Food
The fertile was not very fertile along the Coastline, but the ancient Greeks used the advance systems of irrigation to help solve that problem. People in the countryside worked in agriculture and were very poor. All over Greece, the people grew olives, grapes, and figs.They kept goats for milk and cheese. In the plain which were very fertile they also grew wheat to make bread. Fish, seafood, and home made wine were very popular food items. In some of the larger Greek city-states meat could be purchased in cook shops. But wasn't commonly eaten.
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Religion
The religion of Ancient Greece was considered to be Polytheistic, it consists of believing in many gods.Among the gods and goddesses were Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love, Athena, goddess of wisdom, Artemis goddess of hunting, the moon and childbirth and Ares god of war. They also worshiped Dionysus god of wine, Demeter goddess of crops, Hephaestus the blacksmith of the gods and Hermes the messenger of the gods.Other gods were Poseidon god of the sea and Hades the god of the dead who ruled over a gloomy underworld where the spirits of the dead lived.Every city had many temples. People went to the temple to pray. Outside them were altars were offerings were made and animals were sacrificed
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Entertainment
Ancient Greeks also enjoyed going to the theater for their entertainment. The theater had events that they could relate to their everyday lives such as dramas and comedies. The plays often involved politics or Gods. Women were not allowed to attend the theater. The women were not expected to do anything too physical, so they often played games like checkers, dice, and weaving. Their lives were confined to the house which limited what they could do as entertainment
Special Game- '"knuckle bones"was popular game children and adults. One way of playing it is essentially the game 'jacks.' When a 'jack' was thrown into the air, players had to grab as many of the "knuckle bones" as possible and then catch the falling jack. |
Special event
Athletic competitions were held during religious festivals in every Greek city. However the Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC in honor of Zeus, the chief god and people came from all over Greece and the Greek colonies to take part in them. Wars stopped to allow everyone to take part.Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, running, horse racing, chariot racing and the pentathlon (five athletic events). Winners were not given medals. Instead they were given a crown of leaves.Women were not allowed to take part in the games. They were not even allowed to watch.
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