Hera's lettuce: women and the peculiar uses of flowers, fruit and vegetables in ancient Greek festivals for women

This research project investigates the uses of particular agricultural and floral products in three women-only festivals of ancient Greece. These festivals are the Adonia, the Thesmophoria and the Anthesphoria. From the practice of these festivals, this thesis ascertains that knowledge can be drawn together about ancient herbal medicine for women, society and religion that directly relates to the lives of ancient Greek women. This study draws upon ancient understandings of ancient physiology predominantly within ancient textual evidence and discusses these understandings in the context of the religious roles that women held. These roles evidence female agency within their social and religious contexts.