The Iberian woman.

Historical context.

The Iberian culture embraces a set of pre-Roman civilizations that share a lot of ways, although there are regional differences, as the territorial occupation of this civilization covers a wide territory. This culture is closely related to colonization from the eastern Mediterranean, ie the interaction with Greek and Punic. In relation to women, in the iconography Iberian influences are seen in fashion, both in costumes and jewelry and hairstyles.

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

How was the life of the Iberian women?

Strabo says of the Iberian women:

"Women work the land and give birth in the same field, under a tree, and then continue working."

"The husband is the one who gives the dowry to the woman, and it is women who inherit and choose wives for their brothers".

Social context.

Some women flaunted an elevated position as priestesses, occupying a role as intermediaries between gods and men, so the Iberian ladies have been witnesses of that relationship (eg, the Lady of Elche or Dame Offeror). Sacred prostitution was practiced and found evidence of some sanctuaries.

The Iberian woman is closely related to the supernatural world of magic, of mystery, of the non-rational.

The situation of the Iberian woman depends on her social class. If she belongs to the aristocracy, she enjoys extensive 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 it represents the Goddess (eg, the Lady of Elche or the Lady of Baza). It is even possible that the priesthood was composed entirely of women.

Most women worked with men in the care field and livestock and, in many cases, she takes over completely from the field, cattle and children, since the Iberian society was very bellicose and the confrontations between different villages were frequent. The Iberian woman looks after the family and the village while the man is fighting in the war.

Despite the positive assessment of women in the Iberian world, she makes a sedentary function, protector of the family, and is the man who moves, which embodies the individualization and power.

Women belonging to a higher social class, whose clearest example is the priestesses, had valuables and occupied a privileged position in society. Some women practiced sacred prostitution, a form of prostitution with special consideration to society.

According to Strabo: women farmed and cared for the children while men went to war and did all productive work. Women exercising craft work, woven wool and linen, while men specialized in the manufacture of swords.