At last Friday’s “Fantabulous Friday” event, Dr. Jennifer Besse, an adjunct faculty member in Latin and the department of English, explored women and birth control’s prominence in prehistory as evidenced by the Egyptians and the Knossos Minoans, an unusual topic. Most people think of birth control as a modern invention, but this Fantabulous Friday event enlightened an audience of Elizabethtown College students who now know the real truth.
Before beginning her presentation, Besse wanted the audience to consider this commonly asked question in prehistory: “Are you valuable because you are you or because you can have children?”
She began her presentation in 1800 B.C., also known as the first time birth control was used and recognized. However, birth control was not scientifically approved at this time and society used uncommon and now seemingly ridiculous measures, such as crocodile dung, to prevent conceiving. In 1600 B.C., society discovered that fennel plants, only grown in Libya, have contraceptive properties. Women learned that if you used the Silphium plant once a month, you could prevent conceiving. The fennel plants became the driving force of the economy. At this time, it was unusual and unique that women in Crete had some control over their bodies. Birth control increased women’s power, not only over their bodies, but in society with the worshippers of mother goddesses. Besse used signet rings, engraved rings common in ancient cities such as Crete, Cyrene and Etruria, that frequently featured Silphium and its effects on society.
Before Hippocrates, the Dark Ages really began with Asclepius, son of Apollo and the founder of medicine. He was given the positions of both man and god. He is frequently depicted healing people in his temple. In 460 B.C., Hippocrates established the medical process and officially became known as the founder. His medical oath is evidence of the social view change concerning women. Hippocrates stated, “I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.” The audience also learned at this point about the Gynaikon, or also known as “the woman room” in classical Greece. Husbands would lock their wives and their children in this room when they were hosting a symposium, or a gentleman’s dinner party. The only women present at symposiums were the Hetairai, highly educated and cultured companions or courtesans. Evidence has shown that unmarried women were actually more respected and had more power than married women.
Conversely, society in Etruria, an ancient region of Italy, was very different. The region was known to neither the Romans nor the Greeks. Women and men were considered equal. The two genders, normally seen very separately, were commonly seen together in Etruscan society. Besse provided evidence of the equality through artwork depicting women and men lovingly together in public. Marriage was influenced by love rather than power in this society.
The presentation of the third period, “Enter the Romans,” began with the foundation of the Roman Republic, a woman’s rape. Following the empire’s foundation, they instated “The Vestal Virgins,” chaste women who would ensure safety and make sure the state is inviolate. These women represented Rome for 30 years and as the symbol of the state, they could not be killed. If they were caught breaking their chastity, they were buried alive.
Diversely, Roman marriages were private affairs for power, not for love. Since marriages were not motivated by love, affairs were typical and openly talked about. As a result, Augustus tried to bring back old morality by attempting to instate different marriage laws. He was unsatisfied with the too-frequent divorce solution to an unhappy marriage and wanted people to have children. The citizens responded in an interesting way. The city of Pompeii became a popular vacation spot. Besse referred to Pompeii as the “Las Vegas of Rome. Whatever happens in Pompeii stays in Pompeii.”
As women’s prominence in society changed, Silphium also became harder to find. Societies started to try new things such as wool, and the idea to use crocodile dung resurfaced.
Funnily enough, the last evidence of Silphium was digested by Emperor Nero. When given the last plant, he simply ate it. After a question and answer portion, Besse concluded by the realization that “ancient times had a better understanding of birth control than we think they did.”