Women in Greek History paralell women of Today
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Women in Greek Mythology Strength of the Early Greek Women Parallel Women of Today
When one thinks of the great stories of Greek mythology, images of brave gods and warriors are brought to mind. But women also played a large role in the mythology of the time. However, the women of Greek mythology were not mighty warriors like their male counterparts; rather they mirrored the roles of women in society. The roles of women in Greek mythology have been portrayed as powerful, evil, strong, controlling, and even sensual, but are best known for their roles as mothers and caretakers of the family. While the women of mythology were important, they were not as strong as the men, as powerful as the men, and were considered subservient to the men.
A general comparison to the women and men of mythology reveals a great deal. To begin with, there were fourteen main deities in Greek mythology, and of these fourteen, only six of them happen to be women. Already there is an imbalance of power within the mythological structure. In addition, the roles attributed to each of the women are those of the tradition roles bestowed on women, such as childbirth, marriage, and fertility, all roles bestowed upon women, who were expected to stay home and care for the family. "The business of men was hunting and fighting, the care of the fields belonged to the women...