Download The Golden Age of Athens! - Parkway C-2

The Golden Age of
Athens!
Taking a tour of Athens!
Historians often refer to the
Time period between 460 and 429 BCE
as the Golden Age!
What does this term suggest to you
about life in Athens during this time?
Scholars use the term, “Golden Age” to
refer to a historical period marked by
prosperity and by great achievements in
the arts
The Parthenon and Acropolis
Athens- most important city-state
Birthplace of democracy
Gave modern society-art, literature &
philosophy
Located on peninsula called Attica
4 miles from the sea
Mild climate allowed farmers to grow
crops
Land was NOT fertile- traded for
many essential food items
Named after Athena- Greek goddess
of wisdom and military victory
Athens became center of
commercial and cultural power
Late 400’s BCE- 150,000 ppl.
Map of the City
Surrounded by mountains and rocky
coasts
Enclosed with defensive walls
had a harbor, but discouraged naval
invasion
Strong defense- Acropolis ( oval
shaped rock that rose 300 feet above
the city
Temples, statues, and altars located
on the Acropolis
Highest point is the Parthenon- temple
for Athena
Two other important features- Theater
of Dionysus and the Agora, or
marketplace located at the base of the
Acropolis
Densely populated city
Narrow streets and alleys and they
were dirty and crowded
The Agora
Center of Athenian life
Temples, government buildings,
columned buildings called Stoas
Merchants selling
Food, clothes, animals, pottery,
chariots, furniture
Public officials checking quality of
goods- bad ones were fined
Public buildings used to debate
lined the Agora
Recreation- men visited
gymnasium- track, wrestling court,
fields for javelin and discus
Evenings men socialized
Had barber shops- hair cuts and
gossip!
Station A: Architecture
The Parthenon
Station A: Architecture
The Parthenon
You are at the Parthenon, the beautiful temple built in honor of Athena, the
Greek Goddess of wisdom and war.
The Greeks were among the most talented architects of the ancient world. They built their most famous
structure, the Parthenon, during the rule of the statesman Pericles. The temple was built to celebrate the end
of the war with Persia. Although only partially intact, it is considered the most glorious building of the ancient
world- a stunning reminder of Athens’ cultural achievements. Standing atop of the Acropolis and overlooking
the city, it is constructed mostly of marble from a nearby mountain. It is 237 feet long, 110 feet wide and 60
feet high. It features 8 columns in the front and back and 17 along each side. The architects and sculptors
spent more than 12 million units of Greek currency known as drachmas, over 4 times the annual budget of all
of Athens. It has survived for over 2,500 years due to its superior workmanship!
The architects designed the Parthenon to allow for optical illusions! The height of each column is 5 times each
of its diameter to make them appear more slender. Builders also slanted the roof of the building creating
triangular pieces on each end called a pediment. The east pediment shows the birth of Athena. The western
pediment shows a contest between Athena and Poseidon, God of the Sea. Another distinctive feature is the
525 foot band of sculpture, or frieze, which surrounds the top of the temple. This frieze shows the
Panathenaic Procession, an annual Athenian festival which celebrated the birth of Athena
The Parthenon also contained a 35 foot high gold and ivory statue of Athena. They left offerings and
worshipped at the foot of the statue to bring the protection of Athena to the city and it’s people.
Station B: Commerce & Trade
The Agora
Station B: Commerce & Trade
The Agora
You are at a shop in the Agora, the place
where Athenians gather to buy and sell goods.
Athenians conducted most of their commerce at the Agora,
the huge marketplace at the base of the Acropolis. On the
eastern side, the merchants sold goods from small stands.
Citizens could purchase lettuce, onions, cucumbers, sardines,
olive oil and wine. They could also buy pottery, furniture like
chests, chairs and sofas and clay oil lamps, which provided
the only source of light to Athenian homes. Even though most
Athenians made their own clothing, leather sandals and
jewelry was also bought at the Agora. Slaves were also
bought and sold here as well.
The Greeks began using coins in the 600’s BCE. Each citystate had its own coins, though each used metals like gold,
silver, bronze and a gold silver mixture called electrum.
