Athens Boys

Children took part in many religious rituals. At age 3 a young boy tasted his first wine at the festive of Dionysus and also served as temple boys where they assisted at sacrificial rituals. By age seven boys in Athens began attending school. The young wealthy boys were accompanied to school by their paidagogos or male tutor. Sometimes in other families a male slave would take a masters’ son to school. Books were extremely rare and very expensive in ancient Athens, so students did their work on waxed-covered tablets and a stylus. Subjects were not unlike those taught today. Many scenes on pottery and in art illustrate young students seated around their teacher. They were taught math including fractions, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. They learned the words of Homer, to read and to write. Music instruction usually included learning to play the lyre. Physical education was extremely important in Athens, and sports included use of the bow and arrow and the sling, competitions in wrestling and swimming were also included in the curricula. The more wealthy were taught the skill of horseback riding.