Women Flashcards
(11 cards)
What evidence exists of women’s fitness in Spartan society?
Bronze figure of a woman from c.520-500 made in Lakonia
Located in the British History Museum
What type of education did Lykourgos provide for girls? [Plut]
Lykourgos gave girls a tough, physical education “so that the products of their wombs should have a really strong start”
Quoted from Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 14
Which playwright described Spartan women as having “such rippling muscles”?
Aristophanes
From the play Lysistrata
What did Gorgo say about why Spartan women rule their men? [Plut]
“We are the only women who give birth to real men”
According to Xenophon, what do women wish to do in Spartan society which affects marriage?
“the women wish to run two households, and the men to get more brothers for their children”
From Lac. Pol, 1
What did Aristotle say about women’s control in Sparta?
many things were controlled by women”
From Politics 1269b
How much land did women own in Sparta according to Aristotle?
“Almost two-fifths of the whole country”
From Politics, Book 2
What was the duty of women regarding childbirth in Sparta?
To have children without domestic work or adultery
Reflects the societal norms of the time
What were the conditions under which men and women received gravestones in Sparta? [Plut]
Men for dying in battle, women for dying during childbirth
Quoted from Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 27
What does Plutarch say of adultery?
“adultery was totally unheard of there”
Quoted from Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 15
Why did Spartan women not have to work? [Xen]
“There were enough female slaves to produce clothing”
From Xenophon, Lac Pol, 1
