PERCEPTION OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT GREECE IN LIGHT OF THE MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF PANDORA, APHRODITE, PENELOPE AND HERA

Abstract

The word mythology is formed by combining the Greek words “Mythos”, meaning a story told or heard in words, and “Logos”, meaning the telling of truth through human words. In fact, the two words are logically contradictory. While one describes events that do not reflect reality, such as stories and tales, the other is the telling of truth. For this reason, we cannot separate them when examining the belief systems and myths of ancient people.

Women, who were generally citizens of society who were male-dominated and had no say in all institutions of the state, including the administration, played a significant role in the myths of ancient states such as Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece and Rome. In the myths of the era in question, women were considered sacred beings due to their fertility, and they also showed the goddesses they created as the source of disasters, destructions and wars that befell humanity.

For this reason, while we evaluate the perception of women in the social structures of ancient states in the light of limited scientific data, we also benefit greatly from their myths. In this study, three mythological characters, Pandora, Aphroditee, Penelope and Hera were chosen. Our aim is to interpret the perception of women in Ancient Greek Civilization through sample myths about women who started wars, caused disasters, provided birth to living things, and created love in ancient mythology.