2. Map of Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece started out
in 2900 BC when early Aegean
cultures started to arrive and
appear around what was soon
to be ancient Greece. Ancient
Greece was destroyed when the
Slavs overran Greece in 641
AD. During this time, many
important historical events
happened. One was that the
Trojan War started and ended,
and the Olympic games first
appeared in Olympia.
3. Background of Ancient Greece
The land of Greece is made up of a mainland, and The Greeks and their civilization is
numerous islands scattered throughout the mostly known for their gods, theater, and
Aegean, and Adriatic seas. The land had many for the famous buildings that occupy
mountains with hot and dry summers, and rain some of Greece like the famous
only in the winter. The whole country was split up Parthenon. Also, the first Olympics were
into different communities cut off from each other hosted in Greece.
and often competing for the best land. Each of
these places was called a city state, and the people
in the community were loyal to it.
In the theater, only men were The Parthenon was build
The main gods are the Twelve allowed to be in the plays, so between 447 and 432 BC.
Olympians, and the best they had to play parts for The Parthenon was
known ones, are the Big Three, men and women. Almost all dedicated to the god
or also known as the eldest of the theaters were open so Athena, who the
gods named Zeus (king of the the gods could watch and Athenians believe to be
gods), Poseidon (god of the see. Plays were first started their protector.
seas), and Hades (ruler of the too honour the god
underworld). Dionysus.
4. Ancient Greek Social
Structure
In Ancient Greece the government was very important and the
citizens had to obey the laws, if they didn’t they get severely
punished. Men who were born in Ancient Greece could vote and Government
participate in the government, but people who were foreigners
weren’t able to interact with the government at all even though
they might have lived in their city-state for more than 10 years.
Women were not able to do anything relating to the government, Male Citizens
leaving men only to rule the government and its people. Male
children had an advantage than female children, because they
went to school while girls stayed home and were thought basic
skills, like how to clean and cook. Women were less important
than men, because men went to school (only wealthy families Male Children
could afford school) and could participate in the government while
women take care of the house, children, cooking and cleaning. In
Ancient Greece slaves never got treated right. Slaves couldn’t vote Women/Foreigners/
just like women and foreigners and also whenever they disobeyed
Female Children
their masters they could get punished (with a wipe if the master
was very strict). Social structure is like a triangle, at the top is the
government, then male citizens, male children, women, foreigners,
female children and after slaves at the very bottom. Slaves
5. Housing Average
Home
In ancient Greece, the home was a place to focus
on family life. Like it is today, a home in Greece was
meant for sleeping, cooking, meals, and personal
hygiene. The ancient Greeks built their houses from
sun-dried mud bricks laid on stone foundations. The
roofs were covered with pottery tiles. Rooms were
arranged around an open courtyard so that cool air
could build up and circulate through the rooms
during the heat of the day. Each house had a male
head of the house. His wife would run the day to
day activities within the house and made many
important decisions within that, but the families
head person always had the final say in things. An
average house that a family would live in would be
within a modest size, and usually was kept looking
good on the inside and out. Many houses had
courtyards where they have no roofs, so the gods
could hear their prayers. Two of the more
uncomfortable rooms were the kitchen and
bathroom mostly because of the size. The master and
his wife occupy the largest room which made the
term master bedroom. The children would share a
room, and the eldest child might have their own
room. Slaves and servants would also share a room.
Rich Mans House
6. How Did The Wealthy Live?
Wealthy people in Ancient Greece had a house that included several rooms and two
storeys. Usually in a house the women would be away from the men so on the second storey
women had only their bedrooms there; it was some place where women could be away from
men. Rich Ancient Greeks would have many parties that were held in the living room.
Wealthy ancient Greeks had slaves to all the cleaning and even grocery shopping. Women
would rarely leave the house; all their duties were inside. Men would go to work all day while
the women would take care of the children (if they had any that didn’t go to school), cook
(sometimes the slave would cook) and take care of taxes. Wealthy families in Ancient Greece
could send their children to school, so they could learn and get a good job when they would
mature. Also wealthy Ancients Greeks could afford meat and vegetables which back then was
very pricey.
Ancient Greek Party
7. Food
In ancient times, the Greeks worked
very hard to try and produce enough, but
often they couldn’t which formed many
famines during the dark ages. Gripe vines
grew well on terraced hills, and olive
trees thrived in poor soil, but there was
always the problem of needing more flat,
fertile land for growing wheat and barley.
