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Everyday Life in Ancient Greece
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In Athens, society was male-dominated - only men could be citizens and only upper-class males enjoyed a formal
education. Women had few political rights and were expected to remain in the home and bear children. Fully
one quarter of the population was made up of slaves, usually prisoners captured during the many clashes that
extended Greek influence overseas. These slaves provided much of the manpower that fueled the burgeoning
economy, working in shipyards, quarries, mines, and as domestic servants.
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Most homes were modest, windowless and wrapped around a courtyard. Furniture was rare. People spent the
majority of the day out of doors enjoying the mild Mediterranean climate. The Greek diet was also modest,
based largely on wine and bread. A typical day would start with bread dipped in wine, the same for lunch and a
dinner of wine, fruits, vegetables and fish. Consumption of meat was reserved for special occasions such as
religious holidays.
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A Glimpse of the Average Day in Ancient Greece:
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…Socrates has asked his friend to describe how he spends his day. Ischomachus responds:
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"Why, then, Socrates, my habit is to rise from bed betimes, when I may still expect to find at home this, that, or
the other friend whom I may wish to see. Then, if anything has to be done in town, I set off to transact the
business and make that my walk; or if there is no business to transact in town, my serving boy leads on my horse
to the farm…
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After this, usually I mount my horse and take a canter. I put him through his paces, suiting these, so far as
possible, to those inevitable in war, - in other words, I avoid neither steep slope, nor sheer incline, neither
trench nor runnel, only giving my uttermost heed the while so as not to lame my horse while exercising him.
When that is over, the boy gives the horse a roll, and leads him homeward… Meanwhile I am off for home,
partly walking, partly running, and having reached home I take a bath and give myself a rub, - and then I
breakfast, - a repast that leaves me neither hungry nor overfed, and will suffice me through the day."
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Everyday Life in Ancient Greece, 4th Century BC," EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2001).
Vocabulary: burgeoning: growing; betimes: early; heed: attention; runnel: a long, narrow valley
1. What three groups of people are described in the first paragraph? What do we learn about each
group? __________________________________________________________________________
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2a. The word modest on lines 7-8 has multiple meanings. What is the meaning of the word in this
context?
a. humble
b. shy
c. mild
d. small
2b. Circle the context clues in lines 7-11 that help you to understand the meaning of the word.
3. How do the words breakfast and hungry on line 23 help you to understand the meaning of the word
repast? __________________________________________________________________________
4a. What does the phrase neither… nor on lines 19-20 tell us about the author’s structure of this
text? Why is this phrase important to notice? Use evidence to explain your answer. ____________
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4b. How is the use of the first neither… nor phrase different than the use of the second neither… nor
phrase?_________________________________________________________________________
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5. On line 8-9 the text states, “The Greek diet was also modest…” What evidence can you find in the
text to support that statement? Underline and annotate your answers in the text.;