The Evolution of Woman's Life Cycle in Ancient Greek Society and Mythology (The Marginals of the Ancient Period, Book 3)

A woman in the Classical Greece of the fifth century moved through several pre-defined stages in her life. Each stage was signified biologically by a loss of blood from the woman and by social rituals which serve to highlight the transition into a new stage. The goddess Artemis seems to be active at each of these stages of a woman's development.

This volume investigates the positioning and placement of women, both real and mythical, as they progress through these stages. Although it usually seems that the role of women was entirely prescribed by men, with a modern perspective it becomes evident that women who grow and move towards motherhood are active, at some level, in the debate about their role in society, a debate which took place through myths and rituals.