Although women throughout history have fought for their independence, even now, full gender equality has not yet come. However, in ancient times everything was completely different. Women in Rome, Greece, Egypt, India and China had many rights, restrictions, hobbies and habits that we know practically nothing about.
Here are the most interesting facts about ancient women that are usually not mentioned in history lessons.
Roman girls had their own version of the Barbie doll
In ancient Rome, girls were married when they were only 12. Although their childhood was short, they still played with toys. One of them was discovered during excavations at the end of the 19th century. A wooden doll was found in a sarcophagus that belonged to a girl named Crepereia Tryphaena. Scientists have found that she lived in the 2nd century AD. e. in Rome. The doll has a certain resemblance to modern Barbies, but at the same time it is far from ideal size - it has an overly rounded belly and wide hips. A small box full of clothes for this doll was also found in the sarcophagus.
Ancient Egyptian women had an equal right to the throne
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Egypt was more democratic than many other ancient kingdoms. The main proof of this is the fact that any child of the ruler could inherit the throne. The rights of men and women were almost equal, although in other states it was the former that usually dominated. Moreover, the family line in Ancient Egypt was traditionally led from the mother, not from the father. This was accepted because it was much easier to prove motherhood than paternity, because DNA tests were not available at that time.
Greek women were eligible for divorce
In ancient times, women in Greece were not considered full-fledged citizens, therefore they did not have full rights and freedoms. But the divorce procedure was still available to them. If a woman wanted to divorce her spouse, she needed any male representative who could complete the deal on her behalf. But if the husband wanted to get a divorce, he needed to expel the woman from his house.
Ancient Egyptian women held high religious positions
Women usually never took part in religious governance. Yet Ancient Egypt was an exception. Women here could hold the position of "God's wife", which was associated with various deities. The most prestigious of them was the "wife" of the god Amun-Ra. It was an honorary title given to a woman who assisted the high priest in ceremonies. Initially, a girl of any class could receive it, but later such a privilege became available only to noble persons. In addition, these women were not ordinary housewives; they often spent time among the nobility. There are artifacts depicting them as professional musicians or dancers.
Roman women were educated
The education of women in ancient Rome remains a rather controversial issue. Most of the girls were taught only the basics of reading and writing. However, some families wanted their daughters to learn more, so they hired private tutors for in-depth lessons. It was believed that a literate and interesting spouse would subsequently be able to achieve greater influence in society.
Greek women played pebbles
Women in Greece loved to spend time playing different games, but the most popular among them was the game knucklebone, which is known in Russia as "pebbles". The girls took several figures (usually 5-6) and threw them into the air. Then you had to catch them until they touched the ground. In Greek "pebbles", figures were made in the form of animals and were made of ivory or bronze.
Roman girls wore bikinis
In the 4th century AD mosaics found in Sicily, Roman girls were depicted in something very similar to modern bikinis. And they looked very modern! It's amazing how progressive the Romans of that era were.
Romans loved to play sports
The mosaics prove that Roman women were also into sports. The prototype of modern dumbbells depicted on them looks really impressive. Thus, a woman in ancient Rome had a lot of options for pastime and leisure.
Chinese woman could be left by her husband if she talked too much
The inhabitants of ancient China had almost no rights and were usually considered the property of their husbands. Marriages were arranged by professional matchmakers, so a woman usually saw her husband for the first time only during the wedding. In the traditional ceremony, the groom's parents usually sat, and the bride wore a red dress and a blue headscarf, which her mother-in-law gave her. A husband could divorce his wife due to inability to give birth to a son, infidelity, lack of parental blessing, theft, infectious disease, and even because of wordy conversations.
Indian women could choose their own husbands
Arranged marriages are still widespread in India today. But in ancient times, a woman had equal rights with a man. For example, she could not only choose a husband, but also get married whenever she wanted. Indian women also received a good education, including the ability to study the sacred Vedas.
Ksenia Fed