A Disquistion On Marriage Property And Women's Status In Ancient Greece

Marriage, an important part of social life, is a good way to know an epoch and the change of it, because in it there is property relationship, the change of the status of husband and wive, it also focuses the eyes of the lawgivers. Social relationship can be implied from it and wealth is consumed, the transformation of politics and religion is indicated in a way. Marriage property is a window from which the gender relation and women's status is reflected. The purpose of the paper is to review women's status in greek Polis from the aspect of marriage property. It is hoped that we can have a better understanding of charicteristics of classical social.The paper is consisted of 3 parts, namely preface, context (made up of 5 chapters) and reference bibliography.Preface: an introduction of the researches into greek women both at home and abroad and the aim of the disquisition.First chapter: marriage property and women's status in pre-classical times. In Homer's time the foudation of a marriage was betrothal gift, and giving betrothal gift or purchasing dowry could be accepted by the social customs. In marriage life husband was the owner and principal part of a family, but woman had her saying somehow. When a marriage was terminated, both could ask their belongings. But from the ancientry times women's status was declining.Second chapter: marriage property, especially dowry, in classical Athens. The chapter deals mainly with the theme from the part dowry played in marriage conclusion, the relationship between dowry, citizenship and wardship, inheritance of women and heiresses, the amount of dowry and mortagage, the disput due to the termination of a marriage, the function and essential of dowry etc.Third chapter: family property and women's status in the marriage life in classical Athens.Fourth chapter: the marriage property of the Doris reference to the Gorty Code and the marriage of Sparta.Fifth chapter: a brief conclusion.