Most of the time, they shipped in those
supplies from ancient Egypt. The people
ate greens such as cabbage, lettuce,
spinach, and dandelion leaves, and also
ate root vegetables such as radishes,
carrots and onions. Eggs, goat’s milk
cheese, almonds, figs and other fruit were
also available for most of the time. Squid,
sea urchin, fish and shellfish were
plentiful and provided protein, because
meat was rare, and only the wealthy and
those who hunted could afford them. The
Greeks sweetened their cakes and pastries
with honey. Seasonings including things
like mint, and marjoram.
8. Ancient Greek Family Life
In a ancient Greek home, women
ran the household chores with the help
of slaves. Women had to obey their
fathers, husbands, brothers or sons. A
father could abandon his newly born
child if he wanted too. He might do this
if the baby was sick, but sometimes,
healthy baby girls were abandoned as
well. Women married at about the age
of 15, while men married at thirty or
older. The father of the woman chose
the soon to be husband, and gave him
valuables and money to save for the
wife in case he died before she did, or
they got a divorce. Sometimes a bride
met her husband for the first time on
their wedding day. Men and their wife
usually had separate quarters.
9. Ancient Greek Marriage
Weddings in ancient Greece were a major part of a persons
life. They are especially important for the bride to be. The
weddings were usually arranged by the brides parents. The
marriage symbolized
• Love
• Mutual respect
• Equality
• Sacrifice
The weddings consisted of three main parts
• Pre-wedding ceremonies
• The actual weddings
• The post wedding ceremonies
This way, the wedding took about three days to complete.
According to many people, Greeks usually married during
the winter. Women married between 13 to 16, and men
married between 30 and after because they were done in
the military after that age. On the day of the wedding, the
bride had to throw out all of her toys and other childhood
items. The reception was like a modern day one with food,
dances, and other things like that. Wealthy families arrived
in horse drawn carriages, and the poor arrived in carts.
Some people think, that the wedding was meant to pass the
bride from one `owner` to another. A dowry was when the
bride brought gifts and valuables to the husband. It was
easy to a man to divorce a wife, but much more
complicated for a woman to divorce her husband.
10. Childbirth Practices
Birth processes in Ancient Greece
were difficult and many women died
in the process. Hospitals did not exist
so delivery took place in the home of
the pregnant woman. There was a
midwife along with other women to
help. Religion was a big part of birth.
Women in labour often called upon
the goddess Artemis who had the
ability to bring new life into the world
easier. If the birth went well, the
mother would make a sacrifice to
Artemis. Herbs were used heavily,
and different ones were used for
different things.
11. Ancient Greek Childhood
Children in Ancient Greece were not part of their family until five
days later after birth. If the baby’s parents did not want the child, the
child would instantly turn into a slave or the family could abandon
the baby (they abandon girls more than boys). On the fifth day there
is a celebration of the child where he or she becomes part of their
family. In some Ancient Greek cities people would wrap they baby in
cloth until they were two years old, so they would have strong and
straight limbs. The family would usually care more for the son than
daughter because back then in Ancient Greece men were more
important than women. This is because men could only go to schools
while women were taught basic skills like cooking, cleaning and
reading. Ancient Greek girls got married at the ages of 13-16 to men
who were 20-30. When a son or a daughter disobeyed their parents or
didn’t do what they asked, then instantly they would get punished
very severely (with a whip sometimes).
Ancient Greek child
A whip
12. Comparing Ancient Greek Childhood
with Canadian Childhood
Ancient Greek childhood is very different from childhood in Canada. In Ancient
Greece only boys from wealthy families got to go to school because back then girls only
needed to know how to run their house and basic skills like reading and writing. But
here in Canada both girls and boys go to school and nowadays you don’t pay that
much for school but you still pay a little bit to the government through taxes. This is
because our government believes that women and men should have education and
have a right to learn and become successful in the future. Also the government believes
that every child should have an education, either you are male or female everybody has
rights to learn and have knowledge that you are able to use in the future and or in the
present. Back in Ancient Greece if child disobeyed their parents they would get
severely punished with a whip sometimes if the parents were very strict. In Canada a
child could still get punished if they didn’t listen to their parents (grounded), but not as
severely like in Ancient Greece because in Canada we have child services. Also in
Sparta, young boys from the age of 7 were trained to become soldiers and also were
taught to fight in the war instead of having an education. Here in Canada men
volunteer to fight for our county, they go to war at the age of 20-35, but also in Canada
education always comes first.
A Canadian Boy
Studying.
