The Athenian Household

Which people made up an ancient Athenian household?

Which people made up an ancient Athenian household? kyrios kyria Children Slaves paedogogus Use your iPad to spend 5 minutes researching one of these. Try to find out who they where, what they did and what their life was like.

You should be able to answer the following questions Kyrios You should be able to answer the following questions Who was the kyrios? What were his main responsibilities? Where did he spend most of his time? What were the difficulties of being a kyrios? Would it have been good to be a kyrios in ancient Athens?

Kyrios (lit. lord, master) Who was he? Head of the household top of the hierarchy/ most control

What were his main responsibilities? Kyrios What were his main responsibilities? Earn money to support the family Arrange a marriage and supply a dowry for daughter Taught their sons; how to be a kyrios/ any trade Leads household worship

Where did he spend most of his time? Kyrios Where did he spend most of his time? Doing his job: farming, building, fishing, crafts….. Not in the house

What were the difficulties with being a kyrios? Pressures of providing for family Pressures of maintaining social standing Duties of Athenian citizen

Would it have been good to be a kyrios in ancient Athens? YES NO Power, respect More responsibility Privacy Have to work Leave the house Might be conscripted You can have a job Social freedom Rights (such as voting)

You should be able to answer the following questions kyria You should be able to answer the following questions Where did she spend most of her time? What was the difference between the rites of a husband and his wife? Do you think it would have been a nice life for a kyria?

What were the typical duties of an Athenian wife? Responsible for bearing and raising children Looking after the day-to-day household Husband, children, slaves welfare Organising slaves/ household jobs Organising supplies (including water/ food) Weave clothes Honouring the dead

Where did the Athenian wife spend most of her time? In the house! The wife would spend her time in the upstairs women’s quarters weaving and looking after the children.

Describe the rooms/ layout of an Athenian house? Athenian Wife Kitchen Women’s quarters Men’s quarters Storage room Bathroom

What was the difference between a wife and her husband (rights/ movements)? Athenian Wife WIFE HUSBAND Couldn’t have citizenship Can be citizens Property of male relative Own property Usually married at 14 (to old men) Married at 30 Limited rights to property Rights over women’s property Lower social status High social status Expected to do household chores Expected to bring in money Expected to produce children Expected to educate children Limited freedom of movement Freedom of movement

Do you think it would have been a nice life for an Athenian wife? MAINLY NO. YES NO Could have some property Basically property Weren’t expected to work for money No choice in marriage Some social opportunities Weren’t considered people like men were Couldn’t own property and therefore couldn’t qualify for citizenship

You should be able to answer the following questions Athenian slaves You should be able to answer the following questions How did a slave become a slave? What kind of jobs might an Athenian slave do? What were the rights and responsibilities of an Athenian slave? What would life have been like for a slave? Why were slaves important to the city of Athens?

How did an Athenian become a slave? Athenian slaves How did an Athenian become a slave? Born into slavery Captured in war Captured by pirates Exposed (abandoned) as baby Sold by family for money Lease yourself into slavery to pay debt Kidnapped

Athenian slaves What kind of jobs might an Athenian slave do? (inside and outside the house) DOMESTIC OUTDOOR Cleaning Crewing on ships Cooking Mining Fetching and carrying Agricultural Paedagogus State employment Entertaining

What were the rights/ responsibilities of an Athenian slave? Athenian slaves What were the rights/ responsibilities of an Athenian slave? Rights Responsibilities None Depends on job No citizenship Had to do all work No property (could earn money)

What do you think life for an Athenian slave would have been like? Athenian slaves What do you think life for an Athenian slave would have been like? Depends. You job Your living conditions Your master Where you work But…… Still a slave/ property.

Athenian slaves Why were slaves important to Athenian society? Essential to the economy Important to society Large scale agriculture Architecture Essential to every part of life because involved in every part of society. Slaves can create a society with a rich elite.

TASK: ESSAY QUESTION “The kyrios was the most important member of an ancient Athenian household.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30] You might want to think about: The role of the kyrios The other members of the household and their roles Anything else you think important