Progress:
Hi! You...yes you! If you are bored and were always interested in learning about ancient Greek culture, well my friend, you have come to the right place! Although the museum I will be visiting represented more Roman culture, I personally am more interested in Greek culture! Anyways, with enough motivation and commitment, I was able to learn a lot about the Greeks and their culture using several websites and I hope you're excited as I am! So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about Greek clothing, religion, architecture and most importantly, food!
PS: Look how beautiful Greece is! That is city called Santorini!
Hi! You...yes you! If you are bored and were always interested in learning about ancient Greek culture, well my friend, you have come to the right place! Although the museum I will be visiting represented more Roman culture, I personally am more interested in Greek culture! Anyways, with enough motivation and commitment, I was able to learn a lot about the Greeks and their culture using several websites and I hope you're excited as I am! So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about Greek clothing, religion, architecture and most importantly, food!
PS: Look how beautiful Greece is! That is city called Santorini!
Clothing:
Tops:
So first things first, let's talk about Greek clothing. When you think of what the ancient Greeks wore, you think of people in togas, right? Correct!
Ancient Greek men and women usually wore two pieces of clothing draped around their body. This typically consisted of an undergarment (peplos or chitons) and a cloak (himation or chlamys). Their clothing was mostly from homemade material.
As I said before, the Greeks had two choices of The peplos were larger than the chitons. They were made from heavier material such as wool and would be fastened by a pin or a brooch. On the other hand, the chitons were lighter and made of linen. They were also pinned or sewn at the shoulders.
Both the garments were long enough that it touched the floor! They were so long that they could be pulled over the belt and thus created pouches called kolpos.
Men and women wore similar clothing but men wore shorter undergarments (about knee-length or even shorter). If men wanted to exercise or do labor, they had to wear an exomis (a short chiton fastened on their left shoulder). Men also wore broad-brimmed hats called petasos.
On the hand, women usually had to wear a strophion, which was a soft band worn to cover their breasts. They even wore epiblemas, or shawls, over their undergarments. On rare occasions, women wore flat-brimmed hats that had high peaked crowns.
Both men and women wore cloaks, or himations, which was heavy fabric that they wore over one or both of their shoulders. On the other hand, men had to wear chlamys when they for military and hunting purposes.
Tops:
So first things first, let's talk about Greek clothing. When you think of what the ancient Greeks wore, you think of people in togas, right? Correct!
Ancient Greek men and women usually wore two pieces of clothing draped around their body. This typically consisted of an undergarment (peplos or chitons) and a cloak (himation or chlamys). Their clothing was mostly from homemade material.
As I said before, the Greeks had two choices of The peplos were larger than the chitons. They were made from heavier material such as wool and would be fastened by a pin or a brooch. On the other hand, the chitons were lighter and made of linen. They were also pinned or sewn at the shoulders.
Both the garments were long enough that it touched the floor! They were so long that they could be pulled over the belt and thus created pouches called kolpos.
Men and women wore similar clothing but men wore shorter undergarments (about knee-length or even shorter). If men wanted to exercise or do labor, they had to wear an exomis (a short chiton fastened on their left shoulder). Men also wore broad-brimmed hats called petasos.
On the hand, women usually had to wear a strophion, which was a soft band worn to cover their breasts. They even wore epiblemas, or shawls, over their undergarments. On rare occasions, women wore flat-brimmed hats that had high peaked crowns.
Both men and women wore cloaks, or himations, which was heavy fabric that they wore over one or both of their shoulders. On the other hand, men had to wear chlamys when they for military and hunting purposes.
Shoes:
The most important piece of clothing that finished off the outfit, shoes! Unfortunately, however, the Greeks did not see shoes as important as we do today.
Most of the ancient Greeks walked around barefoot at home. If not, they were usually seen wearing sandals, slippers, soft shoes, or boots.
Next, Greek religion!
The most important piece of clothing that finished off the outfit, shoes! Unfortunately, however, the Greeks did not see shoes as important as we do today.
Most of the ancient Greeks walked around barefoot at home. If not, they were usually seen wearing sandals, slippers, soft shoes, or boots.
