Ancient Greece Daily Life in Athens The Agora

Ancient Greece Daily Life in Athens

The Agora �Agora: Public markets or meeting places ◦ Center of public life �Men would talk politics, philosophy, or events �Vendors, farmers, and artisans ◦ Wool, pottery, hardware, cloth, books �Temples & government buildings lined Agora �Virtual Agora Tour

School in Athens �Wrote on wooden wax tablets �Lessons were long history passages that they had to memorize �Afternoon was spent in athletic practice and competition ◦ Discus, wrestling

Home Life in Athens �Plain, simple, mud brick houses ◦ Rooms around an open courtyard in the middle ◦ Kitchen, storerooms, dining room, bedroom ◦ Bathrooms had water which needed to be carried in from public fountain �Simple food ◦ Bread for breakfast ◦ Cheese or olives with bread for lunch ◦ Fish and veggies with cheese, fruit, and honey cakes for dinner �Meat not often eaten, except during religious festivals �Virtual House Tour

Women �Spent most of their time at home �Could not participate in politics �Could be priestesses �In charge of running the home and ◦ Cloth work, food, drink ◦ Cared for young children ◦ In charge of finances and slaves �Poorer the family women would work outside the home ◦ Pottery, tending sheep, making cloth �Women expected to be invisible ◦ For their protection ◦ Did not spend much time in the Agora

Slavery �Slave labor allowed Athenian men leisure time ◦ Most households could not survive without them �Slavery common �People were captured in war or by pirates ◦ 100, 000 slaves (1/3 of population) ◦ Made into slaves �You were a slave if you were born into slave families �Some people had issues with owning other Greeks ◦ Most slaves were foreigners �Slaves were not considered citizens ◦ No political rights, personal freedom, or education ◦ Could be freed or buy own freedom