Power Of Women In Ancient Greece

Patriarchal societies in ancient Greece and the biblical world were very predominant. Men played prominent roles in the public sphere by having primary powers politically, socially, and economically through their role in leadership, moral authority, control of property, the privilege to vote, and attendance of public events. Women on the other hand, were encouraged to stay at home and have a private role in society. They did not have any of the rights that men had, such as inheriting from their fathers and being the head of the household, and they were also the property of their fathers or husbands. Although, the ancient Greek and biblical societies were dominated by men, some women could attain and acquire power. The authors in the Hebrew …show more content…
This power is important because it led to the change in events and made a long-lasting impact on a certain group, nation, or even an individual. One example is the midwives in Egypt, Shiphrah and Puah. When the Pharaoh at the time decreed that all Hebrew baby boys be killed, both women not only help to alter the change of event, but also risked their lives to save the babies. The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah were ordered by Pharaoh to kill the Hebrew women’s baby boys after they had given birth; however, both women defied his order in which the Bible stated “The midwives, fearing God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17). Another act of disobedience that they committed was lying to the Pharaoh about the Hebrew women’s conditions to protect the babies telling him, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptians women: they are vigorous. Before the midwife can come to them, they have given birth” (Exodus 1:19). Shiphrah and Puah had confidently lied to the Pharaoh because they feared God and also their occupations helped give their lies credibility. Their occupations can be seen as having power because midwives are supposed to be expert about the birth and conditions of babies and mothers, and to help mothers in labor. Through their expertise and knowledge, they were able to lie to Pharaoh which led them in continuing to let the Hebrew baby …show more content…
Queen Esther in the Book of Esther is an example of displaying this type of power. Because she was in good favor with her husband, Ahasuerus, who was the King of Persia, she was able to protect the Jews from a pogrom against them directed by the king’s royal chief advisor, Haman. Esther had privileges, power, and the king’s favor, because he greatly loves her as the bible stated, “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won his grace and favor more than all the virgins. So he set a royal diadem on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17). Because the king greatly loved Esther, he was willing to please her and do anything for her which gave her the courage to go to the king not summoned in order for her to plead him to protect the Jews. This was a courageous act, because it is a known fact by everyone in Persia, that if a person went to the king not summoned, the person would be put to death, unless the king touch his golden scepter in which the person would live (Esther 4:11). However, the king was pleased to see Esther and asked what she requested even declaring, “Even to half the kingdom, it shall be granted to you” (Esther 5:3). Through this event, Esther was able to accomplish her task in pleading the king to save her people from the pogrom and to defend themselves from being attacked by their