Religion: The Gods and Rituals of Greek and Roman Weddings

Ancient Greeks and Romans observed specific wedding rituals that invoked numerous deities whose assistance was called upon to ensure both that the marriage resulting from the wedding would be successful and that the marriage would be publicly acknowledged. While there were differences among weddings in the two societies, in both cases these rituals focused largely on the bride rather than the groom, reflecting the gendered nature of these societies. Weddings also highlighted the bride who entered into and was to dwell in the husband's house, leaving her own family and household. Various rituals ensured the approbation of the gods and prepared the bride for her transition to wife, while the groom performed others which marked her acceptance into his home. Friends and relatives acted as witnesses to the wedding and played a role in the various ceremonies, which called upon specific deities associated with weddings and marriages. For Rome, the evidence centers on elite families, while much of what is known of Greek weddings comes from scenes on vases from Athens. These latter depictions might well reflect the weddings of prosperous rather than poor Athenians, and the rites performed at Athens do not necessarily reflect practices across the Greek world. In neither society was there such a thing as a "standard" wedding; moreover there would have been variations in nuptial practices depending on economic and social status, geographical location, and local customs.