The lady of the house
The lady of the house
| The responsibility of domestic life depended on the woman, to whom the
title of “lady of the house” was given. It wasn’t only a title of courtesy, because the wife organized the daily life and administrated the common properties. To express the sense of equality and intimacy, husband and wife, were indicated, even in the love lyric as “brother” and “sister”. The woman of lower classes often shared the husband’s work activity, besides naturally, caring for the typical female activities, such as weaving, cooking, keeping the larder full and preparing ointments. Already in the Ancient Reign the woman was legally independent: she could use her rights in a tribunal and freely express her own will in the disposition of private properties. The marriage was confirmed by a contract that, at the husband’s death, assured to the widow part of his inheritance. In the Egyptian civilization the woman always had an important role, often much more important than in other Mediterranean civilizations. Even in religion the female divinities had a very important role: besides Isis, who with the power of love won over the death, other goddesses had, in the Egyptian pantheon, strong personalities and characters. |
