Women in

Athenian Law and

Society

GEOGRAPHY:

•Capital of Greece•Greece in Southern Europe

HISTORY:

•508-322 B.C•One of world’s Oldest City

Introduction to Athens

Learnt to read in School or at Home.Learnt important household skills-spinning, weaving, sewing, cooking etcLearnt simple facts n mythology, religion and occasionally musical instruments.Stay at home.Left the house for religious duties.Not able to watch Olympics.If Father had accepted the Baby girl, it would remained, otherwise killed.Could do jobs in Funerals, Weddings and State Religious Festivals.

Athens and Women Condition

Legal Status of Women in

Athens

Oikos:Basic Unit of SocietyHouseholdFamily

Kyrios:Lord, MasterMale Guardian

Terms to Understand

Provide Shelter

Upbringing as Child

Protection

General Welfare

Represent Women

Acting on her behalf in Courts etc

Responsibilities of Kyrios

No Independence Existence

Not Legally Competent

No rights to appeal

No right to Proceed an Appeal in Court

Legal Status of Women

Rightsof

property

Gifts

Dowry

Inheritance

Means of Property for Women

Anakalypteria:Gifts given to new Bride on her Marriage from her Husband and RelativesUnveiling of Bride.

Epiklerate:In case of no male Heirs of a person Property were Transmitted directly to Grandson.

Terms to Understand

Well established convention in Fifth Century.

Most significant form of Property acquired by a Woman by

her Kyrios.

No legal Obligation.

Due to Moral Pressure.

Finding a husband without Dowry was not Possible.

Dowry

Direct Inheritance to Women was very Rare.

Sons either Natural or Adapted Inherited the Property.

Daughters were excluded from Inheritance.

Inheritance

•Achieved by mutual agreement, by husband, wife or her family.

•No legal process but fact of separation.

•Repay of dowry.

•Father could terminate marriage of his daughter. •Divorce initiated on the wife’s side also had to be registered with the Archon, the Chief Magistrate.

Divorce

•Could not get Divorce herself.

•If she wanted divorce she had to do this through her parents.

•If she did not want divorce although then she had to obey her parents.

Role of Women in the case of Divorce

No voting right.

No right to speak in assembly.

No part in operation of state.

Political Status

Politai:Citizens with full political rights.

Astai:Citizens having civil rights but not political rights.

Terms to understand

Right to Vote.

Job rights.

Can participate in Olympics.

Property rights even after be married.

Can participate in politics.

Current Situation of Women