Culture In Sophocles's Day
In Ancient Greece things like clothes, games, and transportation are not at all like the modern world. So to help get a greater understanding of how people thought and lived the following page takes you back into 500 b.c., and shows you Ancient Greece's clothes, transportation, games, and religion.
Games in Ancient Greece
During 500-400 b.c., in Ancient Greece people did not really have a large variety of games. The rich or upper class people usually went to a Greek theater to watch plays during their free time. While watching either a comedy or tragedy, these Greeks would also dine at the theater. The common people of Ancient Greece tended to only go to Greek festivals and to the Olympic games during the summer.
The Olympic games were perhaps the most anticipated event of the year for all Greeks. People from all over Greece would come to see the Olympic games during the summer. The Olympics was seen as a way to keep Greeks fit and healthy. Some of the sports the Greeks from all over came to compete in were:
The Olympic games were perhaps the most anticipated event of the year for all Greeks. People from all over Greece would come to see the Olympic games during the summer. The Olympics was seen as a way to keep Greeks fit and healthy. Some of the sports the Greeks from all over came to compete in were:
- Boxing
- Chariot Racing (introduced in the 25th Olympics)
- Discus
- Running
- Javelin
Major wars and their toll on Ancient Greece
The major war in Ancient Greece between 500-400 b.c., was the Peloponnesian War (431-404). The main reasons for the Peloponnesian War was:
- The destruction of Athens, Greece during the Persian Invasion
- Athens gaining power while rebuilding their city
- The 27 year conflict between Athens and Sparta
Ancient Greece and its religion
Ancient Greece's religion reflected forms of earlier nature-based religions, witchcraft, and Wicca. Their religion also believed in many gods, or in being polytheistic. Greeks not only believed in pleasing their gods through offerings and sacrifices, but thought that if they continued to do so through their life that the gods would take care of them; because of this mostly everything in Ancient Greece was centered around Greeks gods. Another belief in Greeks religion was that they believed in reincarnation, or being born into a different new life after ending your current one.
Clothing in Ancient Greece
During Ancient Greek times their fashion was cut down to a two pieces of clothing. For both men and women in Ancient Greece, they both whore chitons, which were just overly large pieces of fabric. The Greeks would hold these fabrics in place using belts and pins. This was their most commonly, if not only, clothing they whore. For their shoes they would either wear sandals made of leather or boots. Greeks would also wear things like cloaks, shawls, or hats (petasos), but only did so during the winter when it was cold.
Transportation in Ancient Greece
Basic transportation for Ancient Greece was:
Most commonly Greeks would travel by using a mule, because they were the most commonly found animal around Greece and they could with stand its rocky terrain Ships were most often used by Greece's army when they were going to war or for smaller boats by local fisher men. Ancient Greece's transportation was very basic, but during their time was some of the most advanced ways of traveling.
- Boat
- Mule
- Their feet
Most commonly Greeks would travel by using a mule, because they were the most commonly found animal around Greece and they could with stand its rocky terrain Ships were most often used by Greece's army when they were going to war or for smaller boats by local fisher men. Ancient Greece's transportation was very basic, but during their time was some of the most advanced ways of traveling.