Heroines and Saints A Comparative Study of Female Ideals in Antiquity

Megan Cleaver

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Moore, John

Keywords

Women in Antiquity, Greek Heroines, Christian Women Saints

Area of Concentration

Classics

Abstract

This thesis compares exemplar Greek heroines in epic and Greek drama with early Christian women saints' lives from the 2nd to the 5th centuries CE. It deals specifically with three types of women: virgins, wives, and widows. Comparing each woman in terms of the common themes among their stories, the thesis examines the similarities and differences between these ideal women in antiquity. While Greek heroines acted in the best interests of their families and households, the Christian saints devoted themselves to God. This contrast between household values and the religious devotion is what differentiates the behavior of an exemplary Greek heroine from a Christian woman saint. All in all, however, the personality traits of these women are often the same: they are all intelligent, beautiful and determined women who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the highest cause of their respective societies.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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