Date Thesis Awarded
4-2023
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Arts (BA)
Department
Classical Studies
Advisor
Jessica Stephens
Committee Members
Vassiliki Panoussi
James Skelton
Abstract
Sexual violence has been a subject feared by scholars for quite some time, even more so in ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. This thesis used modern trauma and rape theory, medical texts, and legal codes from antiquity to explore the ramifications rape had on real ancient women. The way in which a woman's space in a patriarchal society was formed is reflected largely on how her rape was handled. From abortive methods to the legality behind consequences for a rapist, it is revealed how little support ancient women had despite there being constant conversation surrounding the need for her status to be unviolated to fulfill her societal roles.
Recommended Citation
Thoms, Georgia, "The Realities of Rape: Understanding the Foundations of a Woman’s Space in Ancient Greece and Rome" (2023). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 2048.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/2048
Comments
TW: rape, sexual violence, abortion and trauma.