Next, Greek religion!
Religion:
The Greeks were extremely religious. They believed in many gods that seems to be in human form. For example, the book, The Iliad and the Odyssey, best represents some of the types of gods that they followed. For those who know Greek mythology, most people followed Zeus, the god of the sky and ruler of all the gods. The deities were usually represented as painted scenes on vases, and stone, terracotta and bronze or even as sculptures like the one of the left of Zeus!
When someone died, their remains were burned in urns. Their burials were marked by pottery and the walls of their tomb chambers were usually painted in fresco. Also, people did not really leave goods but when they did, it would be a coin, which placed in the mouth of the dead, to pay Charon, the ferryman of Hades (the god of the underworld). Pottery was another good that was sometimes placed on the graves. Charon would take the dead across the Styx River and the Acheron River, which divided the living and underworld. If a coin was not paid to Charon, then the dead bodies would not be buried and left to wander the shores for one hundred years. There would be speeches made for the dead as well as animal sacrifices.
Up next: architecture/art!
The Greeks were extremely religious. They believed in many gods that seems to be in human form. For example, the book, The Iliad and the Odyssey, best represents some of the types of gods that they followed. For those who know Greek mythology, most people followed Zeus, the god of the sky and ruler of all the gods. The deities were usually represented as painted scenes on vases, and stone, terracotta and bronze or even as sculptures like the one of the left of Zeus!
When someone died, their remains were burned in urns. Their burials were marked by pottery and the walls of their tomb chambers were usually painted in fresco. Also, people did not really leave goods but when they did, it would be a coin, which placed in the mouth of the dead, to pay Charon, the ferryman of Hades (the god of the underworld). Pottery was another good that was sometimes placed on the graves. Charon would take the dead across the Styx River and the Acheron River, which divided the living and underworld. If a coin was not paid to Charon, then the dead bodies would not be buried and left to wander the shores for one hundred years. There would be speeches made for the dead as well as animal sacrifices.
Up next: architecture/art!
Architecture:
Ancient Greek architects are most known for their columns with roofs. They were usually carved flowers, battle scenes, and mythological creatures into the columns. The Greeks were very specific on the length and size of each of their columns so that it would be indestructible.
There were three types of styles of columns that they would build. These three were Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
The Doric was the oldest and simplest. They had no bases and were least decorated and had tiny capitals. The next was called the Ionic where the columns were decorated and were typically thinner and taller. Their capitals were decorated with scrolls and patterns. The last type is the Corinthinan, which is extremely similar to the Ionic, but the capitals of the Corinthian are more decorated than the Ionic.
With the knowledge of all these different types of columns, the Greeks were able to build temples, theaters, and gymnasiums.
Now, what we've all been waiting for, GREEK FOOD!!
Ancient Greek architects are most known for their columns with roofs. They were usually carved flowers, battle scenes, and mythological creatures into the columns. The Greeks were very specific on the length and size of each of their columns so that it would be indestructible.
There were three types of styles of columns that they would build. These three were Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
The Doric was the oldest and simplest. They had no bases and were least decorated and had tiny capitals. The next was called the Ionic where the columns were decorated and were typically thinner and taller. Their capitals were decorated with scrolls and patterns. The last type is the Corinthinan, which is extremely similar to the Ionic, but the capitals of the Corinthian are more decorated than the Ionic.
With the knowledge of all these different types of columns, the Greeks were able to build temples, theaters, and gymnasiums.
Now, what we've all been waiting for, GREEK FOOD!!
Food:
Greeks generally grew their food because of the mild climate. Since vegetables were their main diet, most of them were vegetarian! Did you know they they even ate boiled dandelions? I could never eat flowers.
They also favored olives. They believed that goddess Athena (the goddess of wisdom and war) gave the very first olive tree to the Athens before it spread to the rest of Greece. Not only was it used in many of their meals, but they also used the oil to light up lamps and for their faces as a beauty product. Even today, olives are most consumed by Greeks.
A typical Greek meal included bread, wine, and olive oil. When they ate, it was not like a quick dinner that most of us have today. When they ate, that was when they all tried to catch up with each other and share any stories that they had. It was a huge event! Many people today believe that because the Greeks ate healthy, that was how most of them lived for so long. Could we listen to this advice?
