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Women at War in the Classical World

Women at War in the Classical World

by Paul Chrystal
Women at War in the Classical World
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Women at War in the Classical World

Women at War in the Classical World

by Paul Chrystal

Overview

A look at how warfare affected—and was affected by—women in ancient times.
 
Although the conduct of war was generally monopolized by men in the Greco-Roman world, there were plenty of exceptions, with women directly involved in its direction and even as combatants—Artemisia, Olympias, Cleopatra, and Agrippina the Elder being famous examples. And both Greeks and Romans encountered women among their barbarian enemies, such as Tomyris, Boudicca, and Zenobia.
 
More commonly, of course, women were directly affected as noncombatant victims of rape and enslavement as spoils of war, and this makes up an important strand of the author’s discussion. The portrayal of female warriors and goddesses in classical mythology and literature, and the use of war to justify gender roles and hierarchies, are also considered. Overall, this is a landmark survey of women’s role in, and experience of, war in the Classical world.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473856615
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 02/20/2019
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 256
Sales rank: 1,014,310
File size: 16 MB
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About the Author

Paul Chrystal studied Latin and Greek at the University of Hull and then specialized in Latin love poetry for his MPhil at the University of Southampton. He is the author of many works including both local and Classical history, most recently Roman Military Disasters, published by Pen & Sword in 2015. He has contributed as a feature writer to the Daily Express and is frequently on BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Tees and BBC World Service. He lives in York.

Table of Contents

List of Plates ix

Acknowledgements xi

Abbreviations xii

Introduction xiii

Women and War in Earlier Ancient Civilisations xvi

Part 1 Greece 1

1 Goddesses and War in Greek Mythology 3

2 Warlike Women in Homer 7

3 Teichoskopeia: A Woman's View from the Walls 16

4 The Amazons 19

5 Women and War in Greek Tragedy 28

6 Women and War in Greek Comedy 36

7 Women and War in Greek History and Philosophy 38

8 Women Warriors Catalogued 60

9 Spartan Women: Vital Cogs in a Well-Oiled War Machine 82

10 Macedonian Women at War: Pawns and Power-Players 89

Part 2 Women as Victims of War 99

11 War Rape and Other Atrocities in the Classical World 101

Part 3 Rome 121

12 Military Women in Roman Legend 123

13 Military Women in Roman History 126

14 Foreign Women Fighters 154

15 Women and War in Roman Epic 183

16 Women and War and Militia Amoris 194

17 Military Tendencies in Women in Seneca's Troades 199

Part 4 Warrior Women in the Arts and Entertainment 201

18 Military Women in the Visual Arts 205

19 Women as Gladiators 205

Epilogue 211

Notes 213

Bibliography 226

General Index 244

Index of Women 247

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Related Subjects

History
Ancient History
General Ancient History
History
Ancient History
General Ancient History

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