Activity

A woman and mother at the forefront of an elite troop!

Characters:

Artemisia of Halicarnassus (Artemisia I of Caria)

Theme: Status of women

Competencies

Competence in Linguistic Communication

Personal, social and learning to learn competence

Competence in cultural awareness and expressions

Subjects and year by Educational System

Spain > Classical culture > 3rd ESO > Classical roots of today's world. Everyday life

Enunciation

Artemisia of Halicarnassus was born in the city currently known as Bodrum (Turkey), and was the tyrant of the region of Caria (Asia Minor). She commanded a small fleet of five ships with which she joined the Persian army of the Great King Xerxes I in his expedition against the Greeks in the Second Persian invasion of Greece. She fought at the head of her troops and led them in the battles of Artemisium and Salamis.
Read the excerpt about Artemisia of Halicarnassus and answer the questions
Albert Schl&ouml;gl, in his work Herodotus (Madrid, 2000, Alderab&aacute;n Ediciones, pp. 22-23), gives us this vision of Artemisia:
A woman and mother at the forefront of an elite troop!
He comments that this fact would still be, even in our time, a headline in the pages of the yellow and sensationalist press: It must have impressed the ancient Greeks, who paid obeisance to an uncompromising patriarchy.
It is important to know that in ancient Greece the world of men, their activities, occupations and interests was seen as absolutely opposite to that of women. The female citizens of the Greek p&oacute;leis lived locked up at home (there was a part of the house destined only for them: the gynaecium), were excluded from social and political activities, and celebrated their own religious festivities which were forbidden to men.
How shocking Artemisia's attitude must have been in such a context!
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<li>Explain why you think the author speaks this way.</li>
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Observations and context

Other famous rulers were the also famous Artemisia II (4th century BC), who, when widowed by her husband Mausolus of Caria (377 – 353 BC), ordered the construction of a grandiose and spectacular funerary monument in his honour, considered one of the seven wonders of Antiquity: the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus; Cleopatra Philopator (1st century BC), queen of Egypt, or Zenobia of Palmyra (3rd century AD). Of these, Cleopatra and Zenobia also commanded their armies, in this case against the Romans, and they were joined by others, such as Boudica, queen of the Iceni, who led several British tribes against the Romans.

The activity could also be done in the Block Classical roots of today's world. History and socio-political evolution.

Description

Albert Schlögl, in his work Herodotus (Madrid, 2000, Alderabán Ediciones, pp. 22-23) gives us his vision of Artemisia, comparing her role in history with that of women in general in her time. The activity is intended to encourage students to reflect on the role of women in that time and other ancient times, to compare this with their own reality and to make a critical judgment.

Answer

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