Activity: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM VASES ABOUT ATHENIAN FAMILY LIFE?
NAME: __________________________________ section: ______
1. The first vase painting (back of this sheet) shows two Greek soldiers playing a board game. How does this portrait convey that the soldiers are on a military campaign? What else does it tell us about Athenian soldiers?
2. The second vase painting (second sheet) shows a group of Athenian women collecting water from a common well. What does the fact they are in a group to perform this task, and that they are rather well-dressed for such a domestic task (notice the ear rings) suggest about a woman's life in ancient Athens? Would we expect to see Spartan women portrayed this way? Explain.
3. In vase three (back of second sheet) are depicted a husband, wife and son. What does the painting suggest about the relationship between a husband and wife in Athens? Notice also the boy with a sandal mark on his body -- how does this help explain why the wife is "begging pardon" from her husband, who presumably had just spanked the boy? Also, would you expect a scene like this depicting Spartan family life?
1. The first vase painting (back of this sheet) shows two Greek soldiers playing a board game. How does this portrait convey that the soldiers are on a military campaign? What else does it tell us about Athenian soldiers?
2. The second vase painting (second sheet) shows a group of Athenian women collecting water from a common well. What does the fact they are in a group to perform this task, and that they are rather well-dressed for such a domestic task (notice the ear rings) suggest about a woman's life in ancient Athens? Would we expect to see Spartan women portrayed this way? Explain.
3. In vase three (back of second sheet) are depicted a husband, wife and son. What does the painting suggest about the relationship between a husband and wife in Athens? Notice also the boy with a sandal mark on his body -- how does this help explain why the wife is "begging pardon" from her husband, who presumably had just spanked the boy? Also, would you expect a scene like this depicting Spartan family life?