Marriage Gifts in Ancient Greece

Abstract

This chapter investigates marriage gifts and their economic impact. It explores the path that political economy left in nineteenth century, when it began to question universality of exchange and focused instead on social needs of parties involved. The chapter talks about a special term for female gifts, phernē, often misunderstood as “dowry,” and considers the significance of female wedding gifts in ancient Greece. It argues that the law deals with female gifts presented to reciprocate male gifts, which may be jewelry or animals or even land. If this interpretation is correct, then the Solonian custom would belong to the Homeric customs of giving bride-wealth. The chapter also discusses the value of cloth as marriage gifts. Finally, it proposes that the classical dowry has its roots in the female gifts offered as countergifts to the male bride-wealth.

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