Status and Roles of Women in Assyria

Amanda Walker
9-12-14
History 134

Women in Assyria had similar social status as men but were never legally equal to men (.
"Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World."). This means that even though they were seen the
same by other people in the community even though by law they had unequal rights. Women
were unable to do many things during this time period.
They also had little say over their property and their slaves. The dowry given with the
woman was put into the estate of her in laws and taken care of either the father or the oldest son
who ever was head of household. Women from families that were wealthy received more silver
and precious metals as part of their dowry ("Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World.").
Assyrian women also had less control of their commercial lives. If a woman had the
permission of her husband she could take part in business. If a woman became a widow,
especially a widow with a child that was a minor she could inherit, become head of the surviving
family, and administer the familys estate (Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World.").
Women were typically married at a young age to an older man. A lot of times women
would outlive their husbands even with a lot of women dying in childbirth. Mesopotamian law
gave widows rights to her dead husbands property, her residence and what she would keep if she
were to get remarried. Sometimes the familys sons would be responsible for the care of their
mother ("Widowhood and Aging: Ancient World.").
A widow of a younger age would often remarry. It was harder for an older widow to
remarry because she was no longer able to give birth to any sons for her new husband. A law in
Middle Assyria states that if a womans husband, and father in law are dead and she has no sons
she can go where ever she pleases("Widowhood and Aging: Ancient World."). For a woman in
this time not having to answer to a man for guidance was a new found freedom. But I can

imagine it must have been hard at times to make decisions when for your whole life others have
been making your important decisions.
Widows of a lower class did not have the luxuries of inheritance. These widows were left
to provide for their children without the help of their husbands. There were Mesopotamian
temples took in unwanted infants, widows and the elderly people. These womens lives were
hard and they normally did not make it to see forty ("Widowhood and Aging: Ancient World.").
Although women were not allowed to do many things they still played a big role in the
Old Assyrian trade network. Normally wealth is passed down to the next male but if a father
feels like his son is not capable or worthy as head of house a female can be elected. Records
show that it was mostly women of trading families that maintained the main business in Assur.
They made cloths, managed accounts, purchased and sold goods, lands, houses, and organized
supplies for the donkey caravans that would be sent to Anatolia. Most of the merchants who
traveled were men but there were some women as well ("Women in business.").
In the nineteenth century B.C there was a woman who was a big influence in politics her
name was Shammuramat. She dominated Assyrian politics after the death of her husband. She
became a symbol of the Countrys might after Greek and Roman legends developed about her
("Women in business.").
Not all women were wives, mothers or widows with families. Some women were
prostitutes that associated with men in the military. There were several goddesses encompassed
within their oversight attributes of war. The goddesses Egyptian Hathor, Sumerian Inanna,
Babylonian Ishtar, and Greek Athena. As war goddesses they have the same ferociousness and
bloodthirstiness as warriors that are men. A female goddess symbolically represented the reason

why these men were fighting and served as a powerful inspiration to battle. Goddesses also
personally protected individual warriors and sometimes the whole battalions. And even though
these women werent the typical women the warrior goddesses left their imprints on both men
and womens minds ("Goddesses of War: Ancient World.").
The most important role of a woman in ancient Mesopotamia was for her to bare children
especially sons. Middle Assyrian law code let widows freely cohabit with a man without getting
married but if they were living together for more than two years the widow would legally
become a wife. Middle Assyrian laws had fifty nine clauses for matters that were woman related
("Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World.").
Women were not allowed to do all of the things men did but were still able to contribute
in different ways. A free woman named Nuzi played an active role in the economy and in courts.
Women werent always allowed to participate in economics once they did participate they did
the same business transactions as men. Women could acquire land by buying it, inheriting it, or
by royal grants. Women also sued and got sued regarding the titles and ownership of land
("Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World.").
With this being said women although they were not treated completely equal they were
able to do everything a man could do. Once in a while under the awful circumstances of a
womans husband dying she had to take his place and provide for her family. Assyrian women
were hard workers that just didnt get enough credit from men because they were expected to
take care of the family but the women were smart enough to do politics, own land and take care
of their families.

Bibliography
1. Salisbury, Joyce and Gregory Aldrete. "Mesopotamian Women: Ancient World." Daily
Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.
2. Bella Vivante. "Widowhood and Aging: Ancient World." Daily Life through History.
ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.
3. Hafford, William B. "Women in business." Calliope Sept. 2004: 30. General OneFile.
Web. 12 Sept. 2014.
4. Vivante, Bella. "Goddesses of War: Ancient World." Daily Life through History. ABCCLIO, 2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.