Marriage in Antalya Turkey
History of Marriage
Marriage is a situation which for some people can live their life and some people don’t even want to hear.
Is it a standard for happiness or a wall in front of freedom? Well, when was the first marriage and how did it happen? Why did people need to get married for the first place? When marriage came out? In this article, we will tell you about these questions and inform you about the history of Marriage.
It is known that the history of marriage has started with the history of humanity. In time, with the establishment of various civilizations, woman-man relationships differed according to traditions of these different civilizations. Here you may find some of them:
Marriage Among Sumerians
It was a tradition for Sumerian young girls to be dedicated to temples. Girls used to live with the representatives of God in these temples. Besides, marriage was bonded with legal rules. According to Sumerian Laws, father and mother had the same rights on their children. However, during some situations men could sell their wives. Women who cheated their husbands were sentenced to death.
Marriage in Ancient Egypt
In Egypt, pharaohs had a tradition of marrying their sisters. In this way, heir to the throne would be definitely from pharaoh’s blood. In time, civil people had also started to get married to their own sisters. Pharaohs also had a harem consist of most loyal girls. Divorcement in Ancient Egypt was very less. Marriage rules were good enough. Domination of women was so much.
Marriage in Babylon
In Babylon, men could live with a woman as a trial. It was a tradition that the mother and father were arranging the legal marriage procedure. Fathers who had daughters at the age of marrying took their daughters and brought large centres of the cities. Men who wanted to get married were also coming to that centre and tried to find a girl that they wanted. Girls were chosen with veiling.
Marriage in China
Marriage in China had nothing with love. Different genders were raised far away from each other, marriage was decided by fathers and mothers and every preparation was made by them also. Chinese people wanted to get married as soon as possible to increase their population.
Marriage in Ancient Greek
In ancient eras, marriage was seen as a deal. Girl’s father gives her daughter dowry and groom should buy his father-in-law precious gifts. Greeks believed that love comes after marriage. during the famous poet Homeros' era, Greek women were famous with their loyalty to their husbands. However, Greek men could not be loyal to their wives. Despite these, marriages were good.
Marriage in Sparta
Spartan husbands could sell their wives to the people of quality. Men’s biggest aim was to raise children who were strong and talented. The most proper age for marriage was 20 for both men and women. Marriage was arranged by families directly. However, there was another tradition for the people who was more than 20 but still single: men and women who wanted to get married met at a dark, large room and men were choosing their wife without seeing them. Spartans were praising themselves about their loyalty. Divorcement was not seen too much. Famous Spartan general Lysandros was punished because he wanted to left his wife and tried to get married to a more beautiful woman.
Marriage Among Muslims
For Muslims, marriage is considered as a holy process. As in some conditions, Islam religion gives permission to each man to have 4 wives, Muslim men can sometimes marry several women. Men’s one word can be enough for a divorce, however, it is hard for women to ask for it.
Marriage Among Jews
Jews want men and women to get married during early ages. However, men should have a job and should provide comfortable living standards to their wives. If two sides want, divorce can be easy.
Marriage Among Christians
During old times, marriage among Christians was totally under the religious’ control. It was impossible for two people from different sects to get married. However, after some time, the civil marriage took the place of church marriage and people have started to get married even if they are from different sects. Rome Catholic Church is not accepting divorcement, this is why catholic people cannot have a divorce even If they want to. Even people who had divorced in front of a trial can not get married for the second time. Moreover, the Anglican Church also do not accept divorcements. This is why British Princess Margaret was not allowed to get married to a divorced man.
The Oldest Marriage Contract
The papyrus you can see below is the oldest marriage contract. The marriage contract was signed between Pa-igesh and Ta-ti-lyemhotep. It is written with demotic writing ( an ancient hieroglyph).
In contract, it is written that man accepts the determined money in case of a divorce in 30 days. Woman, on the other hand, can take the third of the assets which are specified on the contract. Lots of contracts those times include a rule of the children which will bear from the marriage will be the heir of the throne. Behind the papyrus, 8 witnesses’ names are written. Marriage contracts can be seen firstly in Ancient Greece BC 661. Contracts were usually prepared by men and show the rights of both sides about the assets and alimonies. According to law, it was not a must to record marriages. It was allowed for women to leave their husbands. Divorcement reasons were adultery, not having a child, not liking each other and wanting to get married to another. Meanwhile, whatever the reason was, women should have asked for economical help from their ex-husbands. It was allowed for both sides to get married after divorcement.
Another claim is that the first marriage contract was found in Mesopotamia. It shows that a 14-year-old girl was given in return for 6 cows.
Wedding Cake’s History
During middle ages, the bride and groom were kissing each other in a halo which is designed by pieces of bread as a tradition. During the 1600s with the increase in wealth, little cupcakes and cakes were piled one after the other, the higher this cakes, the more wealth was shown.
On 1660, British King II. Charles interferes this esthetically ugly cake pile with his French cook and the cook was prepared a wedding cake with layers. From this time, multi-layer wedding cakes became a tradition.
Bridal Dress and Veil
Assyrian women were getting married with a veil. In North European counties only kidnapped bride’s was using a veil. On 4th Century BC between Greeks and Romans, half-transparent veils became popular.
On the 16th century in the UK and in France, white bridal dresses become popular.
Wedding Rings
There are two different legends about wedding rings’ history. One is a theory about men bonds themselves to women. According to this theory, men used to tie the women they love from their hands and feet. If men believed that women would not try to escape, they used to unrope her feet and afterwards when men trusted women completely, they unrope the hands also and left only a rope on the finger. This rope became a symbol of their love.
Another legend is telling that wedding rings history have started in 2000 BC. It is known that in Ancient Egypt some plants were shaped like rings. It is believed that this circle shape means infinity and symbolizes infinite love. During Roman era rings have started to prepared with iron instead of plants. In all civilization, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand’s 4th finger. The reason is the vessel which passes through this finger goes directly to the heart.
Kissing and Stepping on Foot
Kissing was seen as the seal of the marriage agreement. It is also believed that the bride gives part of her soul to the groom and groom gives part of his soul to the bride while kissing each other.
We can still see this tradition during weddings. Moreover, we have a tradition on stepping each other’s foot after marriage ceremony. It is believed that the one who can stop the other one’s foot will dominate the marriage.
Honeymoon
Honeymoon really has honey in its origin. In North Europe, when a girl was run away with her life partner, she should have hidden some time from her family. The only people who knew the hiding place of lovers was their friends and those friends used to bring food and honey them for eating.
Moreover, because of aphrodisiac effects, during the first months of a marriage newlywed couples used to drink wine and honey together.
