ET CETERA ANTIQUA

📝 Classical Civilisation source-based questions, Year 11. Marks: Q1: 2/3 · Q2: 2/3. Sources: Part of the Parthenon Frieze (Source A) and Plutarch, The Life of Caesar 9–10 (Source B).

Study Source A

Q1. Explain why these women are shown on the Parthenon Frieze. [3 marks]

The frieze depicts the Ergastinai (female weavers) who are carrying equipment for a sacrifice (e.g. the third woman is holding a dish, possibly for collecting blood). This shows the importance of the women as the Parthenon was very significant in Athens. This suggests the women are shown on the frieze to emphasise the importance of women in religion.

Study Source B

Q2. Explain why the women were so upset by Clodius’ actions. [3 marks]

They were upset because they had to stop the festival, as is shown in the source: the women were panic-stricken and put a stop to the mystic rites of the goddess. This was because men were forbidden from seeing the festival, or even being in the same house. This shows the women were upset as they had to stop the festival.

Study Sources A and B

Q3. Explain what these sources tell us about the importance of women in religion in both Athens and Rome. [8 marks]

The first woman in Source A holds a peplos, which was the garment used to clothe the olive-wood statue of Athena Polias during the Great Panathenaia. This shows women were important, as she is carrying a very important item for the goddess herself. The peplos was also a central part of the procession in the Panathenaia.

Source B (Plutarch) writes that the wife takes over the house and prepares for the sacred ceremonies. This shows the importance of women in religion, as only women could take part — men couldn’t even be in the house. This shows they are important as they are the only people who can carry out the festival and were responsible for the entire thing.