IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY, WOMEN TAKE MANY ROLES, FROM THE FAITHFUL WIFE TO THE JEOLOS MURDERER, FROM THE BEAUTIFUL AND INNOCENT MAIDEN TO DESTRUCTIVE AND THREATENING MONSTER. THESE CHARACTERISTICS STEM FROM THE DUAL CONCEPTIONS OF WOMEN IN GREEK SOCIETY. ON THE ONE HAND, WOMEN ARE CONTROLLABLE, SUBMASSIVE TO THEIR HUSBANDS AND FATHERS; AND ON THE OTHER, THEY ARE THE BEARER OF EVIL.
CREATION OF WOMEN
IN HESIOD'S THEOGONY, ZEUS ORDER HEPHAESTUS TO CRAFT THE FIRST RACE OF WOMEN, A RACE THAT WOULD BE BOTH A BURDEN TO MEN AND A NECESSITY FOR THE CONTINUATION OF LIFE.
WOMEN'S DUTIES
TO THE FAMILY-BEFORE MARRIAGE, A WOMAN IS SUBJECT OF ARTEMIS. SHE IS ASSUUMED TO BE PURE, SPECIFCALLY A VIRGIN, AND BOTH DEPENDANT ON AND OBEDIENT TO HER PARENTS.
WHEN SHE MARRIES, HER FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO HER HUSBAND. SHE IS THE CARETAKER OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE BEARER OF THE CHILDREN. HER PLACE IS WITHIN THE HOME, HER TASKS SPINNING,WEAVING, AND COOKING.