Brother-Sister Marriages in Graeco Roman Egypt

Br separate- child spousalss in Graeco papistic EgyptWas it reciprocal to find oneself chum- babe trade unions in Graeco- papist Egypt? What is the Evidence for this?This endeavor will be sort on blood brother- babe spousals in Graeco roman earn Egypt, and the exhibit that we have for it through papyri ejaculates. Although inter-family brotherhoods argon non familiar today, they were trustworthyly trained during classical Egypt. The aim of this essay is to high-light the reasons why such(prenominal) man and wifes leadred and in any case, provide evidence of such matings by content of papyri garner, contracts and docu manpowerts that was besidesd from the period. Furtherto a greater extent, this paper is going to present ideas to the highest degree incest, and whether or non brother- sis marriages were accepted by society, who dirty dog embrace, and theories for inter-marriage.During the papistical Egypt period, a number was orchestrate e rattling 14 eld, in order to take a sign of the zodiac count, and to control revenue enhancementationes. Today, only 172 legible enumerate reports rebriny, and historians and papyrologists have utilize this culture to analyse the suffers of the definitive Egypt citizens. This analysis and papyri evidence, and also the works of notable anthropologists, historians and papyrologists, has helped to settle and understand this argument today.Background and Origins of sidekick- babe marriageNearly everybody in roman letters Egypt was espouse at some point in their lives. Girls in romish Egypt were expected to be marry as young as 12, and unimpeachably by their mid 20s. In Graeco roman Egypt, marriage justices were different and contack unneurotic amongst each society. unitings were performed under contracts, and for close marriages, thither were no age restraints, unconnected today. The strangest element of definitive Egypt was that on that point was no law against tight-ki n marriages. In fact, brothers and infants ofttimes married as was practiced passim the previous generations. Evidence for this came from the popish period through papyri and census returns. It was sweard that before the papist period, women were the inheritors of the record and in order to advance it in the family, the inheritor would have had to unite her brother.The Romans proscribe this custom and would often confiscate the estate if such a marriage took place. However, this law did not apply for Egyptians.For more societies today, it is considered normal to avoid versed relationships surrounded by full brother and child. However, in the Mediterranean world, such as in the classic and Roman societies, close kin marriages such as cousin-cousin or even uncle-niece marriages were accepted and encour gray.Brother-Sister marriages set ab egressd from the Egyptian tradition of august incest which was practised in Egypt by the Pharaohs as far back as 2000BC. correspon d to anthropologist erny, brother-sister marriages in the royal family were very frequent. For exercise, the marriage of brother and sister, Isis and Osiris, was seen as reverent incest to avoid right(prenominal)rs. Other majestic marriage amongst brother and sister was that during the Ptolemy sequence in Egypt. Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIV were married and she did bore his offspring. It is believed one of the explanations for these Royal marriages was a strategy to avoid splitting up of propor to maintain ethnic political status of the Hellenics in Egypt. Although marriage in the midst of brother-sister was frequent within the royal family and in Graeco Roman Egypt during the second atomic number 6 CE, it was common for maintains to c all their wives sister. This is however not strong enough evidence to certify brother-sister marriage.The laws for hook up withing brothers and sisters were different in each country. In Ancient Greece, Athenians were allowed to ma rry half siblings if they were from the equivalent(p) father but different pay back whereas S dieans were allowed to marry half siblings from the like mother but different father. In Egypt it is argued to be customary to marry brother and sister. Greek King Ptolemy II go along this custom and married his sister Arsinoe which violated his native Macedonian custom. This started a trend as the undermentioned seven of the eleven Greek kings of Egypt married their sisters. sound brother and sister marriage or incestuous marriages is believed to be a regular practise in Graeco Roman Egypt and it took place in general amongst the elite community. The marriages were genuine, not just for bureaucratic reasons. Many sociologists find this securely to comprehend without returning to the taboo on incest.Evidence of the marriages was first find in papyri dating from as early as the first hundred CE. Although brother-sister marriage would be deemed incestuous today, evidence appearing in papyri shows that brother-sister marriages were socially and legally accepted at the time. This can be seen from official census returns which shows that a large percentage of the marriages were betwixt brother and sister.However, as give tongue to before, attention should be taken when interpreting the papyri. Private permitters which were amongst the papyri found in the Fayyum atomic number 18a of Egypt, showed the terms brother and sister in letters amidst husbands and wives. This nevertheless, should not be taken as literally. Most of the papyri documenting these marriages originate from the Fayyum and fit in to Hopkins the women ar documented as macrocosm wife and sister from the same father and the same mother which leaves little room for equivocalness.Perhaps brother-sister marriage can be due(p) to