Initially coins were imprinted on one side only, but Athenians
eventually imprinted both sides. Athens had the tetradrachm,
which was worth 4 drachmas. It had the image of Athena on
one side and Athena’s bird, the owl on the other
The Athenians traded with other city-states as well as foreign
lands to obtain many goods and resources. This was
necessary as the Athenian soil was not fertile enough to
provide them with enough food for their population. Farmers
could only grow olives so the Athenians had to trade for their
essential food items. Egypt was one major Greek trading
partner where they obtained valuable grains. Another
important trading partner was sicily, where they obtained
timber along with Thrace, from the Black Sea coast. In
exchange the Greeks would trade their beautifully painted
pottery and wool and olives
Station B: Commerce and Trade
Catalogue of Athenian goods
Food and Drink
•Fruits: apples, pears, pomegranates, or olives—1 drachma
•Vegetables: lettuce, onions, or carrots– 1 drachma
•Sardines—1 drachma
•Bread– 2 drachmas
•Jug of wine– 2 drachmas
Household goods
•Wooden furniture: chair, chest, sofa—12 drachmas
•Clay dishware– 7 drachmas
•Oil-filled clay lamps– 6 drachmas
•Vase for storing grain, oil, perfume, water, wine—5 drachmas
Personal items
•Linen garment—4 drachmas
•Leather sandals—5 drachmas
•Jewelry: bracelet, earrings, rings—10 drachmas
•Glass mirror—3 drachmas
Miscellaneous
•Papyrus scroll—8 drachmas
•Reed pen– 2 drachmas
•Toy animal, clay soldiers, dolls—4 drachmas
•Lyre—8 drachmas
Other items: Slaves, olive oil, grain, timber and wool
You have 4 tetradrachms
– decide what you’d like to
purchase.
Write the name of the
item, the quantity and how
much you have spent on
that item. Use up all of
your money and various
items that you think you’d
need.
List the reason you
purchased each item!
List other items that are
NOT listed on the
catalogue that you’d like to
purchase.
Check to see what you
missed!
Station C: Drama
Theatre of Dionysus
Station C: Drama
Theater of Dionysus
You are at the Theater of Dionysus. A place where dramatic plays are performed in Athens.
Theater was an important part of Athenian social life. In the 400’s and 500’s BCE, Athenians
developed 2 types of plays that we still have today, comedy and tragedy. The tragic play
presented the downfall of a great hero. Extreme arrogance towards the gods usually caused
this downfall. The somber lessons of the tragedy was that humans should act with respect
towards the gods and that dishonorable behavior had severe consequences. Comedy did
not contain a serious message and provided entertainment of the audiences. Comic plays
made fun of, or satirized, Athenian politicians and other well-known personalities.
Athenian plays were staged in an outdoor marble theater which were built into the sides of
hills. Stone rows or tiers of seats were arranged in a semicircle around the stage. Behind the
stage, wooden or marble columns were draped with cloth to form a tent where actors
changed their costumes and masks and where extra scenery was stored. Sometimes
painted scenery was hung in front of the tent to provide a backdrop for a play.
During the plays, 2 or 3 male actors performed both male and female roles. They were joined
by a chorus of 15-24 men who stood on the side of the stage and helped to explain the
actions. The actors and chorus wore HUGE masks that had exaggerated expressions to
indicate the personalities of their characters. The feelings of the characters were shown by
colored costumes. Bright colors meant happiness while black meant despair.
Many plays were staged here, built in the honor of the God Dionysus. This theater could
hold 14,000 people. All classes of society except slaves could attend. Athenian playwrights
presented their new plays in competitions held in the spring. A panel of nobles would judge
the plays of excellence and quality
Station D: Education
gymnasium
Station D: Education
gymnasium
You are at a gymnasium, a place where many Athenian children complete
part of their education.
A proper education was highly valued by the people of Athens. By approximately 600 BCE, the
majority of Athenian male citizens were able to read and write. Young children were taught at home
until they were 6 or 7, when they began school. Both boys and girls attended school, but they had
separate schools. Schools for girls were not as numerous and the work was not as demanding.
Since schools were private, parents were required to pay for the education their children received.
