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Athenian Society: Nobles/ Citizens (eupatridae) When a young Athenian male turned 18, he had to show that he was eligible for citizenship by proving that he was born in Athens, that both of his parents were also born in Athens. At the age of 18 they also took the Ephebic Oath of loyalty. Ephebic Oath: I will not disgrace the sacred arms, nor will I abandon the man next to me, whoever he may be. I will bring aid to the ritual of the state, and to the holy duties, both alone and in company with many. I will obey those who from time to time are judges; I will obey the established statutes (laws), and whatever other regulations the people shall enact. If anyone shall attempt to destroy the statutes, I will not permit it, but will repel him both alone and with all. I will honor the ancestral faith. Excerpt from the Ephebic Oath Responsibilities All Athenian citizens, whether rich or poor, were expected to be interested in everything about their city-state and to be well informed about politics. They took this responsibility very seriously. One of their chief duties was to attend the Ecclesia people’s assembly where they could take part in debates and vote on important issues. Also, at the age of 30, an Athenian citizen was expected to hold one of the many jobs involved in running the state, such as the Boule know as the Council of 500. Between the ages of 20 and 60, citizens were expected to be prepared for military service if an emergency occurred. Citizens who could afford to provide their own armour and equipment made up the Athenian army. Poorer citizens, know as thetes, were rowers in the navy. In Athens only citizens were allowed to own land this made them feel superior to other groups in society. A good education: The education of Athenian citizens consisted of 3 basic courses. The first course, "Grammata" (the letters), included reading, writing and arithmetic’s. 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. Athenian Men vote to ostracize a fellow citizen in the Athenian Agora. Athenian Society: Metics Metics were free resident aliens who lived permanently in the city. The majority of metics had come to Athens to benefit from the Athenian economic miracle, and were usually involved in commerce. It is noteworthy that ancient sources contrast metics not with the citizens but with the townsfolk. Only a small percentage of metics were former slaves who had opted to stay on in Athens after being given their freedom. Rights: A metic did not have the right to acquire land or a house. This right was only given to a foreigner by the city in recognition of services rendered. Moreover, a metic was liable for an annual tax - twelve drachmai for a man, six for a woman. This payment, the metoikion, was not a punishing sum: it was a day's wage for a working man. Importance of the metics: Some metics played an important role in the Athenian economy, including prominent entrepreneurs in particularly lucrative financial operations such as commerce, industry, or banking ventures. But on the whole they were involved in less profitable occupations - for instance as cooks, gardeners and workmen engaged on public buildings (the Erechtheion in 409/8 and 408/7 B.C.; Eleusis in 329/8 B.C.), cooks and gardeners. Because of their jobs, metics tended to live in demes either in or next to the asty. Archaeological finds, inscriptions from gravestones, tell us that in the Classical period demes such as Melite (in north-west Athens) and Piraeus had the highest concentrations of metics. Although the metics may have been a special social group, subject to legal restrictions and without the right to participate directly in the political process, this did not stop them playing an active part in Athenian social life. Daily life: They became friends with Athenian citizens, held symposia, they took part in city festivals and made personal contributions for the endowment of altars and even for putting up building installations, as in Piraeus. Votes of thanks to metics are frequent from the fourth century B.C., indicating an increase in the number of sponsorships by them and that the value of their contribution was now being recognized by the city. A symposium, or drinking party, in ancient Greece. Athenian Society: Slaves: Slavery was one of the key aspects of Greek life: in Athens it was the backbone of their society, so important that the number of slaves outnumbered the citizens. Although there were a lot of slaves it is believed that the Athenians respected and even formed relationships with their slaves, although this depended on the type of slave. Types of slaves: There were three main types of slaves found in Athens: the first was the household slave, who in many regards would have had a relatively good life and good treatment. There were also the entertainment slaves who had opportunities to improve their standing in society. The final type of slave was the laboring and skilled slave, whose treatment rested on their occupation. Athenian slaves had many opportunities to improve their lives as well as being able to rely on laws to protect them, allowing for treatment that was almost equal to that of an Athenian citizen. Importance: Slaves were an important social group in Athens, fundamental to the Athenian economy. In the second half of the fifth century, there were twice as many slaves as citizens. Most slaves were non-Greeks. Some came to Athens as prisoners of war. Others were captured by pirates and sold to Greek traders who auctioned them off to the highest bidder in the marketplace in Athens (agora). A slave was usually the property of an owner, and rich owners often owned large number. A special group of slaves who were owned by the state were archers from Scythia who were responsible for keeping Athenians citizens in order in the Ecclesia (assembly). These men had more status than other slaves. Treatment: Athenian slaves were treated well because of the laws that protected them, the principles the Athenians held dear and the opportunities they had for improving their life. For the household slave living close to their master benefitted them with greater opportunities for kindness and manumission. The entertaining slaves had poor living conditions but they formed relationships to benefit themselves and had many opportunities to improve their lives. Although there were times when Athenians treated their slaves badly, most slaves had rights and opportunities that made their treatment almost equal to that of the citizens. Slavery in Athens Athenian Society: Women: Women in Classical Athens (5th and 4th centuries BC) were generally seen as inferior to men. However, this depended on whether they were a slave, or a housewife. Each of these classes of women were looked at differently and played different roles in Athens. Housewives: Becoming a housewife was the expected role of Classical Athenian women. After marrying and having children, the women were in charge of all household duties. The duties of a household wife depended on whether or not the household was rich or poor. In a rich household, the wife would distribute jobs to the slaves working both inside and outside of the house. Housewives not only were responsible for the slaves; they also had the task of training the household workers. In poor households, the wife had many more duties, as poor households had no slaves to assist with the work. Additional duties for a poor housewife would include shopping for food, making the family's clothing, and retrieving water. A poor housewife would be likely to acquire a job to assist with the finances of the household. These jobs could include acting as a wet-nurse midwife or smalltime market trader. “ A good woman is the rudder of her household. A sympathetic wife is man’s chiefest treasure…She bears him children; She watches o’er his couch, if he be sick, with tender care; she’s ever by his side. When the fortune frowns; and should he chance to die, the last sad rites with honour due she pays.” Menander, an Athenian dramatist, describes Religious participation: some qualities of a good women in Ancient Athens Religion was the one area of public life where women could participate freely. In Athens, the priestess of Athena (the city's eponymous goddess) held much honor. She was consulted for major decisions and her words were well respected. During the Panathenaea (a festival to celebrate the birthday of Athena) the virgin daughters of nobles were chosen to carry sacred baskets in the procession. Influence: Athenian women took little part in economic or political life. An Athenian woman’s status improved if she gave birth to a boy as it ensured a continuation of a male line.