POLYGAMY VARIENTS OVER THE AGES

HOW AND WHY DID IT START

I Beleive the root reason for polygamy prehistoric--Gorillas, when
stressed,drive off all but one male. Bats [more closely than rodents
to primates, oftenlive in large colonies of females, showing affection
to their sons, butabandoning themwhen it is time to give birth.
Those who survive formgroups of males until mating season, when
they rejoin the females.

Human sisters normally marriedinto a different village, often seldom
seeing their friends or sisters again.By entering into Sororal Polygamy,
women, whether sisters or friends, could remain together and rear
their children together. They could alsodefend one another from a
husband if he proved to be violent. Thus Polygamy was so widespread
that it often is not married.

POLITICAL ALLIANCES

SOLOMAN had a thousand wives. The purpose of such large hareems
was not to provide maximum variety to ancient kings. It was to make
alliances with powerful Kings through marriages of Kingdoms. These
women were often competant warriors who provided protection,
a personal guard to the kings. A king who had many children could
send them to seal alliances with countries and empires.