Ancient Greek Warrior
13. Ancient Greek Education
In Athens boys start going to school
when they reach the age of 7, while girls don’t go
to school but are taught the basic reading and
writing skills at home along with sewing and
weaving. Only wealthy families could afford for
their sons to go to school. In Sparta boys were
taught to be tough and to not show their
emotions. They slept on hard beds without any
covers, they never had enough food to eat and
they were taught survival skills and how to be a
good solider. Reading and writing were not as
important as training to be a warrior or solider.
At the ages of 18 or 20 Ancient Greek Sparta boys
would have to pass a test. If they failed the test
they would turn into perioidos; a person who
had no political rights and was not even a citizen
of their city. If they passed the test then they
A classroom of Ancient Greek boys learning.
would kept training to be a warrior or solider.
The military service ended when then men
turned 60.
14. Ancient Greek Religion
Ancient Greek religion was based on
polytheism which means that there was a
assumption that there were many gods
and goddesses. Each city-state
worshipped its own god. Athens had
Athena, Sparta had Artemis, Corinth had
Aphrodite, Delphi and Delos had Apollo,
Olympia had Zeus, and so on onto the
smaller towns. Some gods became gods
after books were written, so many people
were unaware of them like Dionysus. The
people of ancient Greece also believed
that once and a while, a god would come
and interact with humans, and produce
children that are called demigods, or half-
bloods. These kids are half human half
god. The people of Greece worshipped in
temples that were dedicated to the gods.
People sacrificed animal blood to make
the gods happy.
15. Main Gods
and
Goddesses
On Mount Olympus
• Zeus - King of the Gods
• Hera - Queen of the Gods
• Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty
• Apollo - god of light, truth, healing,
archery, music, poetry
• Ares - god of war
• Artemis - goddess of hunt, moon, children There were, at various times, fourteen different gods recognized as
• Athena - goddess of wisdom, war, Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time. Zeus, Hera,
patriotism and good citizenship Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, and
• Demeter - goddess of grain, agriculture, Artemis are always considered Olympians. Hestia, Demeter, Dionysus,
fertility and Hades are the variable gods among the Twelve. Hestia gave up her
• Dionysus - god of wine, vegetation, and position as an Olympian to Dionysus in order to live among mankind
theater (eventually she was assigned the role of tending the fire on Mount
• Hades - god of the underworld Olympus). Persephone spent six months of the year in the underworld
• Hephaestus - god of forge and fire (causing winter), and was allowed to return to Mount Olympus for the
other six months in order to be with her mother, Demeter. And,
• Hermes - messenger of the gods, god of
motion, travelers, commerce, thieves, and although Hades was always one of the principal Greek gods, his home
sheep in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians
• Hestia - goddess of the hearth and home
more tenuous. The Olympians gained their control in the world of gods
after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Hera,
• Poseidon - god of the sea, earthquakes,
Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings; all other
and horses
Olympians (with the exception of foam-born Aphrodite) are usually
considered the children of Zeus by various mothers, except for Athena,
who in some versions of the myth was born of Zeus alone. Additionally,
some versions of the myth state that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone
as Hera's revenge for Zeus' solo birth of Athena. There are many
different creatures and gods that live on Mount Olympus, or have a
throne there. Some other things that live there that aren't gods like
nymphs and Pegasus.
16. Poseidon Ποσειδώνας
Poseidon is the god of the sea, and is also known
as “Earth-Shaker. He is also the father to horses.
His symbol is a trident, fish, dolphin, horse, or a
bull. His consort Amphitrite, and his parents are
Cronus and Rhea. He had three sons that were
heroes named Theseus who was famous for
killing the minotaur, Triton, and Polyphemus.
Almost every Greek god has a Roman equivalent
who is sort of like them. Poseidon's is Neptune,
god of the same things. Poseidon was relied on
to help sailors have a safe voyage. Men often
drowned horses in is honour to convince him to
make their ships sailing smooth. He lived on the
ocean floor in a palace made of coral and gems
and had a chariot pulled by horses. Poseidon
was sometimes very moody, and when that
happened, it resulted in violence and stormy
oceans.
Temple of Poseidon
17. Ancient Greek Clothing
In Ancient Greece men wore chitons and tunics. The tunic was usually knee length,
which was made from wool or linen and hanged on one shoulder. A chiton looks very
similar to a tunic, but it can have sleeves while a tunic is one shouldered. Due to the fact
Ancient Greece was very hot back then; the idea of having a tunic that hanged from one
shoulder and had a length to your knee was smart and very useful. This way men wouldn’t
sweat that much during the day. Women wore a peplos, similar to a chiton but the length
covered the feet and hangs on two shoulders. A peplos was made from wool, but Wealthy
Ancient Greek women could afford having their peplos made from silk, expensive linen,
patterns and bright colors. Women’s material was lighter than men’s material. This is
because women had clothing that covered their feet which caused a lot of sweating, but with
light material women wouldn’t sweat as much as before rather than men have clothing that
only ran down to their knees.
