How did an ancient- Classical Athenian pass his daylife? Here are some facts that you can understand how daily life was- and how you could relive ancient Greece while in Athens!
Democracy and Athens
Ancient Athenians were living a very different life than that we can imagine. First of all, Athenians were farmers, and Solon’s reforms aimed to erase the huge debt that was gathered and resulted in slavery, so he also abolished slavery for natives. Apart from agriculture, Athens developed pottery businesses, and labs and workshops were located at the area of Keramikos. So, they were spending their days in the fields and if they were wealthy in the market- Agora. The younger were passing their time in gyms, were they were wrestling and exercising.
Athens Agora
At the Agora people discussed and learnt daily news and trends, there were no newspapers back then. Moreover, Agora was the place of exports of Athenian ceramics and olive oil, to the rest of the world. Keramikos was connected to ancient city center. In order to get to Dionysus Theater he was using Tripodon street and could see Lysicratous monument.
Then -if there was a day that the Athenian Assembly was gathering on the annual calendar, he was visiting the Pnyx.
Athenian Philosophers and facts
The Philosophical Schools of Athens was a part were wealthy and foreigners that came to Athens to study visited, and that was in the 4th century mostly, after the Peloponnesian War and Athens’ defeat. It was the period of losing the global status and rank, so Athenians took advantage of their glorious past (even from that times!!!).
Religious habits
If you were a faith Athenian, you had to pay tribute to Gods, so you had to climb Acropolis Rock to Athena’s temple. When you were willing to move on a big step in your life, you had to visit Delphi’s Oracle. Every four years, you had to attend Olympic Games. Thankfully, today you have the opportunity to be at Olympic Flame ceremony, at Olympia and Panathenaic Stadium. Annually you had to follow the sacred path of Panathinea- following Iera Odos that connected Athens to Elefsina, passing via Dipylon Gates at Keramikos, and not the one at Loumpardiaris church close to Pnyx. Athenians were also annually honouring Marathon & Salamis battles’ dead ancestors. We don’t know if the 19th century travelers could feel closer or not to the ancient Athenian…
Geoartshop is a jewellery Store, located at Kydathineon 25.
George, the owner, offers handmade articrafts of silver, great souvenirs from the city of Athens. Especially the ATH -ENS, two pieces of a set of earrings is a must while you walk around Plaka Streets. If you mention VisitPlaka you can have a 10% discount!!
George offers a variety of Silver memoirs- gifts, for men and women. Close to George is Noula’s shop, with ancient Greek Clothing where you can find nice dresses for women in antient Greek style and beautiful colours.
Athens today
The way to Pnyx Hill where the ancient Democracy was being executed from, passes from Dipylon Gate, close to modern Loumpardiaris Orthodox church. Pnyx is open all day along, together with the rest of Athens’ Seven Hills.
After their defeat from Spartans and Macedonians, Athenians demolished their Walls. Today ancient walls can be found around the city at Andrianou street, at Kerameikos archaeological site, at Philopappou hill (Dipylon gates’ remains are still here) and more locations. Moreover, in Athens someone can also discover Plato’s Academy at Kolonos area today, but also Lycaeum Aristoteles’ near Byzantine Museum. One of the unique points of interest is Socrates’ prison. Of course you can visit also Elefsina,
Here is a program for Feeling like an ancient Athenian – PROPOSAL 1
7-9 am FREE Running around Kalimarmaro- Panathenaic Stadium, close to Zappeion. The entrance is on the back of the stadium HERE. Gates are open from 07-22 at night.
9-11 Choose your Hellas Revival Athens experience, at Pnyx hill and Live Democracy for REAL. Book now asking for a 10% discount by mentioning MapDiscount10%
12.00- 14.00 Traditional Greek cuisine at Diodos restarant, next to Ancient’s Agora Entrance. We also eat there 🙂
14.00-15.00 Shopping time with Greek art and Souvenirs. We suggest for typically Greek souvenir Zoforos, located near Acropolis museum.
For Handmade Silver items, George’s shop at Kydathineon 25 at Plaka. There you can ask for any custom jewellery, since George is a silversmith by himself.
15.00-17.00 Cafe of course!!! Frappe, Freddo cappuccino or any other of your choice. Where? At Ydria, at Old Agora Square. A quite place where you can enjoy the feeling of old Athens.
17.30-21.00. Exploring Athens activities with Athens Living Museum and Koilon Theater.
There are so many activities you can check directly at their websites
21.00 – night on, you can change direction towards Thission and visit Callas, a gastrobar. You can also try the best ice cream of Plaka, Solo Gelato at Adrianoy Street and combine shopping as well.
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