| In the ancient Greek society, marriage | | | | the bride's home with a procession of |
| was regarded as an auspicious | | | | friends, relatives and family members. |
| relationship. Marriage was very | | | | Drums are played and crackers are burst |
| important to carry family chain. | | | | to ward away evil spirit spirits. Music |
| In the Greek culture, every respectable | | | | and dance plays a major role in the |
| woman became a wife if she could. In | | | | festivities. Bride and the groom wear a |
| marriage, there was hardly room for | | | | crown or garland to mark the occasion. |
| choice. Destiny played an important role | | | | The actual transfer of the bride from |
| in solemnizing marriage. | | | | father to groom takes place at night |
| Woman had no alternate than marriage. | | | | after the bridal banquet. |
| The sacred wedding rituals were | | | | After the great feast the procession in |
| interwoven by the various ceremonies. | | | | a chariot takes place from the home of |
| These ceremonies had ritual meaning and | | | | the bride to the home of the groom. |
| overlapping rites. | | | | Bride stands in the cart as her husband |
| There is great evidence for these | | | | mounts it in preparation for their |
| formalities, both literary and artistic, | | | | journey. Families follow the chariot by |
| which helps to provide a complete | | | | foot bearing gifts. Bride's mother |
| account of Greek customs. | | | | carries the torch in the journey at |
| Offerings, dedications and sacrifices | | | | night to light the way. |
| were made by the bride and the groom. | | | | Bride eats an apple as a part of the |
| Marriage consisted of a private contract | | | | incorporation rites which demonstrates |
| where woman was transferred to her | | | | her new union with her husband. Fruits |
| husband. Marriage consisted of transfer | | | | and nuts are showered on the couple |
| and transformation. | | | | which acts as agents of fertility and |
| Transformation means actually giving the | | | | prosperity. |
| responsibility of the woman. Many things | | | | One day the after the marriage, an |
| pointed towards her transformation like | | | | outdoor procession of people is held. |
| cutting of hair and offering them to | | | | It is called the Epaulia. It is an |
| virgin deities. Presenting the hair | | | | outdoor procession of people who brings |
| locks to the goddess often signifies the | | | | gifts. Gifts generally include vases |
| attainment of womanhood. | | | | filled with greenery, baskets, pots, |
| Greek society stresses upon the marriage | | | | furniture, jewelry and combs. |
| of a girl at the age of fourteen. Boys | | | | Athenian marriage is relationship |
| are found eligible at the age of thirty | | | | between a man and a woman who had the |
| after they have served military force. | | | | primary goal of producing children and |
| Girls are obliged to marry where their | | | | maintaining the identity of the social |
| father wants. | | | | and political community. |
| Various types of rituals are followed in | | | | In ancient Sparta, the ceremony was very |
| the marriage ceremony. Both the bride | | | | simple. After a tussle, to prove his |
| and groom take bath in the holy spring. | | | | superior strength, the groom would toss |
| On the wedding day, girl is dressed in | | | | his bride over his shoulder and carried |
| the traditional attire. She is taken in | | | | her off. |
| veil to the banquet hall. She is | | | | Slaves in the ancient Greek culture |
| accompanied by her friends and | | | | cannot marry because marriage was |
| relatives. | | | | considered only for the privileged |
| Groom attires in the best outfit reaches | | | | class. |