The Status Of Greek Women In Homer's Odyssey
The Greeks had a similar concept of masculinity as the modern Western world, including traits such as dominance, strength, and virility, all of which were reversed for stereotypical femininity. However, men were not ostracized or considered inferior if they did not conform to these ideals or deviated from the norms of sexual orientation or gender identity. Greek men’s power, influence, and potential were typically derived from their abilities and family lineage. However, women were also required to have male approval-- which often translated to being beautiful in addition to the aforementioned prerequisites. Thus, Greek women would fight tooth and nail with anyone who challenged their beauty or appearance. For instance, the entire Trojan
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Although the subjugation of women is evident in a great deal of myths, the goddess Hestia herself is perhaps the clearest example of this patriarchal status quo. As the goddess of the hearth and home, she “abides at home in the house of heaven; of the rest they who are reckoned among the princely twelve march in their appointed order” (Plato, Phaedrus 246). Originally part of the pantheon, Hestia is delegated few responsibilities, even compared to other major goddesses. She eventually gave up her throne on Mount Olympus when “Dionysus replaced Hestia, the goddess of the hearth” (Hamilton) and was given the lowly task of tending to the fire around which the gods sat. This situation was not particular to her alone-- many mortal Greek women were most likely “dethroned” by husbands, fathers, or other men in their life and forced to spend their days performing housework and childcare in place of a more social, professional, and stimulating lifestyle. Lefkowitz concurs, and writes of the trivialization of women’s potential, “[F]ew women ever got a chance to govern or play some direct role in politics. . . women kept the house and worked in wool. . . more of them would have been able to write poems or even novels had their time not been taken up with their responsibilities within the home” (Lefkowitz xiii). Indeed, the vast majority of Greek art,
Although the subjugation of women is evident in a great deal of myths, the goddess Hestia herself is perhaps the clearest example of this patriarchal status quo. As the goddess of the hearth and home, she “abides at home in the house of heaven; of the rest they who are reckoned among the princely twelve march in their appointed order” (Plato, Phaedrus 246). Originally part of the pantheon, Hestia is delegated few responsibilities, even compared to other major goddesses. She eventually gave up her throne on Mount Olympus when “Dionysus replaced Hestia, the goddess of the hearth” (Hamilton) and was given the lowly task of tending to the fire around which the gods sat. This situation was not particular to her alone-- many mortal Greek women were most likely “dethroned” by husbands, fathers, or other men in their life and forced to spend their days performing housework and childcare in place of a more social, professional, and stimulating lifestyle. Lefkowitz concurs, and writes of the trivialization of women’s potential, “[F]ew women ever got a chance to govern or play some direct role in politics. . . women kept the house and worked in wool. . . more of them would have been able to write poems or even novels had their time not been taken up with their responsibilities within the home” (Lefkowitz xiii). Indeed, the vast majority of Greek art,