a restriction of choice. In Roman Egypt, marriages were most likely to have been arranged and therefore, many young women ended up marrying older men or men pre-arran ged through family. For Greeks and Romans in Egypt, the choice was very limited as there was the political and social status to consider. Many Greeks did marry Egyptian women however, certain laws applied when it came to status regarding children. Marrying brother and sister was seen as the holy person settlement to some Greek families as it overcame the issue of a dowry or the division of family property. Inter family marriages also overcame issues of Greek racism. Sociologist brent goose Shaw suggests that Greek settlers in Egypt married within the family to separate themselves from the Egyptian commonwealth and to also keep a pure blood ancestry so to avoid tax disadvantages.Despite all these reasons, most scholars agree that although practised, it is known that both Greek and Roman societies prohibited any sexual relationship between siblings. However, in most cases, Greek traditions of endogamy were pushed to the limit. It is also believed amongst scholars that although pra ctised throughout cut and upper Egypt, in the bigger towns rather than villages, inter family marriages were more common amongst the Greek than the Egyptians.This phenomenon of endogamy in Graeco Roman Egypt could be traced to Greek Oedipal mythology, which leads us to the subject of incest.Is Brother-Sister married couple Considered Incest?Incest refers to sexual activity between two family members and is very much a cultural taboo in most societies and holds legal penalties. Whilst parent-children or sibling-sibling relations are illegal, other relations such as cousin-cousin may be gratifying in other societies and cultures. The practice of brother-sister marriage has never been common among any other society apart from the authoritative Egyptian society. Full brother and sister marriage was practised throughout the first three centuries after Christ.Incestuous marriage was widespread during authoritative Egypt and the evidence for this show in numerous papyri and household census returns. Anthropologist Brent Shaw states that, the word incest is linked to moral, social and legal norms established in Graeco-Roman antiquity. The Latin word for incest- incestum mode to be unclean or not pure which refers more specifically to committing a forbidden act between family members.In Graeco-Roman antiquity, there was a difference as to what was considered pleasurable behaviour. Roman law and social practices regarding incestuous marriage was far more intolerable than those of Greek law and practices. Shaw states that the Greeks did not have a word similar to the Latin incestumuntil the arrival of Christianity to the society. This shows the differences in attitude towards brother-sister and other close kin marriages.In Greek society, close kin marriage was more acceptable and practised than it was in Roman society. This attitude shows in the story of Oedipus and other stories of the same nature. This attitude was brought over to Egypt and even continued and encouraged. sum between cousins and half brother/sister marriages were accepted and became the norm for the Greek population in Egypt. This caused a clash with the Roman societys stringent rules towards incest. couplings between ethnicities, for example Greek or Roman-Egyptian were however frowned upon.It is not certain whether these marriages can be considered incestuous as a long history of sibling marriage existed throughout the society. To them, this was regarded as the norm and it even existed amongst Egyptian Royalty. The addition of myths and stories justify that brother-sister marriage was accepted and that incest was doubtful.Potential Theories for Inter-MarriageIn Egypt, this practice was common amongst the Royal family however it was still considered a taboo. There are no real explanations as to why they adopted these practices but sociologist Hopkins believes that there are quatern theories behind inter-family marriage. One factor being the high rate of mortality. lo ok into into the demography of Graeco Roman Egypt at the time, shows that the gap between surviving siblings is so high that the son looking for a mate must go outside the family. Therefore, the only way to solve this was to marry within the family.However, according to the indifference theory by J.R. Fox, belief was that boys and girls living and track downing together from childhood showed an absence of erotic feeling towards each other. The main point behind this theory is that boys and girls brought up together show no desire for incest. However in contradiction to this, there were instances of incest between siblings which associate to Sigmund Freuds theory of suppression where incestuous desires come from the subconscious.This again, relates to the influences of Greek myths such as Oedipus and stories of Egyptian Gods Isis and Osiris who were brother and sister as soundly as husband and wife.Social ClassSocial status may play a part in brother-sister marriages. Those with s tatus liked to maintain racial purity and this was maintained through means of close-kin marriages.The social class in Graeco-Roman Egypt was divided. The Romans and Greeks lived privileged lives whereas the Egyptians remained poor. Therefore, marriages remained within the respective societies.With respect to inheritance, sibling marriages were favoured as any land was to be distributed equally among the children. However in regards to women in Graeco-Roman Egypt, property and land was secured by marriage contracts therefore being financially protected in the event of divorce of death of a husband. Those who still inherited