An Athenian girl is brought up with the distinct expectation of
matrimony.[*] Opportunities for a romance almost never will come
her way; but it is the business of her parents to find her a suitable
husband. If they are kindly people of good breeding, their choice
is not likely to be a very bad one. If they have difficulties,
they can engage a professional "matchmaker," a shrewd old woman
who, for a fee, will hunt out an eligible young man. Marriage is
contracted primarily that there may be legitimate children to keep
up the state and to perpetuate the family. That the girl should
have any will of her own in the matter is almost never thought of.
Very probably she has never seen "Him," save when they both were
marching in a public religious procession, or at some rare family
gathering (a marriage or a funeral) when there were outside guests.
Besides she will be "given away" when only about fifteen, and
probably has formed no intelligent opinion or even prejudices on
the subject.

[*]The vile custom of exposing unwelcome female babies probably
created a certain preponderance of males in Attica, and made it
relatively easy to marry off a desirable young girl.

If a young man (who will marry at about thirty) is independent in
life, the negotiations will be with him directly. If he is still
dependent on the paternal allowance, the two sets of parents will
usually arrange matters themselves, and demand only the formal
consent of the prospective bridegroom. He will probably accept
promptly this bride whom his father has selected; if not, he risks
a stormy encounter with his parents, and will finally capitulate.
He has perhaps never seen "Her," and can only hope things are for
the best; and after all she is so young that his friends tell him