Not many men and women could afford shoes; so they traveled with no shoes and or
they went barefoot everywhere. Wealthy men and women of Athens could afford
sandals that were made from cloth and sometimes leather. In Sparta men who were
training to be soldiers didn’t wear shoes to show how tough they were. Now a day’s
many women and teenagers wear Gladiators which are quiet similar to sandals that
Ancient Greek men and women wore.
Women’s Gladiators
Statue wearing a chiton. Athena wearing a peplos.
18. Art and Music
The ancient Greeks enjoyed all different kinds People in ancient Greece loved music,
of art. They are especially famous for their and made it an important part of their lives.
sculptures, including their statues and vases. Greek people thought of music as a way of
The vases often had scenes from the Olympics honouring the gods, and making the world a
or pictures of musical instruments painted on more human, civilized place. The Greeks had
them. The best artists in ancient Greece many different instruments. hey had pipes, and
sculpted statues of important people in Greek lyres, and drums, and cymbals. Their pipes
history. he Ancient Greeks made pottery for were made from wood or reeds, with holes cut
everyday use. Most surviving pottery consists in them for your fingers to play the tune. Some
of drinking vessels such as amphorae, kraters
were played vertically, like a recorder, and some
(bowls for mixing wine and water), hydria
were played sideways, like a flute. Sometimes
(water jars), libation bowls, jugs and cups.
people played more than one pipe at a time.
Painted funeral urns have also been found.
Pipes and drums were played in a loud, lively
Miniatures were also produced in large
numbers, mainly for use as offerings at
way, for dancing, and people played this music
temples. paintings normally depicted figural when they were worshipping Dionysus, the god
scenes, including portraits. They were collected of wine and parties. The Greeks also had lyres,
and often displayed in public spaces. Most which are like small harps, and might have
Greek sculptures were painted in strong and sounded something like a guitar. According to
bright colors. The paint was frequently limited the Greek story, the first lyre was made from a
to parts depicting clothing, hair, and so on, turtle shell by the god Hermes when he was a
with the skin left in the natural color of the baby, and then Hermes gave it to Apollo. Apollo
stone, but it could also cover sculptures in their was the god of reason and logic, and the
totality. The painting of Greek sculpture should Greeks thought of music as a great expression
not merely be seen as an enhancement of their of order and patterns. Lyre music was played
sculpted form, but has the characteristics of a calmer, and more soothingly, than the pipes and
distinct style of art. drums.
19. Ancient Greek Festivals Ancient Greek women
Ancient Greece had many festivals. A throwing a pig into a pit.
couple of them are Thesmophoria and
The Ancient Olympic Games.
Thesmophoria is celebrated by women of
Ancient Greece. This festival was in
respect of Demeter the Goddesses of
Harvest and her Daughter Persephone.
Only non-virgin women celebrated this
festival, while men worked and or stayed
at home. Thesmophoria was celebrated in
Pyanepsion (late October and or early
November), the festival lasted three days.
During Thesmophoria, the women there
would sacrifice pigs to symbolize the
kidnapping of Persephone. They put pigs
into a pit where usually in Ancient Greece
snakes would be and watch the serpents
eat the pigs. Whatever was left the
participants of the Thesmophoria would
eat on the third day of festival at the big
feast.
20. Ancient Olympic Games
Statue of Zeus
Citizens of Ancient Greece made the Olympic Games to
honor Zeus. Strong men from all different city-states and
other close lands (Black Sea, Mediterranean) were welcome
to the games. The Olympic Games started in 776 BC in
Olympia in Ancient Greece, the games were held every four
years. On Olympia there was a statue of Zeus, so he could
watch and supervise the games. Unlike the modern
Olympics, the Ancient Greek Olympics were always held in
Olympia. Also the Ancient Greek Olympics had fewer
events and the prize of winning an event was an olive
wreaths and or a crown. During the games 100 oxen were
sacrificed to Zeus. Some events in the Olympics are racing,
wrestling and chariot racing. If athletes wanted to
participate in the games the place they come from had to
have a truce with other competitors, so if they were in war
with each other they would stop so athletes could go and
travel to Olympia. Each city-state would pay for their
contestant but he (the competitor) had to have been trained Chariot Racing
for 10 months to get in the games. If you were a slave and or
Ancient Greek
if you disobeyed the gods, you couldn’t participate in the
games. This means only wealthy men could attend the
games. In the year 393 AD, a Roman Emperor Theodosius
banned the Ancient Greek Olympic Games. Nowadays we
have the Olympic Games but instead of chariot racing and
running we have winter and summer sports.
