Introduction
In Classical Athens, women had very little freedom. They could not vote, own property, or take part in politics. However, in Greek mythology, goddesses were often powerful and independent. Some, like Hera and Demeter, reflected traditional roles as wives and mothers, while others, like Athena and Artemis, represented wisdom and independence. This essay will explore how the worship of these goddesses influenced Athenian women, focusing on marriage, motherhood, religion, and politics.
Marriage
In Athens, marriage was arranged, and women had no choice in who they married. This is similar to Greek myths, where goddesses were often forced into marriage. Hera, the goddess of marriage, stayed loyal to Zeus even though he had many affairs. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was given as a prize to Hephaestus. This reflects how Athenian girls had little say in their marriages. In Medea, Euripides writes, “A man who finds his wife tedious can relieve the boredom by going out with a friend his own age; but a woman must not let her eyes stray from the only man in her life.” This shows that men had more freedom, while women had to stay loyal no matter what. However, even though this is a primary source and gives us insight into what life was like for women in Greece, it is less reliable because it is a play so it might be overexaggerated for entertainment purposes. Today, forced marriage is illegal, and women can get divorced if they are unhappy in their marriages.
Motherhood
Athenian women were expected to have children and raise them. This is shown in mythology through Demeter, the perfect mother who loved her daughter, Persephone, so much that she changed the seasons when she was taken away. Another example is Eileithyia, who was a goddess dedicated to childbirth, showing how important motherhood was. Xenophon, a Greek writer, said, “Firstly, men and women are joined in marriage to ensure the continuation through having children.” This suggests that the main reason for marriage was having children. This source is useful because as a primary source it gives us insight into the household of Athenians back then. However, it is limited, as it is written by a man who would not have known about the lives of women. Today, women have more choices. They can have careers and do not have to be mothers if they don’t want to.
Religion
Religion was one of the only areas where Athenian women had some influence. They took part in festivals like the Thesmophoria dedicated to Demeter, which only women could attend. Athena, as the patron goddess of Athens, also would have provided important religious roles for women and girls, such as the Parthenoi virgins who made the peplos for the Panathenaic Festival. Some women could also become priestesses, for exampple the high priestess of Athena Polias. She was one of the most important figures in Athens, and she had influence over the city’s main temple. In modern religions, like Catholicism, the roles of women are more limited, as only men can become bishops or the pope.
Politics and Freedom
Although religion offered women some influence, that did not necessarily translate into political power. Women were excluded from voting at the Assembly, having a role in the Council of 500, taking part in the jury system, or ostracism. Girls didn’t even attend school, even though Athena is the goddess of wisdom, although some wealthier girls might be taught to read and write. Like the goddess Artemis who led a group of women on the hunt and vowed off men, making her independent. Athenian women were expected to get married and stay home looking after their children and husband, not be free like Artemis. In contrast these days, in places like the UK, women can vote and be politicians, which means women can have a power and influence unlike Athenian women.
Conclusion
Greek goddesses influenced Athenian women by reinforcing their roles as wives, mothers, and religious figures. However, they did not inspire more freedom or political power. Goddesses like Hera and Demeter reflected traditional roles, while Athena and Artemis represented independence, but this independence did not eextend to Athenian women. One of the difficulties when finding sources for this topic, was that women did not write as much and their lives were not often considered important enough to record. Today, things are very different, as women can make their own choices about marriage, motherhood, and careers. Although goddesses were powerful in myths, Athenian women did not share their freedom.
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