For this reason, many children from poor families left school after they learned basic skills, which
usually took 3-4 years. Children from wealthy families continued their education for as long as 10
years.
Athenian children attended 3 different types of schools. At one school, teachers called
grammatistes taught reading, writing, arithmetic and literature. Students memorized long passages
from the epic poems of Homer, and from tragic plays. At a second type of school, coaches called
paidotribes taught sports such as wrestling and gymnastics to strengthen the students muscles. At
a third type of school, kitharistes taught music-specifically singing and playing the 7-stringed lyre
to accompany reading of poetry.
At the age of 18, Athenian males began 2 years of military training. After this service, a wealthy
young male might resume his education by studying with a traveling philosopher called sophists.
These tutors charged high fees and the gave lessons in debate and public speaking to young men
eager to enter politics.
Station D: Education
grammatistes, taught
reading, writing and
arithmetic.
kitharistes, taught
singing and playing of
a lyre
Paidotribes, taught
wrestling and
gymnastics to
strengthen muscles
Copy the Greek word from
the hand out into the
triangle in your notes
Read the poem several
times and then recite to
your partner from memory.
Have them check for
accuracy!
Go into the hallway and do
a standing two foot jump.
Keep both feet together.
Record your initials onto
the tape to record your
distance
Draw 3 visuals and write a
caption for each to
represent the three types of
Athenian teachers. Use the
three points of the triangle
Check your answers
Station E: Law
Pnyx
The Pnyx: Site of the Athenian Assembly
This is the speaker’s platform @
the Pynx with the Acroplis and
Parthenon in the background.
Station E: Law
Pynx
You are at the Pnyx (nix) a hillside west of the Acropolis where the
Athenian assembly meets to vote and make legal decisions.
The Greeks had a well-established legal system. In the days before the Greeks invented their
alphabet, the handed down their laws by oral traditions. This meant that officials and their
assistants had to memorize entire legal codes. However by 600 BCE writing had spread
throughout Greece and laws were written down for easy reference. Law codes covered both
civil and criminal cases. Civil cases between citizens could involve disputes about inheritances
and land boundaries while criminal cases might involve charges of murder or theft. Legal codes
were different in each of the Greek city-states.
The main lawmaking body of the Athenian democracy was the Citizens Assembly, which was
open to all male citizens. A smaller executive body, the Council of 500 was responsible for
proposing the laws and for voting on important political issues. Many people considered politics
so important that they walked as far as 20 miles to participate in debates.
In Athens, there were no lawyers. Any male citizen could bring criminal or civil charges against
another citizen. Each citizen argued his own case but he could ask for help from a friend who
had better speaking skills. Large juries- numbering anywhere from 201-2501 members heard
the cases. Jury members were chosen by lottery and were paid for their services. The jury used
small tokens to cast their innocent or guilty verdicts. Since there were no judges in the Athenian
courtroom, the jury was responsible for interpreting thee laws and deciding on a verdict. Athens
did not have prisons, so other punishments were enforced. The punishment for civil cases
included fines and confiscation of property. In serious criminal cases, a guilty person could be
exiled (sent away from the city) or sentenced to DEATH.
Station F: Pottery
Ceramicus
Station F: Pottery
A
B
C
D
E
F
Look at the six
examples of
Greek Pottery.
Identify which
style it is and
list the reasons
for your answer
A= Black-figure
B= Geometric
C= Red-figure
D=Black-figure
E=Geometric
F= Red-figure
Station G: Religious beliefs
Panathenaic Way
You are at the Panathenaic Way, a path that connected a cemetery for
Greek heroes with the religious shrine on top of the Acropolis.
Athenians walked along this path during funerals and religious
festivals.
Station G: Religious Beliefs
Panathenaic Way
The ancient Greeks were polytheistic. They believed that the gods played a strong role in
human lives. They could effect everything from annual sprouting of crops, terrible
diseases and even victory in wars and sporting events. The viewed religion as a public,
not private matter. People that did NOT believe in the gods could be accused of offending
the gods, or impiety. Athenian juries that convicted people of this often put them to
death!
There were 12 major gods. Each one had power over one or more parts of human life.
