Ancient Greek Life

1. When Greek babies were born the father decided if they lived or died.

2. Girls were not as important to the Ancient Greeks as boys, who went to school from the age of seven.

3. Girls stayed at home and learned from their mothers, whereas boys were taught to read, write, play an instrument.

4 Greek boys were expected to keep fit and were taught how to fight.

5. Ancient Greek children played with toys such as spinning tops, dolls, hoops and clay figures and games such as marbles, jacks and ball.

6. Ancient Greeks clothes were light and loose and made from long pieces of wool, linen, or cotton.

7. The main item of clothing, worn by both Ancient Greek men and women, was a tunic called a chiton.

8. A chiton was a large piece of fabric held in place with pins at the shoulders, and a belt round the waist.

9. Sometimes Greek women wore a shorter tunic over their chiton, called a peplos.

10. Ancient Greek clothes were decorated and dyed in bright colours.

11. A cloak was worn in cooler weather, and footwear, if any, tended to be leather sandals.

12. Most Ancient Greeks made their living from farming.

13. The Ancient Greek diet was very healthy - they ate grains, wheat, barley, fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish, eggs and bread.

14. Grapes were grown and olives were an important crop, providing both food and oil for beauty products and lighting.

15. The Ancient Greeks also grew grain which was made into barley or wheat bread.

16. Ancient Greeks hunted for hares, deer and boars.

17. A typical day’s meals for the Ancient Greeks would be breakfast, lunch and main meal in the evening.

18. Ancient Greek breakfast consisted of bread soaked in wine.

19. Ancient Greek lunch consisted ofbread, cheese, olives and figs.

20. Main evening meal consisted of barley porridge or bread and vegetables.

21. Most Ancient Greek homes, even poorer ones, would have at least one slave, who was usually a captured prisoner of war.