land were not subject to the Roman tax poll. Women who married out of the family had to take along with her property that she had inherited. Therefore, the only way to keep property within the family, even if the marriage ended in divorce or death was to marry a brother. According to Greek practices the father had the power to choose a spouse for his daughter and so, the ideal solution was to arrange brother-sister marriages so that the family will not lose property as land was very important for social status and mobility, and was used for financial gain. As girls married young in Graeco-Roman Egypt, it was plum easy to influence these marriages.Papyri Evidence of Brother-Sister MarriageEvidence for such marriages comes from the census household returns. However, the evidence can be seen as biased to the richer population as their papers would have been better preserved compared to those of the poor Egyptians.The census was conducted every 14 years between the years 19 C.E. and 257 C.E. step up of 172 of the legible census returns, between 15-21 per cent was marriage between brother and sister. 12 per cent of these marriages were between full brother and sister.Here are the papyri evidence for brother-sister marriage, which comes in the form of letters, wedding invitations, marriage contracts and deliver registrationsRegistering the st emma of a sonP.Oxy 2858To Agathodaimon and Herakleidesscribes of the metropolis, from Kephalas son of Heron son of Theon and from his wife who is sister of the same father and of the same mother,Didumewe register the son born(p) to us, Didumos. We rely a notification of his birth.This is a document registering the birth of a son. The parents are citizens of the Metropolis Arsinoe. This was a privileged status and their reference of being husband and wife as well as brother and sister was required to identify themselves. Here is another example of a brother-sister couple registering the birth of their childApynchis and Tapasis, his sister-wife, registering their eight year old daughter 14 February 185 ADTo Hermophilos, royal scribe of the Arsinoite nome. Herakleides division, from Aphynchis, son of an unknown father and his mother Tapholemis, and from his sister Tapasis, born from the same mother who is also his wifewe register our daughter Taesis, who was born to us both and is n ow eight years oldThe next papyri source comes from two parents who were also children of a brother-sister marriage. This papyri shows two generations of brother-sister marriages, therefore proving that it did occur and that it was common and accepted in society.P.Tebt.320To Sarapionand Serenusexamining magistrates, from Eudaimon, son of Heron son of Souchas, his mother being Herons sister Thermoutharion and from his wife Sarapias who is his sister of the same father and of the same mother, both of metropolitan statusHopkins suggests that brother-sister marriage was due to parents indigenceing to save the expense of their daughters dowry. However, he also states that this was not an advantage in means of wealth as outside marriages could potentially bring in the same amount of wealth in terms of inheritance. Some Egyptians just chose to believe that brother-sister marriage would result in an economical advantage.This papyri is an example of a marriage settlement between brother and sister, where a dowry was specified. This proves that as well as this being a brother-sister marriage, the brother/husband also real a dowry from her, perchance paid by their father.BGU 183 Mitteis, Chrestomathie 313Horos son of Tesenophisaged about forty three years with a scar on the odd wing calf agrees with his own sister by the same father and the same mother who is also his wife, Eriea, aged about thirty five years with a scarthat he as party to agreement has hereby received from hera dowry of silverto the value of twenty drachmae.Let the married pair live together without recrimination just as they have done before, and Horos is to provide all necessities and clothing befitting to a wedded wifeIf Horos leaves her, then he as party to the agreement is to return the dowry within thirty days of being asked for itOther evidence of brother-sister marriage comes in the form of a divorce contract. Even though the couple are brother and sister, sometimes, the marriage does not w ork out, and therefore ends in divorce. Here is an example of thisP.Mil.Vogl.85, AD 138Copy of a contractKronion son of Kronion aged about 54 years with a scar on his left forearm and his ex wife Taorsenouphis, who is also his sister of the same father and of the same mother, aged 50 years without distinguishing marksagree with each other that their life together has been brought to an endand it is concur that each of them may administer his own af equitables as he chooses and Taorsenouphis can live together with another man without reprisal of any cordialBrother-Sister marriages were seen as common and not abnormal, therefore they were celebrated openly and guests were invited by invitationP.Oxy.524Dionysius invites you to dinner at the marriage of his own children (teknn)tomorrow, that is the 30th at the 9th instantP.Oxy. IIIHerais invites you to dinner at the marriage of her children at home tomorrow, that is the fifth, at the 9th hour.These wedding invitations clearly show th at brother-sister marriage was in fact common and accepted by society. They also provide proof that such practices did occur. Invitations were ordinarily delivered by hand the day before the wedding.Private letters between husbands and wives may provide evidence of brother-sister marriage, but they cannot be seen as fitting proof as calling someone brother or sister was seen as a term of endearment. There are file aways of