Women in the Ancient World

Book excerpt: From the faithful wife to the powerful queen, the untouchable priestess to the high-living prostitute, the daily lives and roles of women in the ancient world of Greece and Rome, Egypt and the Near East were fascinating and varied, often going beyond the traditional view of 'a woman's place'. Through themes such as domestic life, religion, work, mothers and mourners, stereotypes, costume and the body, this lively book explores the traditions and trends of different cultures, using intriguing juxtapositions of images to compare and contrast the attitudes of each society. The author takes a fresh and thought-provoking look at new ways of viewing these images, pointing out the signs that reveal how a woman is to be viewed, whether as an example of perfect femininity or the object of scorn. Beautifully designed and packed with a wide range of illustrations, from public art to domestic artefacts, many specially photographed, this book reveals compelling details about the everyday lives of women in the ancient world that will delight, inform and entertain all readers, often with surprising resonances for our own time.