Greeks generally grew their food because of the mild climate. Since vegetables were their main diet, most of them were vegetarian! Did you know they they even ate boiled dandelions? I could never eat flowers.
They also favored olives. They believed that goddess Athena (the goddess of wisdom and war) gave the very first olive tree to the Athens before it spread to the rest of Greece. Not only was it used in many of their meals, but they also used the oil to light up lamps and for their faces as a beauty product. Even today, olives are most consumed by Greeks.
A typical Greek meal included bread, wine, and olive oil. When they ate, it was not like a quick dinner that most of us have today. When they ate, that was when they all tried to catch up with each other and share any stories that they had. It was a huge event! Many people today believe that because the Greeks ate healthy, that was how most of them lived for so long. Could we listen to this advice?
Reflection:
Overall, I feel like I have never learned as much of Greek culture as I have today. I never learned anything about Greeks in school besides Greek mythology, but even that was not enough for me to fully understand how Ancient Greeks lived. The closest I've ever gotten to learn about Ancient Greece was when I was taught about Alexander the Great. But, I'm truly glad I got to take time to learn about them on my own. I've learned so many interesting facts about Greeks that I did not know existed! For example, I learned that they also followed superstitions such as spiting, which is believed to push away the bad luck. Therefore, when the Greeks heard bad news, they often spitted three times to get rid of the bad vibes. In addition, I learned that the tradition of the black cat representing bad luck all started from the ancient Greeks. Speaking of Friday the 13th being a bad luck day, the Greeks actually believed that Tuesday the 13th was a bad luck day. This makes me wonder who changed it to Friday.
Learning about the Greeks has truly opened my perspectives on them, especially when I am eating Greek food. I have always heard of the stereotypes of Greeks wearing togas and drinking wine but after all of this research, I have found that there is more to the Greeks than just that. I have not even researched about Greek mythology either!
Anyways, I am glad I was given the opportunity to research about Greek culture as well as the opportunity to attend the J. Paul Getty Museum. I am so excited and even more excited to write about it in my next blog post. See you guys then!
-Kelly
Work Cited
1) http://www.greeka.com/greece-culture/traditions/
2) http://www.historyforkids.net/greek-food.html
3) http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Clothing/
4) http://www.historyforkids.net/ancient-greek-architecture.html
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon_(mythology)
6) http://www.crystalinks.com/greekculture.html
7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_in_ancient_Greece
Overall, I feel like I have never learned as much of Greek culture as I have today. I never learned anything about Greeks in school besides Greek mythology, but even that was not enough for me to fully understand how Ancient Greeks lived. The closest I've ever gotten to learn about Ancient Greece was when I was taught about Alexander the Great. But, I'm truly glad I got to take time to learn about them on my own. I've learned so many interesting facts about Greeks that I did not know existed! For example, I learned that they also followed superstitions such as spiting, which is believed to push away the bad luck. Therefore, when the Greeks heard bad news, they often spitted three times to get rid of the bad vibes. In addition, I learned that the tradition of the black cat representing bad luck all started from the ancient Greeks. Speaking of Friday the 13th being a bad luck day, the Greeks actually believed that Tuesday the 13th was a bad luck day. This makes me wonder who changed it to Friday.
Learning about the Greeks has truly opened my perspectives on them, especially when I am eating Greek food. I have always heard of the stereotypes of Greeks wearing togas and drinking wine but after all of this research, I have found that there is more to the Greeks than just that. I have not even researched about Greek mythology either!
Anyways, I am glad I was given the opportunity to research about Greek culture as well as the opportunity to attend the J. Paul Getty Museum. I am so excited and even more excited to write about it in my next blog post. See you guys then!
-Kelly
Work Cited
1) http://www.greeka.com/greece-culture/traditions/
2) http://www.historyforkids.net/greek-food.html
3) http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Clothing/
4) http://www.historyforkids.net/ancient-greek-architecture.html
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon_(mythology)
6) http://www.crystalinks.com/greekculture.html
7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_in_ancient_Greece