Women On Trial In Classical Athens: Unveiling the Lost Stories of Justice

Imagine being a woman in classical Athens, a society heavily patriarchal where women had limited legal rights and were expected to remain in the private sphere. In a society where power and authority predominantly rested with men, what happened when women found themselves entangled in the complex web of the justice system?

The Role of Women in Classical Athens

Before diving into the stories of women on trial, it is crucial to understand the position of women in classical Athens. Women were seen as subordinate to men and had little involvement in public life. They were primarily responsible for domestic affairs and focused on raising children.

With severe restrictions on mobility, women had limited opportunities for interaction with the wider society. Athenian law restricted their involvement in legal matters, reinforcing their dependence on male relatives or guardians.

Envy, Poison, & Death: Women on Trial in Classical Athens

by Esther Eidinow(Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5752 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	416 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Surprises Within the Walls of Justice

Contrary to popular belief, historical records reveal that women did occasionally find themselves on trial in classical Athens. Although the number of such cases may have been relatively small, they demonstrate the complexities and contradictions present in Athenian society.

While women were rarely given agency in legal matters, they could still end up in court due to a variety of circumstances. Instances of adultery, theft, and even murder brought women face-to-face with the Athenian legal system. These trials provide a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics between men and women within the spheres of justice and power.

Athens' Femme Fatale: The Trial of Phryne

One of the most famous trials involving a woman in classical Athens is that of Phryne, a renowned hetaera (courtesan) who captivated both men and women with her beauty and charm.

Phryne was accused of impiety, a serious crime in Greece. Her trial became a sensational event, captivating the Athenian public. It was not only a trial of one woman but a reflection of the society's anxieties surrounding female autonomy and power.

The defense strategy of Phryne's advocate, the famed orator Hyperides, took an unexpected turn. He decided to undress Phryne in a daring move, revealing her naked beauty to the jury and judges. The dramatic scene reportedly resulted in an acquittal, illustrating the complex intersection between gender, beauty, and power in Athenian society.

The Case of Euphiletos: A Husband's Defense

Another intriguing trial involved a woman named Eratosthenes and her husband Euphiletos. Eratosthenes was accused of committing adultery with a man named Eratosthenes.

In a society where female infidelity was considered a grave offense, it was Euphiletos who found himself on trial. His defense strategy primarily involved an appeal to the jury's emotions, emphasizing his love for his wife and the betrayal he felt upon discovering her affair.

Although the outcome of this trial remains unknown, it serves as a perfect example of the complexities surrounding gender roles, loyalty, and justice in classical Athens.

The Veiled Stories of Everyday Women

While the trials of Phryne and Eratosthenes highlight extraordinary cases, the experiences of everyday women in the Athenian legal system have largely remained hidden.

Unfortunately, historical records overwhelmingly focus on men, leaving the stories of average women largely untold. The lives of women from lower classes or slaves are even more challenging to unearth.

Despite these obstacles, a few fragments of their stories indicate that women faced trials for offenses such as theft, slander, and child abuse. However, without an extensive account of their perspectives and motivations, understanding these trials fully remains a complex task.

Exploring the trials of women in classical Athens reveals a society that, despite its inherent patriarchy, found itself grappling with complexities and contradictions. While women had limited agency and involvement in legal matters, there were instances where they found themselves at the center of court cases.

The trials of Phryne, Eratosthenes, and others provide invaluable insights into the power dynamics, gender expectations, and even the performative aspects of the Athenian justice system.

It is essential to uncover and share these stories to piece together a more comprehensive understanding of the lives of women in classical Athens. By shedding light on these forgotten narratives, we can challenge our preconceived notions and gain a richer perspective on women's involvement in the ancient world.

Envy, Poison, & Death: Women on Trial in Classical Athens

by Esther Eidinow(Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5752 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	416 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.

At the heart of this volume are three trials held in Athens in the fourth century BCE. The defendants were all women and in each case the charges involved a combination of ritual activities. Two were condemned to death. Because of the brevity of the ancient sources, and their lack of agreement, the precise charges are unclear, and the reasons for taking these women to court remain mysterious.

Envy, Poison, and Death takes the complexity and confusion of the evidence not as a a riddle to be solved, but as revealing multiple social dynamics. It explores the changing factors—material, ideological, and psychological—that may have provoked these events. It focuses in particular on the dual role of envy (phthonos) and gossip as processes by which communities identified people and activities that were dangerous, and examines how and why those local, even
individual, dynamics may have come to shape official civic decisions during a time of perceived hardship.

At first sight so puzzling, these trials reveal a vivid picture of the socio-political environment of Athens during the early-mid fourth century BCE, including responses to changes in women's status and behaviour, and attitudes to ritual activities within the city. The volume reveals some of the characters, events, and even emotions that would help to shape an emergent concept of magic: it suggests that the boundary of acceptable behaviour was shifting, not only within the legal arena but also
through the active involvement of society beyond the courts.