21. Conclusion
Overall, ancient Greece it a fascinating place filled with
mountains, art, music, myths that have spread all over the
world to make new stories, and many other things that have
influenced our own culture today. Some of those things are
democracy that was first introduced in Greece, and food
that many people all over the world still enjoy. Ancient
Greece is full of wonderful experiences that any person
would have enjoy visiting.
22. Bibliography picture
• How Did The Wealthy Live?:
• http://195.176.180.15:82/medina/courses/cm0910/group4/pages/poc.php?ID_POC=4&ID_Lang=1#basso – Ancient Greek Party
• http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/athnlife/domestic.htmm - Ancient Greek House
• Ancient Greek Childhood:
• http://greece.mrdonn.org/kids.html- Ancient Greek child
• Clip Art- A whip
• Comparing Ancient Greek Childhood with Canadian Childhood:
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Greek_hoplite.png - Ancient Greek Warrior
• Clip Art- A Canadian Boy Studying
• Ancient Greek Education:
• http://www.glogster.com/glog.php?glog_id=14102276&scale=54&isprofile=truee – A classroom of Ancient Greek boys learning.
• Ancient Greek Clothing:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acropole_Mus%C3%A9e_Ath%C3%A9na_pensante.JPG – Athena wearing a peplos
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Young_man_exomis_Musei_Capitolini_MC892.jpg - Statue wearing a chiton.
• http://womens-gladiator-shoes.yolasite.com/ - Women’s Gladiators
• Ancient Greek Festivals:
• http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~tcf/pictures/thesmo.gif - Ancient Greek women throwing a pig into a pit.
• Ancient Greek Olympic Games:
• http://www.bible-history.com/ibh/Greek+Customs/Games/Chariot+Racing – Ancient Greek Chariot Racing
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Zeus.jpg – Statue of Zeus
• Map of Ancient Greece:
• http://www.kusadasi.tv/titans-myths-ancient-greece.html - map
• http://www.eastchester.k12.ny.us/schools/ms/teachers/hill/AncientGreece.htm -map
• Clip Art- Trojan horse
• Childbirth Practices:
• http://www.wellsphere.com/cancer-article/women-s-work-i/466588
• http://www.jashford.com/Pages/birthnotecards.html
23. Picture Bibliography 2
• Title Page:
• http://www.crystalinks.com/greeksacredsites.html -Hephaestus Temple
• Clip Art- theater, paintings
• http://www.primaryclassroomresources.co.uk/teaching-resources/Ancient-Greece-Display-Set.html -daily life
• Background of Ancient Greece:
• http://www.howstuffworks.com/parthenon-and-the-acropolis-landmark.htm - Parthenon
• http://natashaelkhoury10dramadw.wikispaces.com/home -theater
• http://fyreangyl.tripod.com/Mythology/gods.htm -12 Olympians
• Housing:
• http://www.kidsgen.com/school_projects/different_homes.htm -house1
• http://havoc20.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/stone-textures/ -house2
• Food:
• Clip Art- Greek Food
• http://www.bestourism.com/items/di/1073?title=Greece&b=209 –food
• Ancient Greek Family Life:
• http://cwest-domesticconfusion.blogspot.com/2010/10/very-tight-crawl-space-into-depths-of.html -family
• Ancient Greek Marriage:
• http://mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/Images2/cciv243.papertopics.html -wedding
• Art and Music:
• http://au.greekreporter.com/2011/03/29/museum-of-ancient-greek-musical-instruments-travels-to-australia/- art/instruments
• Poseidon:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poseidon - Poseidon
• Conclusion:
• http://www.pageandmoy.co.uk/destinations/europe/southern-europe/greece/the-treasures-of-ancient-greece/ -theater and temple
• Clip Art- tile
25. Book Bibliography
Information
• Pearson, Anne. Ancient Greece. New York: DK Publishing, 2004.
• Nardo, Don. Life in Ancient Greece. San Diego, California: Lucent Books, 1996.
• Simpson, Judith. Ancient Greece. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1996.
• Powell, Anton. Ancient Greece. New York: Facts on File, 1989.
• Robinson, Charles Alexander. Ancient Greece. New York: F Watts, 1984.
• Ross, Stewart. Daily Life. Lincolnwood, Ill: P. Bedrick Books, 1999.
• Schomp, Virginia. The Ancient Greeks. New York: Benchmark 1996.
