Women In Greece

With reference to sources, explain and assess the role played by women in the aspects of religion of ancient Greece.   Although men had a dominant part in ancient Greece, women had a vital role to play in religion. This was through festivals and games and the role of priestesses.   The Thesmophoria, a three day festival, took place the third of the year (June/July) just after the harvesting of the winter barley and wheat when Demeter abstained from her role of goddess of the harvest and growth, where she spent the harsh summer months of Greece when vegetation dies and drought sets in, in mourning for her daughter who was in the realm of the underworld.       This gave an opportunity for women to get out of their homes and   take an active role in public functions. This festival was held   on the twenty eighth day of the month, called Hekatombaiom which   is approximently the last half of july and the first half of august   and the first month of the Athenian year. The winners received   olive oil but soon traded it for cash even though oil was a versatile   and valuable commodity in the ancient world.     The oracle at Delphi, we are told, conveyed prophesies that came up from the Earth’s belly.   Pythia had to be over the age of fifty and have an unblemished character. The Pyhtia then descended into a basement chamber and then breathed the sacred fumes of Apollo. Then she returned and sat upon a three legged stool. Holding a shallow basin of water in one hand and an olive sprig in the other she would cry out her prophecy.   The festivals, games and the role of the priestess all mean that a woman’s role in the different aspects of ancient Greek religion are dynamic. Although men were the more dominant gender in ancient Greek religion, women also had and important influence on the religion because it began to form at a time when women deities were dominant. Due to the fact that the early history of the ancient Greek religion have not been recognised, the women that were...