Gynaeceum vs. Harem — What's the Difference?

In Ancient Greece, the gynaeceum (Greek: γυναικεῖον gynaikeion, from Ancient Greek γυναικεία gynaikeia "part of the house reserved for the women"; literally "of or belonging to women, feminine") or the gynaeconitis (γυναικωνῖτις gynaikōnitis "women's apartments in a house") was a building or the portion of a house reserved for women, generally the innermost apartment. In other words, a women's quarters, similar to the Indian and Muslim zenana.

Harem (Arabic: حريم‎ ḥarīm, "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") properly refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. This private space has been traditionally understood as serving the purposes of maintaining the modesty, privilege, and seclusion of women from other men.

The women's quarters in a household; hence, loosely any building or area for women.

A house or a section of a house reserved for women members of a Muslim household.

(obsolete) An establishment in Rome where female workers made clothing and furniture for royalty.

The wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying such a place.

(botany) A gynoecium.

A group of women who are sexual partners of the same man.

That part of a large house, among the ancients, exclusively appropriated to women.

A group of female animals that breed exclusively with a single dominant male.

The private section of an Arab household, traditionally forbidden to male strangers.

A group of someone's girlfriends, wives and/or concubines in a polygamous household.

A group of female animals (cows) herded and controlled by a male animal (bull) of that species for breeding purposes. Such behaviour is exhibited by bovids including cattle and buffalo as well as moose, elephants, seals, sea lions, baboons, and elephant seals.

(ornithology) A group of female birds mated to or associated with a breeding male.

(slang) Any significant number of women together as a group; a bevy.

(uncountable) A genre of anime and manga in which a man is the love interest of three or more women.

The apartments or portion of the house allotted to females in Mohammedan families.

The family of wives and concubines belonging to one man, in Mohammedan countries; a seraglio.

Living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household