Ancient+Greek+Weddings

Symbolism Dressed in White By:Sydney

“I give this woman, my daughter, for the begetting of legitimate offspring.” This is a well known saying that ancient Greek father’s said to their new son-in-laws. Marriage back then meant a lot more than just romance or, in my opinion, the total opposite. Weddings symbolized a girl becoming a woman, purification, virginity, fertility and alliance.

  Today, during a wedding ceremony, fathers walk their daughters down the aisle to the groom. This is a transfer, //ekdosis,// from childhood into womanhood. Ancient Greeks believed she is being transferred into her new household. To enter her new life as a wife the bride had to sacrifice her childhood belongings, toys and locks of hair. In return she received protection from Hera and Artemis, the goddesses of marriage and virginity. The goddesses were known for easing brides into the life of a woman. At the end of an ancient Greek wedding ceremony the bride arrives at the groom’s house. To sever her ties with her old household, //oikos,// the bride was known to burn the axle of the chariot that she rode to the groom’s house. Burning the axle meant she could never return.

The groom also performed a ritual with the bride called the sacred bath, which is a calmer ritual then burning a chariot. The bath was a symbol of purification that took place a day before the wedding. To start the process the families and couple visited the Callirhoe, a special fountain. A long-necked vase for each spouse was filled with the fountain’s water and brought back to their houses. The vases were carried to and from by a young boy because of his pure, innocent spirit. The bride and groom bathed that night to have a clean spirit for the marriage.

Having a clean spirit was close to another symbol valued in marriage, virginity. A veil conveys this symbol and was important because it showed the bride as pure and innocent. This also means she has not had a child. Wearing one is still a tradition today. Before kissing the bride, the groom unveils her. In ancient Greece the brides were unveiled when arriving at the (thalamus) bridal chamber. The meaning of unveiling back then meant that the bride was now ready to bear her first child.

Having a child was one of the main reasons of a wedding. Stating this fact makes sense that fertility was symbolized in Ancient Greek weddings. Sesame cakes and oranges were served in a basket at weddings by a young boy. Both appetizers were a symbol of fertility and so was the basket because it represented a baby cradle. The young boy who served the guests had to have both parents alive to represent the future child to come. He also represented good luck of having a healthy baby.

Present day weddings are more about love, which is why we choose our own spouses. In Ancient Greece, fathers chose their daughter’s spouses. This created an alliance for the groom and father-in-law. For the alliance to be secure the father gave the groom a proix, or dowry. Dowries ranged from money to multiple gifts. In return, the groom gave gifts and promised to keep the daughter, his wife, safe. Uniting these men could help with power, religion, war and less enemies.

When analyzing Ancient Greek weddings I have found that symbolism is all around. I believe that without alliance, fertility, virginity, purity, and transformation into womanhood there would be no wedding. Symbolism was extremely important in all Greek ceremonies and is used in our traditions today. I have learned more about the traditions of present day weddings and where exactly they came from.

Works Cited

"Amazon.com: Ancient Greece (DK Eyewitness Books) (9780789457509): Anne Pearson: Books." //Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel,Computers,Books,DVDs & More//. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. .

"Amazon.com: Exploring Cultural History - Living in Ancient Greece (paperback Edition) (9780737714555): Don Nardo: Books." Web. 29 Nov. 2010. .

"Amazon.com: Living in Ancient Greece (Living in the Ancient World) (9780816063390): Norman Bancroft Hunt: Books." Web. 29 Nov. 2010. .

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">"Ancient Weddings." //AbleMedia LLC - A Knowledge Company//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/ancientweddings.html>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">"Greek Culture." //Crystalinks Home Page//. Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://www.crystalinks.com/greekculture.html>.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Marriage in Ancient Greek Literature." Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://www1.union.edu/wareht/gkcultur/guide/9/>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sacks, David, and Oswyn Murray. //A Dictionary of the Ancient Greek World//. New York: Oxford UP, 1995. Print. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">S.e., By. "The History of Marriage." Web. 06 Dec. 2010. <http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/marriage/marriage.html>.

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