Articles

Some reflections on ancient Greek attitudes to children as revealed in selected literature of the pre-Christian era

Ancient Family - Votive relief depicting a family sacrificing a bull to Asclepius, the god of health and his daughter, Hygieia, Greek, 5th century BC (marble)
Ancient Family – Votive relief depicting a family sacrificing a bull to Asclepius, the god of health and his daughter, Hygieia, Greek, 5th century BC (marble)

Some reflections on ancient Greek attitudes to children as revealed in selected literature of the pre-Christian era

Diana De Bloemhead

University of South Africa: Master’s Thesis, May (2010)

Abstract

This study examines the ancient Greeks’ attitudes to children during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The investigation is limited to literary sources in selected pre-Christian texts. Problems which might bias interpretation have been noted. Parent-child relationships, as revealed in literary examples of parental love and concern, are of particular interest. Hazards affecting survival in early childhood, and factors which influenced attitudes regarding the fetus, abortion, exposure and infanticide are considered. Legal, political and socio-economic factors are amongst motivating forces. Childhood experiences such as education, sport, pederasty, step-families, slaves and slavery, preparation for marriage, and deprivation due to war and environmental factors are also examined. Ancient attitudes to children are compared with modern attitudes to children in similar situations prevailing in Western culture in the 21st century. The findings reveal that basic human behaviour has changed little over the millennia; however, factors influencing attitudes have undergone some change as society evolved.



The original title for this dissertation was “Ancient Greco-Roman Attitudes to Child Abuse in the Pre-Christian Era”. Due to the paucity of ancient Greek primary sources on children per se the study was to also include ancient Rome. However, the Departmental Higher Degrees Committee recommended narrowing the scope to either Greek or Roman literature and society, and further advised that the word “abuse” carries serious legal connotations and implications. Likewise post-modern terms such as homosexuality and lesbianism (intended for chapter sub-sections) should be used with caution. In view of this shift in direction the title was changed to “Some Reflections on Ancient Greek Attitudes to Children as revealed in Selected Literature of the pre-Christian Era”, with the focus mainly on parental attitudes to children. The polis was “the dominant form of social and political organization in classical Greece”. The focus of citizens of a polis was on the well-being of that state, and people were valued for their usefulness in attaining all aspects of the city-state’s survival and security. The poleis’ status declined when Alexander III the Great (356-323 BC) expanded Greek territory. The concept of ‘humanism’ grew and people, including children, were then seen as individuals.

Click here to read this thesis from the University of South Africa

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