LFU:online

Based on written sources and visual sources concerning the living conditions of women in antiquity the possibilities and problems of Women's Studies and Gender Studies in Classical antiquity are discussed. Examples from different cultures promote cross-cultural, cross-linked thinking.

The focus of this course lies on different life situations of women in antiquity, which are examined in detail on the base of written and visual sources. Field subjects are business women business (entrepreneurs, wage laborers), women as religious (priests) and health professionals (doctors, midwives, nurses), women in their social environment (family, imperial), women and their body relationship (body care, hygiene), women as sexual objects (prostitution) and women as victims of male violence (rape). At least testimonies of ancient female poets, philosophers and teachers are in the spotlight of the course. To structure the course along theses aspects makes it possible to draw on examples from different cultural spaces and to give a broad overview of the conditions of women’s life as is represented in ancient sources.

Lecture, reading ancient sources (in translation), discussion of relevant research literature.

Written test

Topic-specific literature will be given in class.

online registration