Introduction to the Public and Private Life of the Ancient Greeks

The course objective is to present the main aspects of private and public life in Ancient Greece. Familiarization with the public opinions and the customs regarding marriage, child birth and child upbringing, mainly in Athens and Sparta (5th and 4th centuries B.C.)

Week #1: The following socio-political and family institutions are examined.

Week #2: Ancient sources (literary, epigraphical, and archaeological).

Week #3: Forms of socialization.

Week #4: The political meaning of marriage and the family.

Week #5:  Aspects of family life.

Week #6: Marital customs; spouse choice; the groom as a choice, the bride as a prize.

Week #7: The role of the bride’s father in choosing the groom; the dowry; engagement and marriage; the marital ceremony; the bride’s integration into her new home.

Week #8: Ritual and other customs to welcome newborn babies in ancient Athens; the newborn integration into the family.

Week #9 - #10: The dwelling and its equipment.

Week #11 - #12: The place of religion in politics, in social and private life. 13. Bodily care and clothing; food and entertainment.

Week #13: Clothing, food and entertainment

• Robert Flacelière, Ὁ δημόσιος καὶ ἰδιωτικὸς βίος τῶν ἀρχαίων Ἑλλήνων, μτφρ. Γ.Δ. Βανδῶρος, ἐκδ. Παπαδήμας, Ἀθήνα 2007·
• Louis Gernet, Ἀνθρωπολογία τῆς ἀρχαίας Ἑλλάδας, μτφρ. Ἀ. Μεθενίτη – Ἀ. Στεφανῆς, ἐκδ. Πατάκης, Ἀθήνα 2000·
• Claude Vatin, Citoyens et non-citoyens dans le monde grec, Παρίσι 1984·
• F. Chamoux, Ὁ ἑλληνικὸς πολιτισμός, μτφρ. Αἰκ. Παπαθωμοπούλου, ἐκδ. Ἰ. Ζαχαρόπουλος, Ἀθήνα 1999·
• K.R. Sinclair, Δημοκρατία καὶ συμμετοχὴ στὴν ἀρχαία Ἀθήνα, μτφρ. Ἑ. Ταμβάκη, ἐκδ. Καρδαμίτσα, Ἀθήνα 1997·
• Blanck, Εἰσαγωγὴ στὴν ἰδιωτικὴ ζωὴ τῶν ἀρχαίων Ἑλλήνων καὶ Ρωμαίων, μτφρ. Ἀ. Μουστάκα, ἐκδ. Μ.Ι.Ε.Τ., Ἀθήνα 2004.

Besides the textbook chosen by the students from the suggested bibliography, material is also distributed during the course of the semester containing text (in the original and its translation), as well as other sources and study material.

Lecture and Seminar entitled “Religion and political life in Ancient Greece” / Course language: Greek (optional: French)

-

• Written Assignment (Formative, Summative)
• Oral Exams (Formative, Summative)
• Performance / Staging (Formative, Summative)