About this Blog

This blog talks about leisure in Ancient Greece between 900-200BC.

By:

Dan Hendrick

Justin Robinette and

Hannah Sims

Philosophers

Aristotle describes leisure as something more deep and meaningful than simple relaxation and play. In his words recreation and play are the reliefs from work and responsibility; he ascribes leisure however with a deeper meaning, and views leisure as a method to improve the overall quality of life. Socrates believed that leisure was a method of enhancing ones knowledge. He believed that leisure was instrumental in living the good life, or a life of proper choices and responsibility. Plato believed that leisure should be a physically and mentally rewarding experience. He saw sports and the arts as powerful method to attaining personal happiness and satisfaction. The ancient philosophers all agreed that leisure time is time free of occupation that is spent on self improvement.

Sources:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~lsa/bkh/200/platoarticle.htm

http://www.uiowa.edu/~lsa/bkh/121/arist.pdf

How Greeks Changed the Approach to Leisure

Ancient Greeks did more than just enjoy leisure they developed a new way of experiencing it as well. They heavily influenced modern day leisure by developing the art of town planning and making extensive provisions for parks and gardens, open-air theaters, gymnasiums, baths, exercise grounds and stadiums. Organized sports were also just the begging in Ancient Greece, and are even more popular in today's society; plus many of the children's toys that were invented during this time are still widely recognized by today's children. Males also had control over the slave system and limited the rights of women  at this time which can be compared to the lives of wealthy plantation owners in the colonial Americas.


Sources:http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763749591/49591_ch03_mclean.pdf
 and Pastimes the contest of contemporary leisure (textbook)

Child Leisure Activites

There were several toys that many privileged children had the opportunity to play with. These included things such as:

• Jacks (Made from the knuckle-bones of animals)
• Kites 
• Marbles
• Yoyos
• Terracotta dolls
• Horses on four wheels

Amphitheaters also provided a valuable source of entertainment for children and often showcased music, dance and dramas.

Sources: Pastimes The context of temporary leisure (textbook) and http://greece.mrdonn.org/toys.html 

Adult Leisure activities

Daily leisure in Ancient Greece was influenced heavily by philosophers of the time such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. This daily leisure included intellectual pursuits such as philosophy and mathematics as well as cultural activities such as poetry, music, politics and sports. Due to the fact that there was a control system of slaves and limitations on the rights of women many of these activities were only available for aristocrats who were native born male citizens.

Source: Pastimes The context of contemporary leisure (textbook)

Heraean Games

The Heraean Games was the first sanctioned and recorded women's athletic competition. It was held in the stadium at Olympia in honor of the goddess Hera. This was a competition where unmarried women were able to compete in foot races in order to win an Olympic olive branch garland, cow or ox meat from the animal sacrificed to Hera and even the right to dedicate statues inscribed with their names or painted portraits of themselves on the columns of Hera's Temple. The women wore chitons which were usually clothing worn by men doing heavy, physical work. Women were forbidden to compete or even view the Ancient Olympics under penalty of being thrown of the cliffs of Mount Typaion. Women were not encouraged to be athletes except for those that were raised in Sparta. Spartans believed that strong women would produce strong future warriors. The Heraean Games were started because of the increase in popularity of the Olympic games.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraean_Games and Pastimes The Context of Contemporary Leisure (textbook)

The First Olympics

In 776 BC the first Olympic Games were held in western Greece on the ancient plains of Olympia. The Olympics were held to honor  Zues but were originally named for the god Olympian. These games were held every 4 years but for the first 13 games the only event held was a 180 meter foot race. Throughout the years other games continued to be added such as:

Longer running races

Horse races

Weight lifting

Pentathlon (Javelin, discus, sprint footrace, long jump, and wrestling)

Pancratium (Combination of boxing and wrestling)

-This was extreme wrestling in which the only things not allowed were gouging with the thumb and biting

The competitors were usually nude and the only people allowed to participate in these games where aristocratic young men who could have the privilege of leisure.


Sources: http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Olympics/ and Pastimes The Context of Contemporary Leisure