Marriage in the Ancient Orient was always potentially polygamous, but in most cases it was monogamous in practice. Only kings had more than two wives. Marriage to members of inferior social groups was just as valid as marriage between them. Marriage between close relatives was basically forbidden, except between half-brothers and half-sisters who shared a father. A marriage could be concluded in any…
Cite this page
Westbrook, Raymond (Baltimore),
Wagner-Hasel, Beate (Darmstadt),
Treggiari, Susan (Stanford),
Ego, Beate (Osnabrück) and
Heimgartner, Martin (Halle),
“Marriage”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 06 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e327010>