Daily life of Spartans & Athenians
Sparta was a very harsh way of living. They won most wars because of their strict training requirements.
Life for a Spartan man: When a baby boy was born in Sparta, it was taken to some elders to be checked for strength and health. If it didn’t look that way, it would be taken to a chasm on a mountain to die. At the age of 7, the young boys would be taken away from their families and live with the state educational training programme until they turned 30.Before the boys turn 12, they have lessons in reading, writing, music and dancing. At their school the main focus is physical improvement. They must only go bare footed and are allowed only one piece of clothing. They only get minimal food servings and are encouraged to steal to prepare them for war. After the age of 12, the work load increases and they start to train military style. At the age of 20 they become real men and can fight in the war. They can become part of a mess as Spartan soldiers. A mess is a close team that fight together, train and eat with. When they wish to marry, they can sneak out of their army barracks and do it in secret. When they are allowed out of their barracks at the age of 30, they can then join their wife to live with.
Life for a Spartan woman: When they are born, they mostly get brought up by their mothers because their fathers are still at the army barracks. They are taught the basics but again exercising was most important even for girls. They wear simple cloths like a short chiton or when exercising they wear nothing. At the age of 13, some girls have the honour of competing in the Heraia festival. This festival is the most important athletic event any women can compete in and is held to honour the Greek Goddess Hera. They get married at 15 but it must be kept secret until their husband comes back from the army barracks to live with them. Their husband can sneak away at night so they can start a family. Again the process continues of having a family continues, if the boy looks weak it won’t live but if so it stays at home till its 7 years old.
Food: In Sparta they didn’t believe in luxury food. They ate only enough to survive, mainly bread, figs and cheese.
Houses: The houses were plain and there would be no accessories. They lived on the bare necessities.
Life for a Spartan man: When a baby boy was born in Sparta, it was taken to some elders to be checked for strength and health. If it didn’t look that way, it would be taken to a chasm on a mountain to die. At the age of 7, the young boys would be taken away from their families and live with the state educational training programme until they turned 30.Before the boys turn 12, they have lessons in reading, writing, music and dancing. At their school the main focus is physical improvement. They must only go bare footed and are allowed only one piece of clothing. They only get minimal food servings and are encouraged to steal to prepare them for war. After the age of 12, the work load increases and they start to train military style. At the age of 20 they become real men and can fight in the war. They can become part of a mess as Spartan soldiers. A mess is a close team that fight together, train and eat with. When they wish to marry, they can sneak out of their army barracks and do it in secret. When they are allowed out of their barracks at the age of 30, they can then join their wife to live with.
Life for a Spartan woman: When they are born, they mostly get brought up by their mothers because their fathers are still at the army barracks. They are taught the basics but again exercising was most important even for girls. They wear simple cloths like a short chiton or when exercising they wear nothing. At the age of 13, some girls have the honour of competing in the Heraia festival. This festival is the most important athletic event any women can compete in and is held to honour the Greek Goddess Hera. They get married at 15 but it must be kept secret until their husband comes back from the army barracks to live with them. Their husband can sneak away at night so they can start a family. Again the process continues of having a family continues, if the boy looks weak it won’t live but if so it stays at home till its 7 years old.
Food: In Sparta they didn’t believe in luxury food. They ate only enough to survive, mainly bread, figs and cheese.
Houses: The houses were plain and there would be no accessories. They lived on the bare necessities.
Athens
Athens was the more relaxed way of living compared to the Spartans.
Life for an Athenian woman: When a baby girl was born, the family would put sheep wool on the front door to symbolise a female was born. It is common for parents to give up their child for the public to take them or adopt them as slaves. Girls don’t go to school and are not really even supposed to go outside. Their mothers teach them spinning and weaving because this is the most important. They are also taught how to be a good mother and wife when they grow up. Over all, the slaves do most of the house work and errands for the family but the girls weave the clothes, wall hangings, cushions and bed linen. They wore long tunics and if they were wealthy they wore lots of jewels on their clothes and in their hair. At the age of 13, the girls are officially adults and a ritual is held to mark this event. The girls can take all their childhood toys to the temple of the goddess Artemis and then get a special girdle to symbolise being a grown up. Once they are adults their family can arrange their marriage. When they are married they get their own slaves and help them around the house. In the month of autumn only the women celebrate a festival called the Thesmophoria in honour of Demeter. It lasts for three days and is kept secret from the men.