letters between husband and wife using these terms of endearment, however, the next source is of a letter from a husband to his wife and sisterP.Oxy.528Serenus to Isidora, his sister and wife, many greetings. Before all else I pray that you are wellI want you to know that ever since you left me I have been grieving, weeping by night and lamenting by dayYou sent me letters which would have go a stone, so much did your words affect me. Do let me know if you are coming back or not.This letter shows that although they were brother and sister, they were also affecti onate as husband and wife. Love was an evident feeling in brother-sister marriage as well as in outside marriage. This goes to show that perhaps the children were not forced to marry but chose to marry out of love for their sibling. Evidence for love, comes in the form of this love letter, perhaps from a wife to her husbandP.Oxy.3059Didyme to Apollonius, her brother and sun greetings.Know that I do not see the sun,Since I do not see youI have no sun but youThe archive of Apollonios the strategos and reorient, AD 113-120This was an archive of over 200 Greek papyri, belonging to the wealthy Apollonios family who were landowners in the Hermopolite nome. Apollonios the strategos was part of the highest office in the bureaucracy of Graeco-Roman Egypt. Apollonios was married to Aline who was believed to also be his sister. The couple frequently wrote letters as Apollonios spent most of his time away from his family, addressing each other as brother and sister.Aline to ApolloniosC.Pap.Ju d.II 436 (September AD 115)Aline to Apollonios her brother, many greetings. I am very unhappy about you, because of events that are said to be taking place and because you left me suddenlyPlease, then, keep yourself safe and do not put yourself in dangerTo Apollonios my brother.This could be proof that they were brother and sister, as well as husband and wife. However, due to the frequent use of brother and sister during the time, it is not certain whether this can be used as real evidence.We now return to the examination being posed of this paper Was it common to find brother-sister marriages in Graeco-Roman Egypt? The answer is indeed, yes, it was common to find these marriages. Brother-sister marriages were considered a norm for Graeco-Roman Egypt as it was practised* by ancestors before them. We also know that these marriages were sanctioned in tralatitious myths such as, the brother-sister marriage of Isis and Osiris. The Oedipus myth also allowed this practise to be justifie d. These marriages were not classed as incestuous as it was very normal and traditional to marry within the family. Inheriting land and property also vie a part in making these marriages common, as families wanted their land to be kept within the family.From the surviving evidence, we can see that nation openly stated in letters and documents that they were husband and wife of the same father and of the same mother. And wedding invitations were even sent to guests, inviting them to celebrate the family wedding. It is fair to say that these marriages were accepted.Brother-sister marriages were more common amongst the Greeks and Egyptians rather than the Roman citizens, as it was customary in Greek and Egyptian cultures. The transmitted effects amongst offspring of these marriages are un-known as nothing in papyri states that family marriages links to this. However, considering some families only married within the family for several generations, it may be safe to say that there is no direct link between sibling marriage and genetic defects, which is probably why it was more acceptable during that period.ReferencesBagnall, R.S. and B. Frier (1994) The Demography of Roman Egypt (Cambridge)Lindsay, J. (1963) Daily emotional state in Roman Egypt (Frederick Muller Limited)Lindsay, J. (1963) Daily Life in Roman Egypt (Frederick Muller Limited)Lindsay, J. (1963) Daily Life in Roman Egypt (Frederick Muller Limited)Huebner,S.R (2007) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt (Columbia)Huebner,S.R (2007) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt(Columbia)Shaw B.D. (1992) Explaining Incest Brother Sister Marriage in Graeco-Roman EgyptShaw B.D. (1992) Explaining Incest Brother Sister Marriage in Graeco-Roman EgyptHopkins, K. (1980) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt comparative Studies in Society and HistoryHopkins, K. 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(1996) Full Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Another Look Cultural Anthropology, Vol.11, No.3, pp362-376(American Anthropological Association)Hopkins, K. (1980) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Comparative Studies i n Society and HistoryParker, S. (1996) Full Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Another Look Cultural Anthropology, Vol.11, No.3, pp362-376(American Anthropological Association)Parker, S. (1996) Full Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Another Look Cultural Anthropology, Vol.11, No.3, pp362-376(American Anthropological Association)Rowlandson, J., (1998) Women Society in Greek Roman Egypt a sourcebook. (Cambridge)Hopkins, K. (1980) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Comparative Studies in Society and History,Hopkins, K. (1980) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Comparative Studies in Society and History,Hopkins, K. (1980) Brother-Sister Marriage in Roman Egypt Comparative Studies in Society and History,Rowlandson, J., (1998) Women Society in Greek Roman Egypt a sourcebook. (Cambridge)Rowlandson, J., (1998) Women Society in Greek Roman Egypt a sourcebook. (Cambridge)Verb He practises the piano every day noun These practices have all but died out