The Nurse in Greek Life

In this meticulously researched dissertation, the author turns a scholarly eye toward the often‑overlooked figure of the ancient Greek nurse, tracing her presence from Homeric epics through the writings of Plutarch. By examining the various Greek terms—τροφός, τίτθη, τιθήνη, and μαῖα—the study reveals how language itself reflects shifting attitudes toward child‑care and household service. The work situates the nurse within the broader fabric of Greek social life, showing how her role intersected with family, education, and even religious ritual.

The reader is led through an organized tour of the nurse’s duties: from bathing and swaddling newborns to shaping early play, storytelling, and the creation of lullabies that echo through mythic literature. Chapters explore the nurse’s status in tragedy and comedy, the symbolic weight of her representations on monuments, and the moral debates surrounding nursery tales in classical philosophy. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of how these caretakers helped mold both individual children and the cultural values of ancient Greece.