Download Panathenea - Education of Ancient Greece

Ancient Athens education
Ancient Athens was the bright intellectual,
educational and cultural centre of all Greece. The
whole city was a large school, a large temple, a
large workshop of art.
Under the blue Attic sky, teachers, philosophers,
Poets, Scientists and Artists coming from all over
the ancient world and youths from all over
Greece visiting Athens to ease their inquiring
minds, made up a society full of life, motion and
beauty, where man lived in harmony with nature
and learned from it.
The Athenian education aimed at the cultivation
of the person´s mental, physical and moral
qualities, leading the youth to become "strong
and decent", useful to his city and fellow citizens.
The balance between body and soul was the
main target of the athenian education, the
noblest the worlds has known.
The education of the little athenian began on the
day of birth and lasted until the age of 20. First
of all, the parents made sure that they raised a
healthy and lively child. The first years of his life
were completely dedicated to playing.
At the age of 7, the child would start going to
school, although school was not compulsory,
even the poorest athenian citizen tried to provide
his children with – at least – a basic education.
Schooling was private, usually taking place at the
teachers house, girls were educated at home.
The education in ancient Athens consisted of 3
basic courses. The first course, "Grammata" (the
letters), included reading, writing and
arithmetics. The teacher was called
"Grammatistes" (teacher of letters). When the
children had a good command of the language,
they were introduced to the great poets works
like Homer´s Iliad and Odyssey.
The second course consisted of the subjects of
Music: Singing, Playing of the lyre and the flute,
Reciting and musical performance of poetry. The
teacher was called "Kytharistes"(Guitarist).
Through letters, music and poetry, the pupils
were also taught History, Geography, Ethics and
all the values of life. That way they cultivated
their mind and soul.
The teachers talked to the pupils about the
virtue, the bravery, the deeds and the glory of
the past heroes, likeAchilles, Ulysses and others.
So the youths tried to pattern themselves upon
them and follow their footsteps.
The third course was a physical education. The
teacher was called"Paidotribes" (child-former).
The lessons took place in the afternoon at the
palaestra (sportsplace) and the stadium. The
chidrem practiced wrestling, jumping, running
and throwing of discus and javelin. That way
built their body and became strong and
courageous.
In the summer, the children, together with all
the athenians, participated in
the "Panathenea", participated in
the"Panathenea", the greates religious festival of
Athens, honouring Athena, thr protecting
Goddess of the city. The small "Panathenea" was
held yearly, only by athenians, while the great
"panathenea" was celebrated every 4 years, by
all greeks, who gathered in Athens.
The most important event of the"Panathenea"
was great procession, accompanying the sacred
veil – offered by the Athenians to the Goddess –
to the Acropolis. Afterwards, athletic games and
music compettions took place. The children
competed in the pentathlon, which had been
especially estabilished for them.
When the youths became 16, they completed
their basic education. The ones who didn’t have
to work, could be introduced to sciences and
philosophy by the sophists, at first, and later by
inspired Philosophers, like Socrates, Plato and
Aristotle or rhetoric by the side of famous
rhetoricians.
From the age of 18, the youths called
Ephebes (adolescents), and were given their first
arms by the city. The arms trusted to them and
that they will use them to defend Athens and its
laws.
After the oath, they started their military service,
which lasted two years. Now, the city supported
the ephebes. Apart from exercising with
the"Paidotribes", special, trainers showed them
how to use arms. Some practiced horse riding
while others practiced naval manoeuvres at sea.
Now the young men were erady to participate in
the Olympic Games, the most famous games of
the Greeks, which took place every 4 years in
Olympia. During the games all battles stopped.
The prize – a wreath of olive leaves – brought
great honour and glory to the winners and their
city. Every city took down part of its walls to let
the champions pass throught at their triumphant
return.