Ceramics are an unparalleled resource for women's lives in ancient Greece, since they show a huge number of female types and activities. Yet it can be difficult to interpret the meanings of these images, especially when they seem to conflict with literary sources. This much-needed study shows that it is vital to see the vases as archaeology as well as art, since context is the key to understanding which images can stand as evidence for the real lives of women, and which should be reassessed. Sian Lewis considers the full range of female existence in classical Greece - childhood and old age, unfree and foreign status, and the ageless woman characteristic of Athenian red-figure painting. Specific topics investigated include domestic labour, women's work outside the household, seclusion, and relationships with men. Dr Lewis explores the reasons for the artistic focus on some areas of women's lives and the neglect of others. The text also engages with deeper issues of methodology, and explores current debates about the portrayal of women in classical art.
Accessible, informative and lavishly illustrated with more than 150 photographs and line drawings, The Athenian Woman is indispensable as a guide for students and a resource for academics in across the disciplines of ancient gender, ancient history and classical art and archaeology.