House and Society in the Ancient Greek World (New Studies in Archaeology)

This 1999 book re-examines traditional assumptions about the nature of social relationships in Greek households during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Through detailed exploration of archaeological evidence from individual houses, Lisa Nevett identifies a recognisable concept of the citizen household as a social unit, and suggests that this was present in numerous Greek cities. She argues that in such households relations between men and women, traditionally perceived as dominating the domestic environment, should be placed within the wider context of domestic activity. Although gender was an important cultural factor which helped to shape the organisation of the house, this was balanced against other influences, notably the relationship between household members and outsiders. At the same time the role of the household in relation to the wider social structures of the polis, or city state, changed rapidly through time, with the house itself coming to represent an important symbol of personal prestige.

This book considers traditional assumptions about the nature of social relationships in Greek households during the Classical and Hellenistic periods, which draws on archaeological evidence from individual houses rather than textual sources. The focus of the study is the domestic organization of households, particularly the relationships between men and women within the households, between household members and outsiders, and with the wider social structures of the polis or city state, and how these changed with time.

This book considers traditional assumptions about the nature of social relationships in Greek households during the Classical and Hellenistic periods, which draws on archaeological evidence from individual houses rather than textual sources. The focus of the study is the domestic organisation of households, particularly the relationships between men and women within the households, between household members and outsiders, and with the wider social structures of the polis or city state, and how these changed with time. This book considers traditional assumptions about the nature of social relationships in Greek households during the Classical and Hellenistic periods, which draws on archaeological evidence from individual houses rather than textual sources. The focus of the study is the domestic organization of households, particularly the relationships between men and women within the households, between household members and outsiders, and with the wider social structures of the polls or city state, and how these changed with time. Using archaeological evidence from individual houses, the author discusses the social relationships in Greek households during the Classical and Hellenistic periods