Spartan and Cretan Women: a co-interpretation

Abstract

This article aims to portray the situation of Spartan and Cretan women, and examine the peculiarities of both cities and, by extension, of the women living in them.
With this purpose in mind, we refer back to the Gortin code, which is the main source applying to women in Crete, and look at references by Classical authors regarding Spartan women. Our paper focuses on the analysis of institutions such as the dowry system, marriage and the role of female ownership. In addition, we examine the role of women from these two cities in child exposure. This study seeks to interpret this Cretan and Spartan ‘peculiarity’ within the framework of οἶκος.