The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece

Front Cover
Psychology Press, 1990 - 269 pages
For centuries, classical scholars have intensely debated the "position of women" in classical Athens. Did women have a vast but informal power, or were they little better than slaves? Using methods developed from feminist anthropology, Winkler steps back from this narrowly framed question and puts it in the larger context of how sex and gender in ancient Greece were culturally constructed. His innovative approach uncovers the very real possibilities for female autonomy that existed in Greek society.
 

Contents

Erotic Protocols
17
The Oversight of Mens
45
Erotic Magical Spells
71
Hidden Injuries of Sex
101
Penelopes Cunning and Homers
129
Double Consciousness in Sapphos Lyrics
162
Demeter
188
Appendix One Translation of Artemidoros 1 7880
210
Bibliography
237
Index of Passages Discussed
255
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (1990)

John J. Winkler was formerly affiliated with Stanford University.

Bibliographic information