The Iberian woman.

Historical context.

The Iberian culture consists of a set of pre-Roman towns that share much of their customs although there are regional differences, since the occupation of this village includes a large territory. This culture is intimately associated with colonization from the eastern Mediterranean, ie the interaction with Greek and Punic. Regarding the woman seen in the iconography influences on fashion in both suits, and jewelry and hairstyles.

Stand out for their originality, headdresses and hairstyles of oriental and Greek influence. In this sense, we have a reference of Strabo: "In other places women preen with a rounded comb the back of the neck and tied at the head of the ears, which gradually decreases in height and width ". In veils, shawls and dresses and also the eastern Greek influence is evident. There outfits with frills, fringes and borders. Among the gems are the belts, necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and "wheels" for the ears.

How was the life of the Iberian women?

Strabo says about women. "Women work the land and give birth in the same field, under a tree, and then they keep working . Husband gives dowry to women and is the daughters who inherit and choose wives for their brothers. Such customs point to a gynecocracy can not be called civilized. "

Social context.

Some women flaunted an elevated position. As priestesses occupy a role as intermediaries between gods and men, therefore the priestesses have been witnesses of this relationship (eg the statue of the Lady of Elche or statue of Lady Offeror). Sacred prostitution was practiced and found evidence of some shrines.

The Iberian women is closely related to the supernatural world.

The situation of the Iberian woman depends on her social class. If she belongs to the aristocracy, she enjoys broad powers as deduced from the regalia of their graves, competing in wealth with men. The Iberian woman appears in religious ceremonies on an equal footing with men, or even at a higher level when representing the Goddess (the Lady of Elche or Baza). It is even possible that the priesthood was composed mainly of women.

The Iberian women worked together with men in the field and care of livestock and livestock and, in many cases, take over full of animals and children, for the Iberian society was very belligerent and were frequent clashes between different peoples. She watches over the family and the village as the man is fighting. Despite the positive assessment of women in the Iberian world, it holds a sedentary protective function of the family and the man is moving and embodies power.

Women belonging to a high social class, whose most obvious example is the priestesses, valuables owned and occupied a privileged position in society. Some practiced sacred prostitution, a form of prostitution from Eastern that had special consideration.

Lady of Elche