The Age of Pericles | Paideia - Education in Ancient Athens (Lecture 8)

Lecture 8: How did childhood differ in antiquity from today? What constituted the education of young Athenians in the age of Pericles? In this lecture, we will recreate the experience of childhood among the Greeks, with special attention to ways children were prepared for their lives as citizens. Basic levels of literacy and numeracy were expected then as now, so that young men could read, write, and count, but a great deal more emphasis was placed on memorizing poetry, especially Homer. Many leading men composed verses, if not entire plays, and were often capable of playing musical instruments, so that poetry and music played a much fuller role in education than today. Physical education was also considered central to the training of a boy. This was not only to guarantee strength and endurance, but to prepare the youth for formal training as a soldier. Part of the young Athenian’s education was, therefore, spent in the ephebeia, patrolling the borders of Athens and learning about the discipline of hoplite warfare before becoming a full-fledged member of the Athenian army. Hunting was always a popular diversion, well regarded because it put food on the table and was a suitable pastime for both men and boys not engaged in warfare. Young adults who had received elementary training in letters and sports graduated to training in the gymnasium and palaestra, where wrestling and boxing kept the body fit and lectures kept the mind nimble. As a rule, girls in Athens received little formal training beyond the skills needed for running a household after their marriage.

Lacey, W. K. The Family in Classical Greece. London: Thames and Hudson, 1968.
Jones, N. F. Ancient Greece: State and Society. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997.

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