Marriage and Ancient Greek Culture
Marriage is when a man and a woman are religiously committed to each other. In ancient Greek culture, this reflected on the relationship of the King and Queen, and Odysseus and Penelope, but they weren’t quite similar. The King and Queen had a closer relationship, while Odysseus and Penelope were always separated. Odysseus and Penelope’s marriage was nothing like the King and Queens. Odysseus wasn’t really faithful while trying to get back to his wife. For example, the first time Odysseus wasn’t faithful was when he was captured by Calypso.
In The Odyssey, it said “Even as he spoke, the sun set and the darkness swept the earth. And now, withdrawing into the cavern’s deep recesses, long in each other’s arms they lost themselves in love”. That basically says that they had a sexual relationship. This wasn’t really good of Odysseus due to the fact that he’s married. On the other hand, Penelope is at home waiting for him, and making up excuses that she will marry someone new. To make the other people believe that she unsows her quilt to take longer. The better relationship is between the King and Queen.
Unlike Penelope and Odysseus, they live together. In The Odyssey, they said “Alcinous slept in chambers deep in his loft house where the queen his wife arranged and share their bed. ” That showed that they didn’t sleep in different beds, but that they slept together and shared it. The King and Queen are an example of what marriage should be like. Men and woman play different roles. In The Odyssey, there are different roles. For example, woman had to be seen with their husband and not any other man, because then they would be called a bad name.
Also, men shouldn’t change in front of other woman while he’s married because it doesn’t show respect for their self and their wife. Ancient Greek culture had many rules, and they were better if you followed them. Marriage and courtship is very important to Greek culture. Not everyone takes it serious, for instance, Odysseus. He wasn’t faithful, and showed he doesn’t care for his wife back home. The King shows he’s very loving to his wife because they live together. Not all marriages are the same, and not everyone takes it as a commitment.
