What was the role of the kyria in the oikos?

1
What was the role of the kyria in the oikos?
Learning Objectives
To assess who had the control in an Athenian marriage
To investigate the role of the kyria
To judge who was the most important to the oikos
2
The role of the Kyria

• On your tables you have a selection of sources
  describing the role of the kyria.
• Read each source, decide which role it discusses,
  and then summarise it in the appropriate section
  of your chart.
• Domestic duties
• Motherhood
• Rights
• Extension In what ways do you think the life of
  a poor Athenian women could be better than the
  life of a rich Athenian women?

3
Read about the role of women in Greek
society Highlight evidence which suggest women
played an important part in Greek households in
one colour and evidence that they lacked status
in another colour. ?What can we learn about
Greek fashion for women and does this tell us
anything about their status?
4
Kyrios vs Kyria

• Who was the most important to the oikos? kyrios
  or kyria?
• On your tables you are going to have a silent
  debate. One of you will be arguing the side of
  the kyrios, the other the side of the kyria.
• You must convey all of your arguments on paper
  you cannot do it verbally.
• To make an important you can write in
  capitals/big but you are not allowed to cross
  out each others work!
• You do not have to debate in an orderly fashion
  you should all be writing at the same time.

5
Kyrios vs Kyria

• Pass your debate to the next table so that they
  can judge who has won
• Read the key points of the debate you have been
  passed
• As a group decide which side you think has won
  write this on the back of the debate and explain
  why.

6
Judgement

• Who was the most important to an Athenian
  household, Kyrios of Kyria? Why?
• Extension Do you think that any of the roles of
  the Kyrios and Kyria still hold true today? Why?