religion: birth and marriage

what gods?

all associated with transitions

Hermes vs Hestia

Artemis

birth as impurity

cannot enter sacred spaces for a period of time after birth

tainted with miasma/ diseased

Sacred Law from Eresos, Lesbos

puts women outside social order so attempt to return

birth as a ritual process

omens taken, deities invoked

ololuge by women at moment of birth

amphidromia ritual - run around 5 days post birth

named 10 days after, father acknowledges

In Sparta, women raised to that of dead warriors

main aims marriage

fulfilment of maturation i.e end to childhood, for men that is later

children as main aim (could be replaced if no kids)

marriage oath to deities

geographical variation of marriage

in their rituals

in Olympia, compete in running races

in Argos, women wear beards

in Locris, Persephone is the main goddess

marriage ceremony

betrothal

special baths, water fetched in lourotrophos vase (grave markers later)

banquet and unveiling of bride

torchlight procession from mother to home new mother in law