4 research outputs found
âWealthy womenâ in Antiquity: The âcapable womanâ of Proverbs 31:10â31 and Mibtahiah from Elephantine
This article compares the anonymous âcapable womanâ of Proverbs 31 with Mibtahiah of Elephantine. Both women are presented as wealthy occupiers of estates with economic success and influence in society. Both literary portraits unfold positive attitudes towards female characters, but present two divergent gender conceptions. The construction of Proverbs 31 depicts the âcapable womanâ as an ideal character who amalgamates various social female roles and benefits from acting according to the wisdom teachings. The âcapable womanâ provides a literary model of identification and imitation with an offer to share oneâs identity with her. The Elephantine papyri reveal a divergent conception of another wealthy woman with influence insociety. Mibtahiah inherits an estate and enlarges her domain through additional economical purchase. She also takes a leading role in her family. The social role of Mibtahiah seems to be comparatively progressive, since the documents clearly indicate a juridical equalisation of men and women. The two conceptions of influential female characters present wealthy woman with potential in society. Thus, the positive attitude towards the two women is based on their wealth.
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âWelvarende vroueâ in antieke tye: Die âknap vrouâ van Spreuke 31:10â31 en Mibtahiahvan Elephantine. Hierdie artikel vergelyk die anonieme âknap vrouâ van Spreuke 31 met Mibtahiah van Elephantine. Albei vroue word voorgehou as die welvarende, invloedryke en ekonomies suksesvolle eienaars van landgoedere. Albei letterkundige weergawes openbaar ân positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor vroulike karakters, maar verteenwoordig twee uiteenlopende geslagskonsepte. Spreuke 31 beeld die âknap vrouâ uit as die ideale karakter wat die verskeie rolle van die vrou met gemak hanteer en voordeel uit wysheidsonderrig trek. Die âknap vrouâ is ân navolgenswaardige model met wie iemand sou wou identifiseer. Die Elephantine papyri openbaar ân verskillende perspektief op ân ander welgestelde en invloedryke vrou, Mibtahiah, wat ân landgoed erf en deur verdere aankope. Sy speel ook ân leidende rol in haar familie. Dit blyk asof die sosiale rol wat Mibtahiah gespeel het betreklik progressief was omdat die geskrifte ân duidelike juridiese gelykmaking van mans en vroue aandui. Hierdie twee konsepte van invloedryke vroulike karakters stel die vermoĂ«nde vrou met potensiaal in die samelewing voor. Dus is die positiewe houding teenoor die twee vroue op hulle welvarendheid gebaseer