Music as an Equalizing Force for Ancient Greek Women
Start Date
April 2024
Location
MCD 134
Abstract
This paper examines music's role in the lives of Ancient Greek women, concluding that music was an equalizing force for women in a world where men heavily oppressed them. Female lyric poets such as Sappho are examples of this; their works are a testament to how music gave them a venue to share their opinions. Women in religious choruses were also an example of this, as leading a chorus was a means for women to gain accomplishment. The chorus girls also could gain an education that wasn’t otherwise available to them through their participation and helped indoctrinate these women into religion. The final group of women explored in this paper are the courtesans, or hetairai, of Ancient Greece, who faced the most challenges out of these three groups. These women often learned music as a trade skill and played in drinking parties. They also stood to gain the most wealth out of the three groups through their entrepreneurship. Despite some adverse effects of their involvement with music, Ancient Greek women from all walks of life were able to benefit from their participation in music.
Music as an Equalizing Force for Ancient Greek Women
MCD 134
This paper examines music's role in the lives of Ancient Greek women, concluding that music was an equalizing force for women in a world where men heavily oppressed them. Female lyric poets such as Sappho are examples of this; their works are a testament to how music gave them a venue to share their opinions. Women in religious choruses were also an example of this, as leading a chorus was a means for women to gain accomplishment. The chorus girls also could gain an education that wasn’t otherwise available to them through their participation and helped indoctrinate these women into religion. The final group of women explored in this paper are the courtesans, or hetairai, of Ancient Greece, who faced the most challenges out of these three groups. These women often learned music as a trade skill and played in drinking parties. They also stood to gain the most wealth out of the three groups through their entrepreneurship. Despite some adverse effects of their involvement with music, Ancient Greek women from all walks of life were able to benefit from their participation in music.
