
This listening experience offers a vivid portrait of life for Athenian boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen, drawn not from distant myths but from the delicate scenes painted on ancient vases. The narrator guides you through their schooling, the reverence they showed their teachers, and the early attempts at music on lyres, while also describing the energetic games, spear‑throwing, and wrestling that filled their afternoons. By treating the pottery as a visual diary, the work brings forgotten routines—such as meals, clothing, and simple ceremonies—into clear focus.
Beyond the classroom, the program explores the broader social world of the young Athenians, touching on how they cared for the sick, interacted with slaves, and prepared for adult responsibilities. It balances scholarly insight with an accessible, conversational tone, inviting listeners to imagine the everyday joys and challenges of a world that shaped much of Western thought, yet remains largely silent in surviving texts.
Language
nl
Duration
~5 hours (337K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg.
Release date
2014-02-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1854–1922
A Dutch classical scholar and philologist, he spent much of his life studying Greek and Latin literature and teaching the ancient world to new generations. His work ranged from careful editions of classical texts to lively retellings and essays that brought old stories closer to modern readers.
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