Marginalising Maternity: Iconography as Evidence for Social Ideologies in Classical Athens

Representations of motherhood are rare on Athenian painted pottery from the fifth century BC. This lack representation is surprising given producing and caring for children was one a woman’s key duties in ancient society, other evidence demonstrates close bonds women had with their children, especially infants who were all more need care attention. In this article we explore entangled lives mothers youngest – Athens to understand reasons under-representation. Images childcare iconography surveyed determine how characterised both private public spheres. The devaluation, demonisation appropriation mothering within context society then discussed impact institutional apparatus experience mothering.