The Greeks called them Olympian Gods because the believed that they live on top of
Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. Zeus was king of the gods and the god
of justice. Hera, his wife, was the goddess of marriage. Poseidon was the god of the
seas. Hades was the god of the underworld, land of the dead. Apollo was the sun god,
and Ares was the god of war. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, the arts and military
victory. Artemis was the goddess of moon and wildlife. Aphrodite was the goddess of
love, beauty and fertility. Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Hephaestus was the
god of blacksmithing and crafts. Hestia was the goddess of home.
To honor the gods, most people prayed, made sacrifices and built sacred places to honor
them. These places were called sanctuaries and were built in areas of great natural
beauty. Zeus is honored at Olympia, the site the Greeks used to hold the Olympic games.
Another sacred site is located at Delphi, where the Greeks built a shrine, or oracle to
Apollo. At this shrine, the Greeks looked to gods for advice to guide their actions.
Station G: Religious Beliefs
6
The most important festival
held by the Athenians was
the Panathenaic Festival.
Thus was held every July to
honor the birth of Athena.
The festival lasted several
days and included feasts,
athletic contests, music and
1 and a
dancing, sacrifices,
long march or procession of
people
At the end of the
procession, the Greeks
offered sacrifices to the
statue of Athena. They
5 and cows
slaughtered bulls
and roasted them at the
alter of Athena. They
offered the blood and some
of the meat in sacrifice.
Then they feasted on the
remainder of the meat!
The procession of the
Festival began at the
cemetery of the heroes
outside of Athens. It
traveled through the Agora
and slowly climbed the
Acropolis until2it reached the
temple of Athena at the top.
The members of the
procession carried various
offerings including pitchers
of water and honey, olive
branches, baskets of
incense and wine jars. The
most important offering was
a new lady’s robe called a
peplos, specially woven by
Athenian women. They
presented this 4
to Athena
attached to the mast of a
ship on wheels.
Thousands of people made
up this procession. Among
the citizens who marched
3
were priests, government
officials, women of
aristocracy, daughters of
resident foreigners, foot
soldiers, the Athenian
cavalry, musicians playing
lyres and children carrying
flowers.
Station H: Sculpture
Marble workshop
You are at a marble workshop south of the Agora. This is a place
where artisans create beautiful sculpture out of bronze and marble
Station H: Sculpture
marble workshop
Some of the most remarkable artistic achievements of the ancient Greeks were
in the area of sculpture. Greek artists began carving life-size statues in the
seventh century BCE. The early figure of men called kourai and females called
korai, were strongly influenced by Egyptian styles of art. Just like the Egytians,
the Greeks created slightly larger than life statues in positions facing front with
arms held stiffly at the sides and the left leg forward. Artists created these
works as dedicated offerings in a god’s temple, or for wealthy families who
placed them at a young person’s grave.
By the 5th century BCE., the Greeks began to create works that showed the
human body in more realistic form and natural positions. They created figures
that showed bodies in movement or emotional poses. Athenian artists created
brilliant marble statues of Gods and heroes that filled the Parthenon. While
most sculptors worked in marble, many artists also used metal to create
figures.
In the early 400’s BCE., a new method of casting bronze allowed artists to
create hollow metal figures around wooden cores rather than just solid metal
ones. Using this method, artists could create more realistic details of a figure’s
muscles, clothing and hair. The new metal-casting method allowed the
Athenian artist Phidias to create two of the most famous Athenian works of art:
the gold and ivory statues of Athena and the God Zeus. The statue of Athena
stood inside the Parthenon. The statue of Zeus stood outside Athens, in
Olympia, and is considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world!
Phidias’ statues
Sculpture
Carefully examine the images on the next
page.
Quickly sketch the sculptures in your
notebooks.
Respond to the prompt: ‘I think sculpture A
was created _________ (before/after)
sculpture B because…
Check your answers with the one
provided!
Greek Sculptures
Sculpture A was created AFTER sculpture B. Sculpture B reflects the influence
of the Egyptian art on early Greek art. The figure faces forward and his arms are
rigid at the sides and his left leg is forward. Sculpture A however shows an
athlete in the act of throwing a discus. This is more realistic and has greater
detail of the muscles!
