By Lieutenant General (Ret.) K. H. Konstantinidis
Different Peoples and Their Views on Women and the Family
The Greeks differed from other peoples in their values, one of the most important of which was the sacred institution of the family.
a/ The Agathyrsians of Scythia
Ancient sources mention practices involving the communal sharing of women, supposedly intended to prevent hatred and jealousy and to regard everyone as brothers.
According to the same tradition, they considered all children to be common to the community. Ancient writers also attribute to them forms of communal ownership of property.
b/ The Galactophagi of Scythia
According to Nicolaus of Damascus, they held women and possessions in common. They called their elders fathers, those of their own age brothers, and the younger members sons.
c/ The Nasamonians of Libya
Herodotus reports that the Nasamonians practiced free sexual relations and describes particular customs concerning marriage and the wedding night.
d/ The Arunta Tribe in Australia
Anthropological studies also refer to particular marriage and sexual customs among certain Australian tribes.
e/ Ancient Ethiopia
Some ancient traditions state that royal succession passed to the sons of the king’s sisters rather than to his own sons.
f/ Lycia
Herodotus reports that in Lycia, when a person was asked about his ancestry, it could be identified through the maternal line.
g/ Sparta
In Sparta, there was no law establishing a general “communal ownership of women.”
There were, however, particular Spartan practices concerning marriage and procreation in certain circumstances, as described by Xenophon and Plutarch. This is different from the notion that women were regarded as common property.
Commentary
“Were the consequences of weakening traditional institutions, such as the family, the kinship group, family ties, and traditional gender roles, indeed beneficial to societies? Or did they create new social problems that are still seeking solutions?”
At least for the time being, what has occurred is a chaotic disintegration of societies.
Even the meanings of certain words associated with kinship, descent, and political status, such as citizenship, have changed.
The system has become hostile to kinship, family, and extended family ties, and the consequences are plainly visible.
Modern citizenship has become detached from the concepts of ancestry, descent, and a shared national and cultural identity. There is an attempt to create a society that is a patchwork of tribes, nations, and religions, but the experiments so far have been disappointing.
The Greek concept of γένος (genos) cannot simply be translated as nationality, because in Greek it has historically and culturally deeper meanings: common ancestry, kinship, historical continuity, and collective identity.
The concept of nationality overlaps with some of these meanings, but it is not identical to genos.
- Γένος (genos): common ancestry, kinship, historical continuity, shared culture, and collective identity.
- Nationality: in modern usage, primarily denotes a person’s national identity, although in certain contexts it may also be used in the sense of citizenship.
- Citizenship: primarily a legal status—the status of being a citizen of a state.
- Ethnicity: ethnic origin and belonging to a particular ethnic community.
Therefore, when we wish to indicate a person’s ancestry and genos, without referring to their legal citizenship, the phrase:
“He is Greek by descent.”
may also be rendered in English as:
- Greek by descent
- of Greek descent
- of Greek ethnicity
Whereas:
“Greek by citizenship” → “Greek citizen”
Citizenship, therefore, may be distinct from a person’s ancestry and national or cultural continuity.
The Eugenics of the Greeks
Our ancient ancestors, as well as Greeks in more recent times up to our own era, attached importance to the family background of both the bride and the groom.
Young men were traditionally expected, before marrying, to arrange suitable marriages for their sisters. This custom remained in force until my own time. Because of it, I was unable to marry the woman I loved.
Even in more recent Greek tradition, there was the proverbial saying:
“Take a dog from a sheepfold and a wife from a good household.”
This saying expressed the belief that, when choosing a wife, consideration should be given to the health of the bride and her family, the character and moral qualities of both the bride and her family, her upbringing, character, and ancestry.
Moreover, according to this traditional view, choosing a spouse from a different national or cultural background was regarded as an issue requiring particular consideration in order for the marriage to be stable.
Today, partners are often chosen primarily on the basis of personal attraction, without always taking into consideration the family’s background, the bride’s cultural, intellectual, and moral formation, the couple’s compatibility, and other characteristics, such as differences in their financial circumstances.
When there is a significant gap in these areas, the marriage may often eventually break down.
The consequences of such choices may emerge later within the family and, in any case, it is the children who experience the consequences of family conflicts.
The continuity of the family line, the family itself, and cultural heritage are therefore matters that deserve to be considered with seriousness and responsibility.
“We are Greeks, and we must preserve and perpetuate our lineage. This is our national duty.”
(26/8/26)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Author – Member of the Society of Greek Writers
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