Daily Life in Ancient Greece

BY: Hayley F. And Kelsey W.

Map

Time Frame

The development of Ancient Greece began around 800 b.c and lasted until about 140 b.c. So the full development of Ancient Greece took 660 years to complete. There were several different periods during this time frame though. There was the archaic period in which the first large buildings and temples were build and created, the classic period where the arts such as painting and politics began, and the Hellenistic period that was the time for war in Ancient Greece and Rome

BackgroundAncient Greece is a beautiful place known for it’s magnificent buildings

and statues, Greek myths, Greek gods and goddesses, art, and some foods. Greek’s weather is also bautiful being most hot in the summer and dry in the winter. The tribes of Ancient Greece began to distribute themselves around 1000 b.c and Ancient Greece’s empire had most power in 146 b.c. The two most important cities of Ancient Greece was Athens and Sparta as they were the most wealthiest and strongest. Ancient Greece contained several states, and each had their own government and laws, although all shared the same language, and religion. In fact several Ancient Greece words are used in English today. For example the word aquarium comes from the Greek word “aqua” meaning water. Also, the very popular sporting event, the Olympics began in Ancient Greece in 776 b.c. The Greek Myths and Gods are also very well known. Today some schools teach their students about Ancient Greek religion and what they believed in when they didn’t understand a concept. The Ancient Greeks were also fascinating at art, using the supplies they could afford, they could create great masterpieces that are put up in display in some museums.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Ancient Greece social structure was divided into two types of people: slaves and free people. Slaves were used for labour, or personal assistants and had no legal rights. Usually slaves were from other countries brought by slave traders. Slaves lived with their owners, they were almost never paid. As the civilization developed men were divided into two categories; Metics and Citizens. A citizen was born in the country and had Athenian parents, they were allowed to take part in the Government. A metic was born out of the country, but travelled to Greece. They could never achieve status as a citizen, they weren’t allowed to own homes or land in Greece, they were also not allowed to marry a citizen. Women took the same status as their husbands. The Greek social structure took on a pyramid of importance. Rich philosophers and heroes were at the top, then citizens, poor citizens, women and children, then finally slaves. The upper class citizens always had slaves and were exempt from trading. This elite class, as it was sometimes called was very small, numbering only about 300 families. The middle class was large, made up of mostly professional men like tradesman, artists, managers and manufacturers. The lower class was mainly made up of liberated slaves.

HOUSINGHomes were designed to keep people cool and out of the heat. Men

and women usually stayed in different parts of the house. The women’s room was usually upstairs. The majority of houses were made of stone or clay and were two storeys. Most of the roofs were covered with tiles or reeds. The floors were tiled, so the ground stayed cool. The houses have strong walls and based around a courtyard. Women did their weaving in the courtyard, which usually had an altar for the goddess Hestia, and a well for collecting water. Most houses had a storeroom for food like olive oil, wine and grain. Males had their own room called an Andron, which they used for entertaining. Olive oil and grain were stored in large jars called amphorae. Crafts like jewellery were usually created in a workroom in the house. Water for baths was collected from a local fountain and then heated over the fire. Slaves rooms were small and cramped with little furniture. Gynaikons were special rooms for women where they sometimes spun or wove, and entertained female guests.

HOW THE WEALTHY LIVED

The rich people in Ancient Greece had a more exotic, interesting diet than those who couldn’t afford much. They ate roasted hare, peacock, or iris bulbs in vinegar. Wealthy people also had slaves to cook for them, and for dinner parties they ordered specially trained chefs. Poor people were in bed when the sun rose, and set because lighting was expensive, but the wealthy lit their homes with oil lamps. Even rich houses were simply furnished, the wealthy lived in large homes with many rooms. In rich houses, women were supposed to run and organize home. Wealthy women were dressed by their maids, they could also afford finer materials, and more expensive jewellery. The wore silk and cotton, their hand maidens carried parasols over them to protect them form the sun if they went out. Wealthy girls could not leave their homes. Wealthy people always had slaves. In some states wealthy men, even if they were unelected had some power and rule over land. Rich ladies were kept in the back of the house to protect them from unknown men. Rich children had tutors and nursemaids.

FoodAncient Greek food was quite simple to make and serve, although a

good variety to keep a healthy body. The variety of food included fresh vegetables, bread, milk, grapes, and more. The rich could afford better quality food though. The food the rich would eat was cheese, fish, squid, apples, olives, and more delicacies. Hunting brought in a lot of fresh game and meat. Wine was contained inside goat skins that had been sewn up and were transported by donkey or mule. The Greek God Dionysus was the god of wine and many civilians drank wine to honour the God. To get meat as a farmer in Ancient Greece you would have to kill your livestock. If you lived in a town, you would be able to purchase meat from a butchers shop. Because the fish and seafood industry in Greece was plentiful, ocean food was a key part of their diet. Olive trees on the land were not uncommon and olive oil was included in almost every meal. Greeks not only ate their food, they also played games with it. The Greek men used to play a wine game, where the men had to splatter wine on the wall confirming ones true love.