Station I: Slaves
Laurium Silver Mines
You are at the entrance to Laurium, a silver mine located 25 miles
outside of Athens, where the city gets it’s supply of silver
Station I: Slaves
Laurium Silver Mine
Slaves made up a large portion of the Athenian population. Historians believe
that during the Golden Age there were 75,000 slaves living in Athens, a number
equal to non-slaves living there. Most slaves were captives from the north and
the east whom the Athenians had imprisoned during wartime. The children of
these captives were particularly valued as slaves, because the could provide
many years of service.
Athenian slaves performed work in many areas. Female slaves were often
domestic servants. The wore their hair and their clothing short so nothing
would interfere with their rigorous tasks. Male slaves were often factory
workers, shopkeepers, ship cargo handlers, miners and farmers. Both male
and female slaves worked in factories making beds, knives and other
household items. In addition, the city owned slaves, mostly males, and used
them as coinmakers, policemen, clerks, and executioners.
A small number of slaves were allowed to work independently of their owners.
They practices trades or managed shops, and then delivered the profits to their
masters. Some slaves managed large estates for absentee owners, overseeing
farmhands and selling the produce. Some educated male and female slaves
even worked as tutors in Athenian schools.
Many slaves had to endure great hardships. Often the worked in terrible
conditions. Some of the worst conditions were in the Laurium mine! Slaves,
including children worked 10-hour shifts, in tunnels 300 feet below the earth’s
surface. The tunnels were only 3 feet high and 2 feet wide and had little or no
air. Slaves were shackled in chains day and night, and they were often whipped
if they stopped to rest!
Station J: Women
Wealthy Greek home
You are at a wealthy home where men and women
rarely are allowed to interact with each other
Station J: Women
wealthy Athenian home
Women had very specific roles in society. It was believed that women were under
the protection of Hera, queen of the Gods and Hestia, goddess of home and
hearth. An Athenian woman also had a father, husband, or brother as a guardian.
Young girls were often raised together, apart from the male members of the
household. Most Athenian women married at young age, as early as 14, in
marriages arranged by their parents. They had several children and were often
trained as midwives and nurses to help their sisters, cousins, or female servants
give birth. Married women were expected to wear loose-fitting clothing. They also
wore their hair pinned up with elaborate hairpieces, while unmarried women often
wore their hair in loose, long curls.
According to Athenian society, a respectable woman’s main responsibility was
overseeing the household. Wealthy wives were responsible for the care and
education of their children, tending to their husbands, supervising the servants,
spinning wool, and weaving cloth for their families use. Wealthy women often had
female slaves to gather produce from the garden as well as to buy food from the
marketplace. These slaves were responsible for cooking and cleaning in the
household. Women in less wealthy houses often worked at humble jobs outside
the home. They sold goods at market, or baked loaves of bread. Few skilled trades
were open to women, but there were female potters and leatherworkers.
Athenian women from ALL classes participated in the religious celebrations.
Some women were priestesses. These priestesses conducted religious
ceremonies, recited prayers, and looked after the sacred objects stored in the
sanctuaries. Priestesses had high social and legal status and were NOT under the
guardianship of men!
Drawing an Athenian woman!
Draw an Athenian woman and
complete the following statements
about her surrounding the picture:
– I see…(characteristics of married
women)
– I think…(describe restrictions they had)
– I have traveled...(places they frequently
visit)
– I hear… (What men might say about the
woman’s role in society)
Answers!
I see young women, as
young as 14 years old
having large families.
They wore loose clothing
and they wore their hair in
fancy hairpieces.
I think that women had to
be raised apart from men,
and they could also
participate only in a few
trades. They also had to
have a male guardian
I have traveled to the
marketplace, religious
festivals and sanctuaries.
I hear that women could
oversee their households,
they could be potter and
leatherworkers, and also
priestesses.
The Wonderful Women of Greece!
Elaborate hairpiece
While visiting a wealthy
house in Athens, I
learned some important
facts about women in
Greek society. Almost
all women in Greek
society had to have a
male guardian. They
also were primarily
overseers of their
households. Some
women could become
priestesses and that
gave them more legal
and social status.
Women went to the
Agora to shop for their
families.
loose dress
Hera-protector