The Home Life of the Ancient Greeks

The Home Life of the Ancient Greeks is a synthesis of what was known in the late nineteenth century about the daily lives of ancient Greeks. Before this book, most of the works on Greece were related to the kings, warriors, and significant political events. This book is the first account of the life of the common folk and even enslaved people. The book is based on the Greeks' texts and works of art. For example, Blümner frequently refers to Homer's descriptions of the ancient world and vase paintings. The book describes such elements of everyday life as clothing, childbirth, and childhood (it covers how children were cared for and how they amused themselves), the kind of education Greek children had, and marriage customs. This is followed by a dawn-to-bedtime study of daily life in a Greek household, a chapter on sickness and death, details of the athletic, musical, and religious activities, and public festivals. The book then delves into the lives of soldiers, farmers, and artisans and closes with a chapter on enslaved people who greatly outnumbered the free population of ancient Greece.