Family Life

Family was significant in ancient Greece because it allowed them the opportunity to have an education, a roof over their head, enough to eat, training for a job, and gave you a better chance to find a husband or wife. The father of the family was the head of the household. He was the person who controlled the slaves and had the option of kicking anyone out of the house, even forcing them to marry someone! The women in the family was expected for being loyal to her husband and taking care of the home. If a women did this she was valued for it. Although, the most important role a women played was to give birth to continue your family line. As a boy in Ancient Greece, you were sent to school to become strong and brave and encouraged by your family to die rather thenface defeat. As a girl from a rich family, you had no right to go to school or leave the house, and instead were taught calculations, dances, songs and more special women skills. Poor families and rich families were very different in certain parts of Greece. For example, if you worked on a farm, and belonged to a poor family you may marry someone you fall in love with, but as a rich noble girl, you did not have this opportunity, and instead were arranged to be married by someone else.

MARRIAGE

Poor people had the ability to marry anyone they fell in love with, while the rich and noble girls were forced to marry someone against their own will. The wedding usually lasted three days. It was traditional for the bride to make an offering to the Goddess of women, Artemis before every wedding. The parents of the bride gave a gift of money or goods to the family of the groom. With the wedding finished, the bride travels to her new home with the groom. Friends came to the house of the groom a day later with gifts to give to the new couple. Girls married between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, while men married in their twenties or thirties. Fifteen was the most common age for girls to marry. Divorces were allowed in Ancient Greece, the husband paid back the remaining dowry to the family of the wife. Many Greek marriages took place in the month of January due to the fact that it was a sacred month to the Goddess Hera, meaning “The Wedding Month”. The day before the wedding a feast was held at the house of the bride’s parents. Also that night, the bride would sacrifice toys and objects from her childhood to symbolize that she was a young girl no more.

CHILDBIRTH

As a women the main expectation of you was that you would give birth to many children. In Athens, children were always born in the houses of their mother. It was not uncommon for both babies and mothers to die from birth. In fact, the percentages were high. Occasionally a mid wife would deliver the baby in wealthy families. In Ancient Greece, women would notify the neighbours that a child had been born by hanging one of two things on the front door. An olive branch for a male baby, and a woolen strip for a female baby. Before the baby was accepted into the family, the women had to show her husband, and it was the husbands choice of whether the baby could stay or not.

CHILDHOODUgly or deformed babies were sometime abandoned by their

families on a mountain. Children spent most of the time with their mother while they were young. This means they mainly stayed in the women's part of the house. Girls rarely left the house and received all of their teaching and learning at home. Boys on the other hand were allowed to attend school when they reached the age of 7. Kids played with toys like rattles, dolls, and toy animals. As it is today wealthier families could affords more and better toys for their children. Children from poor families began to work for the family at a young age. At the age of twelve or thirteen, girls were viewed as adults and were legal marrying age. They took their toys from when they were younger and left them in a temple of Artemis. This action symbolized they were young ladies and it was time to let go of being a child. Soon after marriage, girls were expected to produce a child. If they were unable to do this, it would be considered a curse. At eighteen, it was necessary that boys joined the army for two years.

GREEK VS. CANADIAN CHILDHOODGreek childhood is very similar to Canadian. Young children

played with toys, but wealthier families could afford better. This fact is the same in both cultures and many others around the world. Children are not left on mountains if they are deformed, nowadays as they did in Ancient Greece. Now, parents can offer up their children for adoption, but it is illegal to abandon them. Young children play with similar toys now as they did in Ancient Greece, dolls, and animals are not uncommon. Now, in Canada it is mandatory that all children, boys and girls attend school. This was not the case in Ancient Greece, this is one of the many things that have changed. Girls are not considered adults until around the ages of 18-19. Twelve or thirteen year olds are still in elementary school now, and would not marry for another few years. Girls were expected to marry between the ages of 14-18, and now, in Canada it is illegal to marry before the age of 16. In Canada, girls are not expected to leave all their childhood toys like they were in Ancient Greece. Many married women now, still have some of their childhood keepsakes. Now being a teenage mother is frowned upon. Boys are not required to join the army now, like they did in Greece. Sports are also slightly different for each civilization. In Canada sports are safe and inlcude things such as basketball and soccer that both boys and girls can play. In Ancient Greek sports were dangerous and included wrestling and javelin throwing and were for the boys only.

