JUS 372A Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Israelites, Ethnography, Asherah
5 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Three main sources for studying women in ancient times. Stories, official documents of the time, law codes. Burials, if the skeleton is largely intact and includes the pelvis, are a great indicator of gender. Iconography and figurines can be used to determine gender, but can be warped to fit views as people wish. Ancient fiction writers told us details about their lifetime even if that was not their intention. Legal codes give insight to underlying assumptions and fears. Israelites gender roles fit into the societies around them. Women were usually subject to the authority and control of a male relative. Widows, divorcees, and emancipated women had more power to direct and control their own actions. Their work was needed out in the field and to raise children. If raped, the rapist was expected to pay the father to marry her. Marriage was a matter of economics and interfamily relations, not necessarily love. A girl was expected to be a virgin.
