Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons^™

The Nuptial Ceremony Of Ancient Greece And The Articulation Of Male Control Through Ritual, Casey Mason

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Honors Projects

This work is the result of recent scholarship which has stimulated renewed dialogue concerning the status of women in ancient Greece. It is both a reconstruction of the nuptial ceremony and an investigation of the rituals within it. Ritual actions are used to express an idea or ideal about culture, and through the examination of these rituals we may evaluate both how and why men in ancient Greece exercised complete power over women. This new interpretation both confirms and contradicts our old beliefs, and is a constructive contribution to our modern discussion of ancient gender issues.