Woman/Slaves Roles in Ancient Greece

Women played an interesting role in ancient Greek culture. While they were considered citizens of the state, they were not allowed to vote or even to compete in the Olympic games. Greek religion was not about beliefs or doctrines; it was all about rituals, and women were chosen to perform these rituals at the sanctuary. An older woman was chosen to tend to the gods, and only she could enter the inner temple to bring the gods water for bathing and offerings of food. She lived in chastity and draped herself in a white veil during the ritual. Other women would wait outside and chant hymns and burn incense as the older woman would tend to the god. The laws of ancient Greece seem contradictory, since women were expected to manage their households and could take an active role in religion, yet they could not participate in politics or in the athletic games. However, despite the oppressive laws, woman had a strong presence in Greek culture.

Woman did many jobs. The wives also performed women’s work which included spinning, weaving, baking bread, cooking, serving, cleaning, fetching water, and removing wastes. Women formed an important part of male society. They were in demand as conversationalists, entertainers, and they managed slaves. There were also women slaves who performed the more menial tasks. Women in less wealthy households did not have slaves and had to do all the housework themselves. In peasant households, the women were in charge of working the fields.

Slaves did all of the work that many Grecians would not dare to do. Woman also did very important work that Men could not do because of their jobs in the armed forces, government, and economy. While slaves did the work that was harsh, woman did the spiritual and housekeeping work. Without slaves, Greece would not have lasted so long. In addition, without woman, the men in Greece would have an extremely tasking life. In all woman and slaves alike played a highly important role in Greece.