The Public Lives of Greek Women


These study questions are based upon documents in Lefkowitz and Fant's Women's Life in Greece and Rome.

#160-164
Find an example of a Greek woman serving as general of an army and tell the story to the class.

#160-164
What does a woman do to make King Xerxes of Persia exclaim: "My men have turned into women and my women into men"?

#191-194
For what reasons is Asė praised in these inscriptions?

#191-194
Does the inscription to Aufria suggest that Greek women were restricted to their homes?

#202-207
In what athletic competitions do women participate in these inscriptions?

#216-219
Describe the lifestyle of Hipparchia the philosopher.

#225-227, 229
What topics are the focus of the conversation between Gorgo and Praxinoa?

#235-236
What solution does Socrates propose for Aristarchus' problem?

#235-236
Why does Aristarchus describe Ceramon's slaves as technicians but his own dependants as "educated like free persons"?

#273-275
Find an epitaph suggesting a husband who was glad that his wife was dead?

#303-306
What sort of occupations are open to the women mentioned in these documents? What social status do these women appear to have?

#383-387, 389-392
In what ways to women participate in the religious rites described in these documents?

#383-387, 389-392
Find a document which describes the carelessness of a priestess. What does she do wrong?

#394-400, 402-407
What religious rights and responsibilities of women are mentioned in these documents?

 #426-430
What do you learn from these documents about the women who served as priestesses?