matriarchy in ancient Greece
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Ancient Mediterranean and Europe
Forum Discription: Greece, Macedon, Rome and other cultures such as Celtic and Germanic tribes
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35163
Printed Date: 28-Apr-2024 at 07:30
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Topic: matriarchy in ancient Greece
Posted By: reitia
Subject: matriarchy in ancient Greece
Date Posted: 04-Dec-2014 at 02:46
Hello,
Having deeply studied Homer's Odyssey in the light of archaeology, anthropology, political science and the history of religion, it seems evident to me that the society described by Homer, although containing some anachronistic elements, was essentially Mycenaean (rather than Dark Age, as has often been claimed). Politically and religiously speaking, most of Mycenaean territory still followed the matriarchal/matrilineal pattern at the time of the Trojan War, as is demonstrated by the fact that many Mycenaean females still effectively ruled as queens (their husbands, frequently absent in wartime, would have held the status of Prince Consort and Commander of the Army, not King). BASILEUS, used by Homer, was a title of respect, meaning "noble lord"; it did not imply kingship. Another Homeric term, WANAX, frequently interpreted as meaning king, with much more probability indicated the supreme military commander of a coalition. WANASSA, on the other hand, meant either Divine Lady or genuine Queen.
Monarchical rule was passed on from mother to daughter; sons could not inherit power in their own territory, nor could they become kings by marrying foreign princesses.
Toward the end of the Trojan War, however, following a difficult period in which the right of women to rule began to be challenged, the matriarchal/matrilinear system started to decline rapidly.
A transitional case is that of Odysseus' Ithaca, in which matrilineal succession, which Penelope would have fulfilled very traditionally by marrying one of her suitors and producing an heiress to the throne, was upset by the sudden return of Odysseus, who illegally asserted his right to be KING.
In a future post, I will provide more details and analysis.
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