Fulfilling one ’s purpose Reproduction and female agency in classical Attica Iris van Nederpelt 4159640 2 In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts RMA ANCIENT STUDIES thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Josine H. Blok Utrecht University 2019 3 4 Fulfilling one’s purpose Reproduction and female agency in classical Attica Iris van Nederpelt Utrecht 2019 5 Abbreviations AIO Attic Inscriptions Online (https://www.atticinscriptions.com) AM Acropolis Museum BE Archaeological Museum of Brauron BÉ Bulletin épigraphique, pub. in Revue des études grecques Britannica https://www.britannica.com CID Corpus des inscriptions de Delphes DK H. Diels and W. Kranz (1952) Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, ed. 6, Berlin: Weidmann. DOL Dodona Online: https://dodonaonline.com/ DVC Dakaris S., I. Vokotopoulou, A.F. Christidis, Τὰ χρηστήρια ἐλάσματα τῆς Δωδώνης τῶν ἀνασκαφών Δ. Ευαγγελίδη (Athens 2013). EM Epigraphic Museum Athens EMC Echos du Monde Classique FGrH Die Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker I-III, F. Jacoby ed. (Leiden 1923). IG IV2 I Inscriptiones Argolidis IV: Inscriptiones Epidauri Fasc. I, 2nd edn. F. Hiller de Gaertringen ed. (Berlin 1929). IG II/III2 Inscriptiones Graecae II and III: Inscriptiones Atticae Euclidis anno posteriores, 2nd edn. J. Kirchner ed. (Berlin 1913-1940). IG II3 Inscriptiones Graecae II, III3: Inscriptiones Atticae Euclidis anno posteriores;1: Leges et decretae, S.D. Lambert (nos 292– 572), V.N. Bardani and S.V. Tracy eds. (Berlin 2012). IG II/III3 Inscriptiones Graecae II and III: Inscriptiones Atticae Euclidis anno posteriores, Part IV, Fasc. II. Dedicationes: Dedicationes Privatae, 3rd ed. J. Curbera, ed. (Berlin 2017). Kerameikos XIV Kovacsovics W., Die Eckterasse an der Graberstrasse des Kerameikos (Berlin 1990). Lindsay Sexti Pompei Festi, De verborum significatu quae supersunt cum Pauli epitome; Thewrewkianis copiis usus edidit W.M. Lindsay (New York 1913) LSCG F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrées des cités grecques (1969) LSJ H.G. Liddell, R. Scott, H.S. Jones, and R. McKenzie, A Greek-English Lexicon, with a supplement 9th ed. (Oxford 1996). NM National Archaeological Museum Athens SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum SK Staatliche Museen in Berlin TLG Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (www.stephanus.tlg.uci.edu) Theoi https://www.theoi.com 6 TrGF Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta I, B. Snell and R. Kannicht eds. (Göttingen 1986) Translations used Aeschines, Speeches, C.D. Adams trans., Loeb Classical Library 106 (Cambridge 1919). Aeschylus, Suppliants, A.H. Sommerstein ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 145 (Cam- bridge 2009). Apollodorus, The library III, J.G. Frazer trans., (version unknown) https://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus3.html (June 6 2019). Aristophanes, Frogs, J. Henderson ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 180 (Cambridge 2002). Aristophanes, Lysistrata, J. Henderson ed and trans., Loeb Classical Library 179 (Cambridge 2000). Aristotle, Generation of Animals, A. L. Peck trans., Loeb Classical Library 366 (Cambridge 1942). Aristotle, Politics, H. Rackham trans., Loeb Classical Library 264 (Cambridge 1932). Callimachus, Aetia, C. A. Trypanis, T. Gelzer and Cedric H. Whitman ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 421 (Cambridge 1973). Callimachus, Hymns and Epigrams, A.W. Mair and G. R. Mair trans., Loeb Classical Library 129 (Cambridge 1921). Euripides, Alcestis, D. Kovacs ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 12 (Cambridge 1994). Euripides, Electra, D. Kovacs ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 9 (Cambridge 1998). Euripides, Hippolytus, D. Kovacs ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 484 (Cambridge 1995). Euripides, Ion, D. Kovacs ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 10 (Cambridge 1999). Euripides, Iphigenia among the Taurians, D. Kovacs ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 10 (Cambridge 1999). Galen, On Prognosis, V. Nutton ed., CMG V.8.1 9 (Berlin 1979). Herodotus, The Persian Wars, Volume III: Books 3-4, A. D. Godley trans., Loeb Classical Library 118 (Cambridge 1921). [Hippocrates], Diseases of Women I and II, P. Potter ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 538 (Cambridge 2018). [Hippocrates], Glands, P. Potter ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 482 (Cambridge 1995). 7 [Hippocrates], Nature of Women and Barrenness, P. Potter ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Li- brary 520 (Cambridge 2012). [Hippocrates], Internal Affections, P. Potter trans., Loeb Classical Library 473 (Cambridge 1988). [Hippocrates], Places in Man, P. Potter ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 482 (Cam- bridge 1995). [Hippocrates], Regimen 1-3. W. H. S. Jones trans., Loeb Classical Library 150 (Cambridge 1931). Homeric Hymns, M.L. West ed. and trans., Loeb Classical Library 496 (Cambridge 2003). Pausanias, Description of Greece, Volume I: Books 1-2 (Attica and Corinth), W.H.S. Jones trans., Loeb Classical Library 93 (Cambridge 1918). Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.17-35, W.H.S. Jones trans. (version unknown) https://www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias8B.html (March 3 2019). Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.36-54, W.H.S. Jones trans., (version unknown) https://www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias8C.html (March 3 2019). Plato Gorgias, W.R.M. Lamb trans., Loeb Classical Library 166 (Cambridge 1925). Plato, Republic: Volume I: Books 1-5, C. Emlyn-Jones and W. Preddy trans. Loeb Classical Library 237 (Cambridge 2013). Plato, Theaetetus, H.N. Fowler trans., Loeb Classical Library 123 (Cambridge 1921). Plato, Timaeus, R.G. Bury trans., Loeb Classical Library 234 (Cambridge 1929). Plutarch, Moralia, Volume IV: Roman Questions, F.C. Babbitt trans., Loeb Classical Library 305 (Cambridge 1936). Pollux, Onomasticon: e codicibus ab ipso collatis denuo edidit et adnotavit Ericus Bethe, E. Benthe (Wiesbaden 1900). Soranus, Gynecology, O. Temkin ed. and trans., Soranus’ Gynecology (Baltimore 1991). The Greek Anthology, Volume I: Book 6: The Dedicatory Epigrams, W. R. Paton trans., Loeb Classical Library 67 (Cambridge 1916). The Greek Anthology, Volume II: Book 7, W.R. Paton trans., Loeb Classical Library 68 (Cambridge 1917). Theocritus, Idyll, N. Hopkinson trans. and ed., Loeb Classical Library 28 (Cambridge 2015). Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Volume I: Books 1-2. C.F. Smith trans., Loeb Classical Library 108 (Cambridge 1919). Xenophon, Memorabilia, E.C. Marchant and O. J. Todd trans., revised by J. Henderson, Loeb Classical Library 168 (Cambridge 2013). 8 Table of Contents Abbreviations 06 Translations used 07 Introduction 11 Chapter I | Context 15 The debate 15 Ancient Greek religion 16 A place for women 18 Religion and medicine 18 Religion and magic 19 Chapter II | Medical help 23 The female body 23 Iatroi 26 Midwives 29 Remedies 33 Chapter III | Ritual practice and magical techniques 37 Fertility rituals 38 Pregnancy and childbirth rituals 43 Rituals after childbirth 46 Rituals after death 51 Chapter IV | The deities, their dedications, and their sanctuaries 54 The sanctuaries and shrines of the fertility and childbirth deities: 56 Fertility and childbirth deities 56 Possible fertility and childbirth deities 71 Chapter V | Sacred travel 74 The logistics of and reason for female travel 74 Epidaurus 75 Oracular sanctuaries 77 Conclusions 80 9 Bibliography 83 List of figures 92 Figures 94 Appendices 105 Appendix I 106 Appendix II 114 10 Introduction ‘And in women again, owing to the same causes, whenever the matrix or womb, as it is called,—which is an indwelling creature desirous of child-bearing,—remains without fruit long beyond the due season, it is vexed and takes it ill; and by straying all ways through the body and blocking up the passages of the breath and preventing respiration it casts the body into the uttermost distress, and causes, moreover, all kinds of maladies; until the de- sire and love of the two sexes unite them.’1 This ancient Greek notion of a ‘wandering womb’ was one of the reasons it was so important for ancient Greek women to become pregnant. Besides Plato, the Hippocratic doctors also saw the womb as a rebellious organ that would – when the absence of intercourse and pregnancy caused lack of moisture and fullness - wander around the body and cause illness and disease.2 This however, was obviously not the only reason for ancient Greek women to conceive. Provid- ing their families with children and - more importantly - legitimate heirs was an ancient Greek woman’s most important task in life. Especially since only legitimate children (a child whose parents were both Athenian citizens) could receive an inheritance and keep up the family’s name.3 It was of vital importance for both the oikos - the family on the level of the household - and the polis that the paternal family lines would be continued and that the ancestral heritage would not be lost. In addition, citizens and non-citizens alike - though the latter lacked ancestral heritage that was linked to the polis - needed (legitimate) children since they were an asset for the future; they could take care of their parents when these were older and arrange a proper burial when the parents died.4 As Nancy Demand aptly pointed out, a woman’s role and status were determined through her membership of an oikos or the lack thereof. Her ability to bring children into her husband’s oikos was critical, for only when she gave birth to a healthy child she would receive the full status of gyne (women-wife).5 Pregnancy and childbirth involved however, great risks for both mother and child. Figures are not readily available, but through comparison with much later non-industrialised societies (eighteenth-century rural England