Classics GCSE (OCR) - Women in Ancient World Questions & Answers

Why was "woman" created according to Ancient Greeks and how was life before them? - ANSWERSThey believed that men experienced old age, suffering and death because of women. They were created to punish the mankind for receiving the stolen gift of fire. Who was Pandora? - ANSWERSFirst woman. Zeus' plan to punish mankind. Something they would welcome but will lead to their destruction. How did Hephaestos contribute to Pandora? - ANSWERSMixed earth and water and created her alike immortal goddeses, which gave her a divine beauty. How did Athena contribute to Pandora? - ANSWERSTaught her various crafts; also clothed and styled her. How did Aphrodite contribute to Pandora? - ANSWERSHesiod's account says "sprinkled charm about her face", which means she made her desireable for men and physically attractive. How did Pandora spread the evil? - ANSWERSShe brought a pithos (jar) with her, in which were all the evils that plague mankind. She opened the jar as soon as she reached the earth. Only hope remained in the jar, which was Zeus' will. How do different tales of Pandora vary? - ANSWERSSome versions say she had a pyxis (box). Another later addition to this myth is the detail that Pandora was given the box but forbidden to open it, although eventually her curiosity was too great and she opened the lid to see what was inside, unleashing the evils by mistake. This version portrays a Pandora who is more complex, curious, disobedient and lacking self-control. How does Hesiod describe the inherent evil of women in Theogony? - ANSWERS- "deadly race and tribe" - "Zeus made women to be evil and with a nature to do evil." - "whoever avoids marriage and the sorrows that women cause, reaches deadly old age without anyone to tend his years." Why did the gods punish mankind? - ANSWERSPrometheus, who sided with the gods during Titanomachy, played a trick on Zeus so mankind could keep the better parts of the sacrifice. Zeus was angry and hid the fire so men could not cook their food. Prometheus secretly stole a spark of Zeus' fire from the Olympus and brought it down to earth; as a result, Zeus sent Pandora to punish the mankind. Who was Helen? - ANSWERSDaughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leda (wife of Tyndareus, King of Sparta). She was renowned for being a princess, a demi-god and the most beautiful woman in the world. Who did Helen choose to be her husband? - ANSWERSMenelaus, a prince of Mycenae. The pair continued to live in Sparta and had a daughter, Hermione. What is the story of Paris' judgement? - ANSWERSEris, who was the only goddess not invited to the wedding of mortal Peleus and sea nymph Thetis, decided to wreck the wedding and threw a golden apple with "to the fairest" written on it among the guests. All three godesses claimed the apple and Zeus (who did not want to judge) ordered them to find an honest mortal instead. They chose Paris, a Trojan prince. What was the offer of Athena to Paris? - ANSWERSVictory in war What was the offer of Hera to Paris? - ANSWERSPower What was the offer of Aphrodite to Paris? - ANSWERSLove of the most beautiful woman in the world. Whose offer did Paris accept? - ANSWERSParis was most tempted by Aphrodite's offer and awarded her the golden apple. What does the story of Paris suggest about "beauty" ? - ANSWERSAlthough this may have shown the importance of physical beauty in the Ancient World, which may have been valued more than power and glory, this is likely to be a false conclusion since Paris is often criticised for being shallow and superficial. How do different versions of Helen's tale vary? - ANSWERSSome of them say she was blinded by her new love and voluntarily escaped with Paris to Troy; by being unfaithful to Menelaus she brought ultimate shame upon herself. However there are competing versions in which Helen was either overcome by the irresistable power of Aphrodite or carried off by force which presents her as a victim. How is Euripides' version of the story different? - ANSWERSHe writes that Hera, angry with Paris, created a phantom of Helen for him to take back to Troy. The real helen was whisked away to Egypt. Therefore this version present Helen as neither villain nor victim, but a pawn in a game played by the gods. What did Menelaus do after Paris took Helen? - ANSWERSHe assembled the greatest force of Greek soldiers that the world have ever known to set out for Troy to retrieve his wife. What may have been 3 additional reasons for the war? - ANSWERS- Because Paris took Helen when he was a guest at Menelaus' home, this was a serious breach of xenia (hospitality ethos, whose breach was blasphemous as it was overseen by Zeus) - Ancient poet Semonides suggested Helen was sent to earth by