Married Life in Greco-Roman Antiquity

This book explores the lives of married couples in Greco-Roman antiquity through a wide range of sources, including tombstones, curse tablets, contracts, petitions, letters, treatises, biographies, novels, and poems. It reveals the hopes, fears, traumas, joys, endeavors, and needs of these couples, shedding light on gender roles, social expectations, and intimate dealings in antiquity. The analysis of married life offers valuable insights into social and cultural mechanisms and the fundamental yearning to be included and loved.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Beyond the confines of marriage and its norms, rules, and customs, what was life like for married couples in Greco-Roman antiquity? This comprehensive volume delves into a diverse array of sources spanning seven centuries, in an effort to uncover potential answers to this intriguing question.

On tombstones, curse or oracular tablets, in contracts, petitions, letters, treatises, biographies, novels, and poems, scattered across Egypt, Greece, and Rome, 107 couples emerge as voices of their own or are given life by their contemporaries, sharing their experiences and perspectives on marital relationships and the profound emotional and practical consequences they entail. Renowned scholars and the next generation of experts embark on a seven-century exploration of source material, seeking to unravel the intricacies of married life among metropolitan and provincial, famous and unknown, young and old couples.

Through meticulous analysis, the text unveils the hopes, fears, traumas, joys, endeavors, and needs of both men and women, shedding light on gender roles, social expectations, and intimate interactions in antiquity. Known texts are revisited, new evidence is presented, and novel interpretations and concepts are offered, highlighting local and chronological specificities as well as transhistorical commonalities. The examination of married life in Greco-Roman antiquity, from the ongoing vetting process to the search for security, reveals the innate yearning for inclusion and love, as well as the tensions arising from the sometimes conflicting demands of traditional ideals and individual realities.

This analysis further deepens our understanding of social and cultural mechanisms, contributing to our knowledge of the complexities of human relationships and the diverse tapestry of ancient societies.

Married Life in Greco-Roman Antiquity is a valuable resource for scholars and students of Classical studies, social history, gender studies, family history, the history of emotions, and microhistory. It offers a rich tapestry of insights and perspectives, enriching our understanding of the past and paving the way for new avenues of exploration in the fields of history and academia.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032149653