EDUCATION

Family gave you the ability to have an education, so if you had no family you wouldn’t get an education. If you were a boy at school, you were taught how to read and write. You would also be taught mathematics using a special tool called an abacus. Boys would also learn how to memorize and present poems, how to sing, and how to do gymnastics, which actually included running, jumping, wrestling, and throwing javelins. During these activities a boy may be beaten due to not trying hard enough, or a lack of spirit. The races were run on sand in rooms called the gymnasium, which meant exercise room. Here the boys were taught to never be afraid, and to die rather then face defeat. A schoolboys goal was to become well-balanced, strong, and smart. As a rich girl, going to school was disallowed, and instead they were taught women roles by their mothers. These activities included weaving, spinning, reading and writing, and calculating. You also had the special opportunity to be taught secret, and special dances and dances by your mother. Knowing these dances and songs allowed a special pass for women to enter extraordinary women festivals. In Sparta, women’s education was quite different. Women were well-educated, allowed to take part in politics, and were even allowed to participate in sporting events, while wearing very few pieces of clothing that was shocking to other Greeks.

RELIGION

The ancient Greeks believed in a system of 12 main gods and goddesses that lived in the clouds on mount Olympus. Also, many other Gods and Goddesses were patron saints of smaller matters. Greeks would often say prayers and worship Gods in their designate temples. Sometimes sacrifices were made in order to earn respect of a God. Zeus was the head God and the Lord of the Sky. He and his two brothers Poseidon and Hades were the Gods of the sea and the underworld. Zeus had a wife called Hera, and a daughter Athena. Hera was the Goddess of marriage, Athena was the Goddess of crafts, war, and wisdom. Other Gods include Apollo, God of music, Artemis, Goddess of Maidens and hunting, Ares the God of war. Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty, Demeter, Goddess of corn, Hermes, God of thieves messages, Dionysus, God of wine were some of the main twelve too. Any important event taken place in your life were thought to be the result of the Gods actions. The people of Greece believed when it was sunny, Zeus was in a good mood, when there were thunderstorms Zeus was angry. In the winter, the people believed that the Goddess Demeter was grieving from the loss of her daughter Persephone. During the day people would make prayers, offerings and sometimes sacrifices for the gods to keep the god pleased, and male your life well. Or if you would like to make an apology to a god for doubting them, similar actions would be taken. This god religion affected daily life of the people in Greek because it changed the way weddings and festivals worked, buildings were created from hard work in life, and this religion also took up parts of their day for praying.

ATHENAAthena was the favourite child of Zeus, the Goddess of wisdom, war and

crafts. She was the daughter of Zeus’ first wife Metis, Zeus ate her while she was pregnant with Athena and she was born from him. The Goddess was born from the head of Zeus, fully dressed in battle armour. Two Gods, Athena and Poseidon both loved an unnamed city in Greece. Both of them wanted the city for their own, and it was decided there would be a contest, whoever created the finest gift would win. Poseidon created the fountain, which was beautiful, but not very useful. Athena created the olive tree. This gift was perfect because it supplied the people of the city with food, oil and wood. She won the contest and the city was named Athens. The Parthenon, one of the most famous temples in the world was dedicated to the Goddess. She almost always wore armour, so she would be ready to battle at a moments notice, a gray owl was always on her shoulder, signifying wisdom. Athena had no children and remained unmarried. In Rome, Athena was called Minerva.

CLOTHING

Ancient Greek men often wore no clothing as the climate in Greece was very warm. When women were around they were well covered, though athletes at sporting events were always nude. Women were always told to be properly clothed and were not allowed outside naked unless you were a dancing girl. When leaving the house, rich or noble women wore veils which covered their heads and part of their face. The clothing of the Ancient Greeks was simple and did not require much sewing. Usually Greek women were either barefoot or wore simple sandals. Most sandals were red or yellow. The material of men's sandals were leather and polished with olive oil. Men wore tunics and women wore dorics, or chitons. Chitons were made of light fabric or linen and were sometimes worn with belts. Men and women's clothing were very similar. Greek women's hair was always long because it was considered disrespectful for it to be short. Women had personal maids to arrange gold and silver pins in hair. Men wore their hair many different ways, from beards to full-faced helmets. If you were a wealthy Greek women you would wear gold jewellery and earrings. Only the servants ever got sun tanned because they weren't covered as well as the rich and noble. But the wealthy preferred it that way as it was undamaging to the skin and part of tradition.