Life of an Athenian man: When a baby boy was born in Athens, the family would put olive leaves on the front door because they represent success and victory. Boys were favoured in Athens and were expected to achieve more than girls. As a ceremony, the baby boys get presented to their father’s deme. A deme is a group of male Athenians that live in the same community. All male Athenians have a deme. They wore short tunics unlike the Spartans wearing nothing. In spring when the fruits harvest there is a festival for all 3 year old boys to celebrate them being in the world. At the age of 6 they start their schooling. Only the boys get to go to school because in the future, if they wanted to be a good citizen, they would need to know how to read and write. Their fathers also teach them how to be good Athenian men. Once they are registered into their father’s deme, they are allowed to vote. Back then only Athenian men had the right to vote. In their time, the men would enjoy being outside and hunting. Meat was expensive so it was greatly appreciated for them to come home with a good variety. Most at the age of 30, men would marry a woman at the age of 14 or a bit older. It was normal to have this kind of age difference between couples. Juries were very big in Athens and every mans vote was important. Men had a very free life but also worked hard for their family. If a virus or infection starts there is a slim chance of survival. Men had a better lifestyle in Athens and had many slaves to help them.
Food: weak wine and water were the main drinks and lots of natural foods were eaten. Meat would be served only for special occasions because of the extreme price.
Houses: the housing was simple and was made mostly of wood.
Life for an Athenian woman: When a baby girl was born, the family would put sheep wool on the front door to symbolise a female was born. It is common for parents to give up their child for the public to take them or adopt them as slaves. Girls don’t go to school and are not really even supposed to go outside. Their mothers teach them spinning and weaving because this is the most important. They are also taught how to be a good mother and wife when they grow up. Over all, the slaves do most of the house work and errands for the family but the girls weave the clothes, wall hangings, cushions and bed linen. They wore long tunics and if they were wealthy they wore lots of jewels on their clothes and in their hair. At the age of 13, the girls are officially adults and a ritual is held to mark this event. The girls can take all their childhood toys to the temple of the goddess Artemis and then get a special girdle to symbolise being a grown up. Once they are adults their family can arrange their marriage. When they are married they get their own slaves and help them around the house. In the month of autumn only the women celebrate a festival called the Thesmophoria in honour of Demeter. It lasts for three days and is kept secret from the men.
Life of an Athenian man: When a baby boy was born in Athens, the family would put olive leaves on the front door because they represent success and victory. Boys were favoured in Athens and were expected to achieve more than girls. As a ceremony, the baby boys get presented to their father’s deme. A deme is a group of male Athenians that live in the same community. All male Athenians have a deme. They wore short tunics unlike the Spartans wearing nothing. In spring when the fruits harvest there is a festival for all 3 year old boys to celebrate them being in the world. At the age of 6 they start their schooling. Only the boys get to go to school because in the future, if they wanted to be a good citizen, they would need to know how to read and write. Their fathers also teach them how to be good Athenian men. Once they are registered into their father’s deme, they are allowed to vote. Back then only Athenian men had the right to vote. In their time, the men would enjoy being outside and hunting. Meat was expensive so it was greatly appreciated for them to come home with a good variety. Most at the age of 30, men would marry a woman at the age of 14 or a bit older. It was normal to have this kind of age difference between couples. Juries were very big in Athens and every mans vote was important. Men had a very free life but also worked hard for their family. If a virus or infection starts there is a slim chance of survival. Men had a better lifestyle in Athens and had many slaves to help them.
Food: weak wine and water were the main drinks and lots of natural foods were eaten. Meat would be served only for special occasions because of the extreme price.
Houses: the housing was simple and was made mostly of wood.