ASPASIA
Welcome to Korinth, wanderer.
I have a special visit planned for you today.
ASPASIA
It's an intimate, informative look into the
daily lives of Greek women.
ASPASIA
My name is Aspasia.
Though I am not originally from Athens, I
have climbed to the top of its social ladder
using my wit and intellect.
ASPASIA
I've even earned the love of Perikles, one
of the most powerful men in the city.
ASPASIA
The mind truly is a beautiful thing.
ASPASIA
It's amazing what women could accomplish while
men spent all day trying to out-debate each
other at assembly meetings.
ASPASIA
Their work should be far more appreciated
on the whole, but we're going to acknowledge
that now.
ASPASIA
Korinth was one of the largest cities in Ancient
Greece.
ASPASIA
It had an estimated population of 90,000 in
my times, and much of that population was
made up of women.
ASPASIA
This tour will shine a light on those women,
and look at how they lived on a day-to-day
basis.
ASPASIA
Look for me when you're done with your visit,
and we can discuss things further.
NARRATOR
Young girls growing up in Ancient Greek cities
were usually raised by a nurse.
NARRATOR
They mostly stayed in the women's quarters
of the house, the gynaikon, where they spent
their time spinning threads and weaving.
NARRATOR
While there is not much historical evidence
of young girls at play, especially compared
to boys, it was still known to happen.
NARRATOR
For example, an ancient terracotta group depicts
two girls playing ephedrismos.
NARRATOR
This was a competition to see who could strike
an upright rock from afar using a pebble or
ball.
NARRATOR
The game's loser had to close their eyes and
carry the victor until they managed to touch
the same rock with their hands.
NARRATOR
For a young Greek woman, marriage was the
culmination of their induction into society.
NARRATOR
The average life expectancy for women was
about forty years, so most marriages took
place when the bride was fourteen or fifteen
years old.
NARRATOR
The marriage did not require her consent,
either.
NARRATOR
Instead, she was passed on from the protection
of her father to that of her husband.
NARRATOR
Married women were not technically citizens
at the time, and lacked the rights that came
with official citizenship.
NARRATOR
However, they did receive a dowry that only
they were allowed to spend, -
NARRATOR
- but in the event of a failed marriage, the
dowry was returned to the bride's father.
NARRATOR
After the marriage was consummated, the woman's
status changed from being a maiden to a bride.
NARRATOR
She remained a bride until the birth of her
first child, wherein she officially became
a woman.
NARRATOR
Women living in Ancient Greek cities were
essentially forbidden from participating in
political life -
NARRATOR
- and most aspects of their lives were controlled
by men.
NARRATOR
Their most important responsibilities were
running the household -
NARRATOR
- and giving birth to children, preferably
boys.
NARRATOR
Most of the time, women's excursions outside
of the house were limited to visiting other
female neighbors, as per custom.
NARRATOR
The few exceptions to this strict rule were
weddings, funerals, and religious festivals
involving women in prominent public roles.
NARRATOR
Making textiles was the main occupation of
most Greek women.
NARRATOR
It was a woman's responsibility to manufacture
clothing for each of her family members, as
well as to weave other household textiles.
NARRATOR
Women with exceptional weaving skills were
believed to make excellent wives and weaving
in general was seen as a very attractive quality.
NARRATOR
For example, Homer describes Odysseus's devoted
wife Penelope as spending most of her days
weaving at the loom.
NARRATOR
Similarly, many Greek vases depicting women
weaving were combined with images of a woman
holding a veil, which was seen as the symbol
of a bride.
NARRATOR
Ancient Greek women cooked in their house's
kitchen area.
NARRATOR
However, since their cooking equipment was
small and portable, they also sometimes prepared
meals in the central courtyard.
NARRATOR
This was also where women performed other
domestic activities.
NARRATOR
These activities were rarely seen by visiting
men or passers-by, because the architecture
of Classical Greek houses facilitated the
social norm that women should never be seen
at work.
NARRATOR
The historian Strabo relays that the Temple
of Aphrodite was one of Korinth's most famous
landmarks.
This was largely due to the temple's female
patrons.
NARRATOR
These hetaerae, as they were called, were
donated to the goddess by both men and women.
NARRATOR
According to Strabo, the Temple of Aphrodite
contributed greatly to Korinth's wealth.
NARRATOR
The hetaerae were the temple's main attraction,
and many visitors came to Korinth in search
of their company, for which they spent frequently
and frivolously.
ASPASIA
Hello again, wanderer.
I hope your visit was an interesting one.
ASPASIA
Greek women lived very restricted lives compared
to men, but throughout it all, they held on
to their strength and dignity.
ASPASIA
Is there anything else you'd like to do?
ASPASIA
Feeling up for a test?
Excellent.
Let's begin with an easier question.
ASPASIA
What was the name of the woman's quarters
in a Greek home?
ASPASIA
The andron was actually the men's section
of the house, where they held their symposia.
Try another answer.
ASPASIA
The Heraion was a temple dedicated the goddess
Hera.
Try again.
ASPASIA
No, gyne was the status a woman achieved after
the birth of her first child.
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
Correct!
The gynaikon was where young girls spent their
days weaving and spinning threads.
ASPASIA
On to the next question...
ASPASIA
The Korinthian temple said to employ the hetaerae
was dedicated to which god?
ASPASIA
Apollo did have a temple in Korinth, but it
did not employ hetaerae.
Try again.
ASPASIA
No, the temple was not dedicated to Athena.
Try a different answer.
ASPASIA
Artemis was the goddess of chastity, so dedicating
the temple to her would have been ironic,
don't you think?
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
The Korinthian temple said to employ the hetaerae
was dedicated to which god?
ASPASIA
Correct!
Aphrodite was the goddess of love and passion,
so it's only fitting her temple served such
an... amorous purpose.
ASPASIA
We're almost done.
Just one more question.
ASPASIA
What was the name of Odysseus's wife?
ASPASIA
Clytemnestra was the wife of King Agamemnon
of Mycenae.
Try again.
ASPASIA
Helen was the wife of King Menelaos before
Paris of Troy abducted her.
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
Odysseus and Athena had a good relationship
- as far as mortals and gods go - but they
were not married.
Try another answer.
ASPASIA
Yes!
Penelope was Odysseus's loyal wife, who kept
at her weaving while waiting for her husband
to return from war.
ASPASIA
You passed the test, wanderer.
Congratulations.
ASPASIA
Then farewell, wanderer, and thank you for
visiting this great place.
