The Etruscan society allegedly migrated from Tuscany or Lydia. (Klien, 166) Much of what scholars know regarding Etruscan society is based on funerary artwork. The Etruscans did not keep any written records of their activity. What we know about Etruscan lifestyle is based on their artwork left behind. Early on Etruscan society had a lot of contact with the Greeks that reflect in much of the Etruscan works of art. The distinction in Etruscan art and Greek art is clearly seen through the Etruscan representation of couples in art. The pieces in this collection will attempt to show how women in Etruscan society enjoyed a liberal lifestyle in contrast to Greek and Roman counterparts. Etruscan women were adorned with lavish jewels, had a public life and accompanied their husbands at banquets. Etruscan women were affectionate mothers, and passionate lovers. This emphasis is notably unique from the portrayal of couples among contemporary societies such as the Greeks and Romans. This depiction of couples reflects the essential role woman clearly held in Etruscan society. “Women in Etruria participated more fully in the public life of than Greek and Roman women. They had their own names, and passed rank on to their children (Bonfante xx-xx).” Etruscan women enjoyed the same equalities as men such as hereditary possession and having their own identity not solely confined to traditional roles of women in surrounding areas. Etruscan women could afford to provide financially for any children born to them, due to the Etruscan cultural setup. The independence that Etruscan women relished did not take away their nurturing nature as many other societies including the Romans believed. Women enjoyed a dignity comparable to that of their mal... ... middle of paper ... ...a right to the possession of her own wealth. (Bonfonte,) This not only provided financial security, but it is another factor that catered to the independence of Etruscan women. Works Cited Gardner, Helen, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. N.p., 2014. Print. Kleiner, Fred S. A History of Roman Art. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. "Sarcophagus of the Spouses - Smarthistory." Smarthistory: a multimedia web-book about art and art history. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. "Statuette of a standing maiden [Etruscan] (17.190.2066) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. Turfa, Jean M. I. The Etruscan World. London: Routledge, 2013. Print.
In conclusion, although Mycerinus and Kha-merer-nebty II and Augustus of Primaporta, do appear very different, come from entirely different geographic regions and were separated by thousands of years, they do have many things in common. When we consider subject, style, and function; perhaps other works of art have more in common than they appear to have.
For the Greeks, Homer's Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined. This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Achean's peacetime civilization. Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--man and woman. Women play a vital role in the movement of this narrative. Unlike in The Iliad, where they are chiefly prizes to be won, bereft of identity, the women of Odyssey are unique in their personality, intentions, and relationship towards men. Yet, despite the fact that no two women in this epic are alike, each--through her vices or virtues-- helps to delineate the role of the ideal woman. Below, we will show the importance of Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa, Clytaemestra, and Penelope in terms of the movement of the narrative and in defining social roles for the Ancient Greeks.
Archaeological evidence collected in ancient Laconia reveals great insight into the role and status of Spartan women until 371 BC. A compilation of written sources shows the unique treatment of women in Sparta compared with that of other ancient Greek societies. This treatment differs the economic, religious, marital, reproductive and social responsibilities from those of gender archetypes.
Lefkowitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 2005.
Women in antiquity did not have an easy lot in life. They had few, if any, rights. Surviving early records of the civilizations of antiquity from ancient Greece, Egypt, China, and Rome suggest the diversity of women’s roles differed little from region to region. There were a few exceptions, mostly concerning women of nobility and the city-state of Sparta. Excluding the rare instances mentioned most antique women were generally limited on education, mobility, and almost all possibilities interfering with domestic or childbearing responsibilities. The limited social roles of women in antiquity suggest the perceived c...
Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay.
Women in this society could, to some degree, assert power and influence in the home. The everyday life of the “ideal” Greek woman included child bearing and rearing, cleaning, both weaving cloth and making clothes, cooking and supervising slaves and other domestic tasks, (Xenophon, On Household Management).
Stokstad, M., Michael, W. and Bailey, D. (2010). Art History Portable Book 1: Ancient Art. New
Women in Ancient Rome did not have equal legal status as their husbands, fathers, or any other male figures in the society. Women were not allowed to make legal transactions without her husband’s or father’s consent. This showed how men were superior and controlled the money in the family. A woman was permanently attached to her family of birth and her husband’s family, if she got married.
Walcot, P. “Greek Attitudes towards Women: The Mythological Evidence.” Greece & Rome 2nd ser. 31.1 (Apr., 1984): 37-47. Cambridge University Press on Behalf of The Classical Association Article Stable. Web.
Honour, Hugh, and John Fleming. "Hellenistic and Roman Art." A World History of Art. London: Laurence King, 1999. 179-213. Print.
The first piece of art that dates back to c. 28,000 B.C.E. – 25,000 B.C.E. is the Woman of Willendorf. This figurine is no larger than 4 ½ inches high and made out of limestone (Honour 25). The statue was
...y care. Etruscan women were honored in life and death by their society and men.
Witcombe, Chris. Art History Resources on the Web. 24 October 1995. Art of the Middle Ages. 17 January 2002.
Antiquity acts as a passageway into the past, and a mirror used to reflect current time. Often, uncovered documents are used to interpret traits about people who are unable to speak for themselves. These artifacts are discovered from ancient times and are written by elite men who had access to these costly materials. I believe the powerful men of ancient Rome neglected to share the aspects of women’s social lives and experiences within their written work. It is our job as preservers of antiquity to uncover the mysteries that lie beneath the literary works of these high-class men. In this paper I will demonstrate how funeral inscriptions give us a taste of how women were treated and the expectations they had to uphold in ancient Rome.