Bride auction, or why in Babylon even ugly girls were in great demand

In many ancient cultures, women were treated as commodities and their opinions were completely ignored. In Babylon, they even held bride auctions, where grooms of different ages and incomes could acquire a wife. This is terrible, you will say, and you will be only partly right. The fact is that such humiliating auctions for many girls were the only chance for family happiness.

We know about the unusual bride auction practiced by the ancient Babylonians thanks to the Greek historian Herodotus. He described this custom in his work “History”. Every year in each village all the girls who had reached marriageable age and the boys who were looking for brides were convened.

When everyone converged, the herald appeared and the bidding began. The presenter called the girls one by one to the dais, and the guys began to offer money for them. First, the herald introduced the most beautiful girls. There were fierce battles over them, and in the end, each one was “under the hammer” for a large sum.

When all the beauties were taken away by rich suitors, the fun began. Near the platform there remained ugly girls, those with physical disabilities and those who were considered too old. There were no longer any rich men among the suitors either. Then the herald brought out the ugliest bride, and he himself began to offer money for her.

According to the rules, the proceeds from the most prominent girls were not transferred to their parents. They remained at the auction cash desk and helped marry off hopeless brides. The presenter shouted prices near each girl, raising the stakes until someone from the crowd of boys agreed to take her. He went home with his wife and money.

Thus, it was possible to marry off almost everyone who wanted it. This was the only way for ordinary people to start a family. After all, only aristocrats could simply choose a bride or rely on tender feelings. Peasants, artisans and traders did not have the right to marry at their own discretion. To do this, it was necessary to participate in the auction.

Everything is clear with the rich people who paid for their beloved round sum. But what if the poor groom, having received a nice bonus for the ugly girl, then refused to marry her? This turn was foreseen. The bride and money were given to the guy only if he had a guarantor. They became authoritative residents of the village. If something didn’t work out, the money had to be returned, and the guarantor bore financial responsibility on an equal basis with the young man.

But in England, women were sold at auction if they wanted a divorce. And this was not in ancient times, but in the 19th century.