NeMLA 2021 Session: Ancient Herstory: Women and Gender in Antiquity and Beyond
In his Funeral Oration, Pericles illustrates the low status of women in ancient Athens, saying “A woman’s reputation is highest when men say little about her, whether it be good or evil.” Despite Pericles’ admonition, women held a central place in Classical literature and mythology, which cast them in a diverse array of roles: goddesses, slaves, mothers, daughters, virgins, whores, and warriors. These depictions laid the groundwork for the representations of women in subsequent literature and have continued to shape our understanding of gender. This session will explore depictions of women and gender in Greco-Roman texts and its impact on the literature of subsequent periods. Possible approaches include by are not limited to: