Ancient Greece

I General Information

A1. Time Period: 3,000 B.C. - 323 B.C.

 

  • This period extended from the Aegean civilizations through Hellenic Greece (there are many periods, each given names, Homeric, Dark Ages, Hellenic, etc.)

 

A2. Location

Greece is located on the Mediterranean Sea which sits to the south. The Aegean Sea is on the east side, between Greece's mainland and Asia Minor. The country is composed of a mainland and various islands.


   

 

A2. General Comments

 

  • peace loving
  • beauty of the body
  • belief in equality of man

 

 

B. Social

  • Classes were divided as follows:
    * the Citizens
    * the Metics
    * Slaves

 

 

C. Economic
  • Agriculture
  • Industry
 

 

D. Commerce
  • Exports
  • Imports
  • Trade

 

 

 

E. Religion
  • Polytheistic
  • Gods and Goddesses

 

 

 

F. Literature and Art
  • Homer's Epic poems, the Odyssey and the Iliad
  • Tragic Drama
  • Art - Statues Pottery
  • Architecture - Doric: rather heavy, sharply fluted columns, and Ionic: more slender, graceful columns

 

 

G. Intellectual
  • Olympic Games -
  • Philosophy of Thought -
  • Math -
  • Biology -
  • Math -
  • Medicine -

 

 

 

H. Wars
1. Persian War, 479 - 439 B.C.
2. Peloponnesian War, 431 - 404 BC Athens vs. Sparta
3. Rise of Macedonia and Alexander the Great 404 - 323 B.C.
4. Hellenistic Age, 323 BC to 31 BC

 

I. Summary
  • Greek people were composed of Ionians, Aeolians, and Dorians
  • City State setup.
  • Belief in individualism and democracy.
  • Beauty of the body.
  • Love of sports (gymnasiums and Olympics).
  • Belief in gods and goddesses.
  • Men were educated, women of little importance.
  • Marriages were arranged and monogamy was the rule. Husbands did not appear in public with their wives. Women were veiled in public.
  • The 'Hetairi' (translated to companion) - was the highest class of women. They were educated and moved freely among men. Many dyed their hair blonde, and it appears the law required them to wear specially decorated robes to distinguish them from respectable women (Tortora:43).
  • Women made their contribution through the running of the home, and the spinning, weaving and making of the clothing.

 

 

 

 

II Costume Overview

A. Motifs
  • Greek Key
  • Geometric
  • Plant life

 

 

B. Materials

 

  • Spinning and weaving
  • Wool and linen
  • purpura shellfish.
 

 

C. Silhouette

  • Tubular or Triangular.
  • Draping

 

 

 

 

 

 

D. Other Information

  • simple design

  • use of draping

 

 

 

III Costume Items

A. Garments

Chiton

  • Doric

  • Ionic
fibula
chlamys
girdle
himation
peplos

 

B. Headwear

 

petasos

Phrygian Cap

tholia
tiara/stephane
Jewelry: necklaces, earrings, rings, decorative pins (fibulae) and brooches
hair

 

C. Footwear

Buskin

sandals

 

 

 

 

 

IV What Am I?

 

Current and not so current fashion