her father Zeus to trigger a war that would reduce the number of people on the world which was overpopulated. - Modern interpretations suggests Helen just helped them to justify a war for money and power. How does Homer portray Helen in The Iliad? - ANSWERSAt the start of the scene, she is weaving which suggests virtue. Trojan elders are impressed by her beauty but wish that she would leave as she brought war and destruction for both sides. Story shows she came to regret her decision. - "I wish I had chosen death rather than following your son. But I did not and now I pine away in sorrow." She regrets her decision but mostly blames gods and fate for what happened. She misses her husband, child and friends. How does Priam's speech differ from the elders? - ANSWERSHe emphatises with Helen, as her father in law and gods are to blame. What was the problem of the Roman Kingdom when it was first established? - ANSWERSRomulus grew the city by inviting refugees who were mainly men. Therefore they had a shortage of woman which could make them the last generation of Romans. What did Romulus initially tried to do? - ANSWERSHe tried to convince neighbouring kingdoms to encourage marriages between different citizens. However they did not welcome the idea since Rome was a new and untested kingdom. What did Romulus do after his offer was refused (according to Livy's account)? - ANSWERSHe sent invitations to neighbouring towns to attend a festival, which a large number of Sabines accepted. Before the formal part of the festival started, he gave a signal and Roman men started to seize and carry off the Sabine women. Particularly beautiful maidens were marked out for the patrician Romans. How did Sabine women reacted? How did Romulus tried to soothe their anger? - ANSWERSThey were outraged and claimed the bond between Romans and Sabines were broken. Romulus blamed their parents' arrogance and granted them the privilages of Roman Citizenship. How did their new husbands treated the Sabine women? - ANSWERSThey spoke loving words to them and justified their deed with love and longing. They thought appealing to vanity was the most effective way of winning over a woman's hearth. Who was Tarpeia? - ANSWERSDaughter of the general Spuirius Tarpeius. Whilst she was outside the city collecting water for a religious ritual, Sabine King Tatius managed to bribe him to gave his men entry to the city. Why did the Sabine soldiers killed Tarpeia after entering the city? - ANSWERSShe asked for what they had on their arms (Sabine soldiers used to wear gold bracelets and jewelled rings) but rather than giving all the jewellery to her, they crushed her to death with their shields after they no longer required her service. How does Livy's story of Tarpeia differ? - ANSWERSHe says when she asked for what they had in their hands, she meant the shields; which means she could be viewed not as treator but as a heroine. Since she saw they were planning to invade in all circumstances, she wanted them to be as weak as possible. How were the Roman attitudes towards Tarpeia? - ANSWERSShe was seen as a traitor. The cliff from which Roman traitors were thrown to their deaths was known as "Tarpeian Rock". How did the Sabine-Roman war end? - ANSWERSSabine (now Roman) women made their way to the centre of the fighting and pleaded with their husbands and fathers to stop fighting. Their appeal worked. War ended and Sabines joined the Roman Kingdom. Why was the female intervention in the battle significant? - ANSWERSIt demonstrated the influence of women in government and their male relatives. It also shows the vital rolewomen played in politics through marriage. Who was Lucretia? - ANSWERSPatrician woman married to Collatinus, son of a respected general and a distant relative of the current king Tarquinius Priscus. What happened between Collatinus and the king's sons? - ANSWERSThey were arguing about which one of their wives was the most virtious. To settle the matter, Collatinus suggested they should pay a surprise visit to each of them. What did they see in their surprise visit? - ANSWERSKing's daughters-in-law were spotted at a stumptuous banquet, passing time with their peers. Lucretia on the other hand was completely occupied by her spinning even though it was late at night. Therefore the winner was Lucretia. What did Sextus Tarquinius Superbus do? - ANSWERSHe was one of the sons of the king, and was impressed by the beauty and virtue of Lucretia. While her husband Collatinus was away, he returned to their house alone and waited until everyone was asleep. Then he took his knife and went to sleep with Lucretia. He first threatened her with death, but she continued resisting. Then he threatened with accusing her of adultery with her servant. She stopped resisting.