In different Greek city states, women had different rights. While they were controlled by men in Athens, women in Sparta had almost equal rights with men. Although Spartan women were formally excluded from military and political life, they enjoyed considerable status as mothers of Spartan warriors. And when the men were away, they would control the estates. In the 4th century BC, Spartan women owned approximately between 60% and 70% of all Spartan land and property.
In their normal lives, Spartan women would wear short and revealing dresses and go wherever they wanted. In Athens, women would wear heavy clothes covering their bodies and would rarely leave their homes.
Another big difference between the 2 big city states was the age for marriage. Girls in Athens would usually get married at 14, and they would marry much older men. Spartan girls would get married at 18-20, and they’d marry men of their age.
The wedding rituals in Sparta were very different. The night before the wedding, brides’ hair would be cut short, and they would be dressed in men’s cloaks and sandals. This way, they looked like young boys and seemed less dangerous to their husbands. Then, the bride would be sent into a dark room, where her new husband was waiting for her. Later, the husband would keep visiting his wife at night. It was thought to increase the feelings between the spouses and result in stronger children.
Even though most Greek women were kept far from public life, they could still take part in some events, such as the Olympics. They could participate in chariot races.
The methods for dyeing hair in Ancient Greece and Rome could cause blindness. The people used lead and sulfur, which are toxic, but people didn’t know it at the time. Their hair looked great, but the consequences for their health could be disastrous.

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