Stele of Hegeso- what are the two holding and what are they doing with it

could be a jewellery box and they are both examining it

what is the name of the engraving on the top of the stele

epigram