Monogamy and Polygyny in Greece, Rome, and World History

Abstract

In what sense were the ancient Greeks and Romans monogamous, and why does it matter? This paper summarizes the physical and anthropological record of polygyny, briefly sketches the historical expansion of formal monogamy, considers complementary theories of mate choice, and situates Greco-Roman practice on a spectrum from traditional polygamy to more recent forms of normative monogyny.

Keywords: Monogamy, Polygamy, Polygyny, Marriage

JEL Classification: J12