ART AND MUSIC

The ancient Greek’s creativity was amazing and they could even make wine glasses look beautiful. Ancient Greek art consists of 5 main types. These groups were architecture, sculpting, painting, painted pottery, and music. Greek music included the lyre, pipes and vocals. Ancient Greek architecture consisted of temples, houses, city walls, theatres, and tombs. In fact, Greeks built five world wonders. Only a few paintings over the centuries, so most of the art was on pottery like vases. Many sculpture muses were animals, Greek Gods and Goddesses, everyday scenes and ordinary people. Typical Greek paintings were called panel paintings and were portable and painted on wooden boards. Ancient Greek sculptures were mainly bronze and stone, sometimes they used wood or other materials. Greeks also put on several plays, as well as dances. The plays were entertaining for the whole community, and many people came to watch them. Men played all parts, even those of girls. Tambourines were used for dances to keep the beat. Panpipes, the double flute, and kitharas were common orchestra instruments. Ancient Greeks also made beautiful, and colourful pictures using tiles, called mosaics.

FESTIVALS

Greek festivals were usually religious and related to the Gods, usually one God in particular. A common festival was the special women's festival in honour of the goddess Athena, that only rich and noble girls and women could attend. Only noble’s were allowed in because, to gain entry, they must know secret songs and dances that rich girls were taught. The biggest sporting event in all of Ancient Greece was the Olympics, wars were cancelled in order for the games to be enjoyable.. Olympic events included boxing, wrestling, running, jumping, pankration, equestrian events, and the pentathlon. The pentathlon included two sports, javelin throwing and discus. At a variety of festivals musicians and actors took part to entertain spectators and guests. Different festivals included religious, sporting celebrations and military parades. The festival for the Goddess Demeter was called Themophoria. Aphrodite’s festival was called Apaturia. Other festivals were in honour of the various gods on Mount Olympus. Often festivals were joyfully celebrated and everyone who attended was in a bright a good mood, although there were some festivals that were to be celebrated seriously.

Conclusion

Ancient Greece was a wonderful place that offered sports and education. Although if you lived in Ancient Greece, being wealthy was a huge advantage in most areas as only the rich and noble good afford delicacies such as rich food, maids, and a healthy family. Ancient Greek’s are well known across the world for beautiful sculptures, the most famous of Greek gods and goddess, and for their creation of the Olympic Games. Children in Ancient Greece were brought up well and were told to be strong, which may be why Greece was very successful during war. So, do you think you could survive as an Ancient Greek?

BibliographyBooks:

How Would you Survive as an Ancient Greek? By Fiona MacDonald, David Salariya

Scholastic Canada Atlas of the World By Philip Steele

Websites:Ancient Greece Social Structure-http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/glendale/showcase/utopia/class_structure.htm

Ancient Greek Art-http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/art/greekart.htm

Ancient Greek Olympics-http://greece.mrdonn.org/olympics.htm

Ancient Greek Period-http://www.the-artfile.com/ArtFile/history/greek/greek.shtml

Children of Ancient Greece-http://historylink102.com/greece3/children.htm

Everyday Life in Ancient Greece-http://www.localhistories.org/GREECE.HTML

Greek Art-http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/greek-art.htm

Houses in Ancient Greece-http://www.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/greece/houses.htm

Marriages in Ancient Greece-http://www.historylink102.com/greece3/marriage.htm

The Greek House-http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/dailylife/challenge/cha_set.html

Picture Bibliography Title

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27432548@N08/5532644784/sizes/m/in/photostrea

/

Map-

http://www.bitsofnews.com/images/graphics/map_ancient_greece_large.jpeg

Background-

http://www.freakingnews.com

http://www.britannica.com

Social Structure-

http://www.truthtree.com

Housing-

http://www.archaeolink.com

How the Wealthy lived

http://www.resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com

Food-

http://www.movies-gradyjordanmartin.blogspot.com

Family

http://www.rainbow-theatre.com

Marriage-

http://www.aperfectcelebration.com

Childhood-

http://www.ookaboo.com

http://www.ihs.issaquah.wednet.edu

Picture BibliographyCanada vs. Greece-

http://www.partytimedirect.co.uk

http://www.hamiltoncroatia.com

Education-

http://www.websters-online-dictionary.net

Religion-

http://www.freethoughtpedia.com

http://www.wallpaperphotoshare.com

Athena-

http://www.hranajanto.com

http://www.theoi.com

Clothing-

http://www.new-twinspace.etwinning.net

http://www.jokingaround.co.uk

Art and Music-

http://www.stores.myvillagemusic.com

http://www.grahamart.com

Festivals-

http://www.factoidz.com

http://brads-healthy-lifestyle.com