After many weeks of reading, thinking and writing, we finally had our history presentation on Ancient Greece, the Cradle of Democracy.
OUR COSTUMES
Research the historical accuracy of Ancient Greek clothing and armature taught us amazing details.
While I sewed the costumes for myself and my daughter, she made all the decisions on appearance.
Meanwhile my son reconstructed historically accurate linothorax armour that Alexander the Great wore (for his persona).
Made completely of layers of linen and glue, we had a fascinating time researching and recreating this.
Amazingly all the layers were quite tough, while still light in weight.
My task for my son’s costume entailed the red and black fabrics.
FEASTING LIKE GREEKS
We began with a feast! Greek salads, stuffed grape leaves (hand made by me and the kids), pita chips with red pepper hummus, shrimp cocktail and mussels with garlic and wine, spinach/feta pastries, red pepper cheese pastries, and baklava.
When we focused on a more historically accurate representation of food in our dialectic Becoming History presentation, we found that to be boring.
Although we were glad to have had that experience of learning about ancient foods, we decided to change things up.
So this time we simply focused on more traditional Greek cuisine today, which surely has its origins in their past.
NINE PARTS FOR THREE ACTORS
Then we performed Euripedes’ play, Trojan Women performed Reader’s Theater style, which means reading from the script.
Nine parts performed by three of us!
Why not?
Greek thespians did this, too!
Hecuba, as the main character, remains on stage for the entire play.
Since my daughter decided she’d rather do the other four female parts, which come on stage at separate times, she had me do Hecuba.
My son played the three male parts.
The guests, even those not into acting, became the chorus.
This is a democracy after all!
OUR HISTORICALLY ACCURATE GREEK MASKS
After researching historically accurate Greek masks, we learned much has been lost to time.
Using the few details we knew, my kids made our masks, with layers of linen (which is why few, if any, survive) and clay.
For a nice display and ease of use, we kept them the coffee table for the kids to switch out as needed during the play.
Meanwhile, we each had our own copy of the play (the books on the table).
With our specific parts highlighted in our personal copy of the play, we easily kept on track.
TROJAN WOMEN BY EURIPEDES
Remember the Iliad?
Poseidon explains that our story picks up after the fall of Troy.
Taken captive, the women worry about their fate.
As the queen of Troy, Hecuba, lies on the ground in despair, Athene enters.
Lamenting the loss of Troy, the loss of her husband, and her children, Hecuba’s recently shorn hair reflects her grief. (Hence the short hair cut I never asked for was in keeping with period accuracy, down to all the curls!)
Talthibius, one of the Greek soldiers, enters, telling Hecuba of the fate of the women.
Hecuba discovers she’ll be given over to that vile, slippery Odysseus.
Her daughter, Cassandra enters, rejoicing that she will be the wife of the Greek king, Agamemnon.
After soldiers take Cassandra away, Hecuba collapses in grief, knowing she’ll never see her daughter again.
Then Andromache enters with her son, Astyanax, recounting the battle death of her husband, Hector, son of Hecuba.
Horrifically she explains that she watched the spirit of the dead Achilles sacrifice Hecuba’s other daughter, Polyxena.
Andromache and Hecuba mourn the death of Polyxena. Now, Andromache’s fate is to go to the son of Achilles.
Hecuba hopes that Astyanax will grow strong with her in the home of Achilles’ son, then return to rebuild Troy.
However, Talthibius announces that the baby is to be dropped from the walls of Troy onto the rocks below.
Talthybius takes the child. Not able to commit the crime, he hands the baby to his men.
Enter Menelaus, outraged, seeking his wife, Helen, that harlot who started the war.
Suddenly Helen arrives, acting perfectly innocent.
Irate Hecuba argues that Menelaus should kill Helen who embraces his knees, an ancient Greek custom to beg for mercy.
A soldier brings in the dead Astyanax on Hector’s shield.
STAGING AN AGORA
{{{WAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where’s the kleenex?}}}
After the tragedy ended, the guest asked questions, all of which we answered!
Then we took him to Athens, for a tour of Greek democracy, in the agora, an open air, stucco roof covered marketplace supported by pillars.
Love that our house is Thomas Jefferson inspired, who was inspired by the Romans, who were inspired by the Greeks!
In our makeshift agora imagine the food that is available for purchase (pantry), and the fountain where women collect water (kitchen sink).
Meanwhile outdoors the furies unleashed a storm that caused a tornado to the west of us.
For a prop I used wool elements for sale.
My kids really got into the act with me, as we acted like Ancient Greeks with these props.
DEMOCRACY INTERACTIVE GAME
For this interactive game that I created, I made up cards telling the story of Greek democracy on these blue strips. On the front I labeled them in ABC order, according to the Greek alphabet. I placed each of these around the house, with a broken piece of pottery.
ALPHA
When asked if our guest thought democracy was a good thing, he paused, remembering this conversation somewhere not having a positive spin.
Remaining in character, we assured him with gleeful grins that we liked democracy!
Didn’t he? He happily agreed!
The card told him to define democracy in his own words. He said, rule of the people.
The final directive on the card instructed him to collect an ostracon (pottery shard).
Picking up the broken pottery, he noticed a word on it.
When he tried to decipher the word, I told him that wasn’t important and moved him on.
{{{Except it was important, but we were in character as Ancient Greeks.}}}
BETA
This card, explaining the setting of the agora, told him to collect an ostracon because he *had* arrived!
GAMMA
With details explaining the history of kings in Greece, this card said that he grew up with his mother telling him he was descended from one of these kings.
Due to his importance in social class, he could have another ostracon.
Since our guest always told us he was descended from a king, he cheerfully proclaimed, that it is true!
I told the kids, “I told you he’d say that.”
{{{Our guest always reminds me to treat him like royalty, so I knew this part would be a thrill for him.}}}
DELTA
This card talked about the history of the government moving from kingship to an oligarchy, led by the aristocracy.
Since our guest was an aristocrat, he could collect another ostracon.
Our guest was feeling really good about being aristocracy, which I knew he would. The plot was unfolding well. 😉
EPISOLON
This card described Solon’s reforms, then stated that since the guest was descended from Solon, he could have another ostracon.
ZETA
This card talked about the first tyrannos, which was a good thing.
Since this puzzled our guest, we explained how wonderful the original tyrannos was.
We told him our ancestors needed this wonderful individual leadership to save Greece.
Even though he made every decision himself, he gained much support because of the goodness in the decisions.
After he died, his two sons assumed leadership one after the other, the first murdered, the second, ousted.
{{{Over time, because of the way democracy ended up, the meaning of tyrannos took on a negative connotation and denotation.}}}
Because our guest’s ancestors obviously survived these turbulent times, he could have another ostracon. Perplexed, he took another ostracon.
ETA
This card explained that by 487BC, a law was passed specifying that archons were to be selected by lot, rather than election.
Eventually selection by lot became the way of filling the other offices.
This opened the door for the poor to become part of the democracy, reducing the power of the aristocracy.
Eventually the Council of the Areopagus becomes a law court for murder trials.
You are one of the aristocracy. Collect an ostracon.
Wait a minute, our guest questioned, while looking concerned. No more elections?
Since we were in character as Ancient Greeks, we assured him, “elections were a bad thing. The people did not have a say, because only the aristocracy was voted in to any of the offices. Now anyone can be in office.”
“Well, not us women,” I lamented, as I looked at my daughter. She agreed.
Nor did slaves or people who lived outside of Athens.
When our guest asked how much education the poor people had, we cheerfully replied, “None, what do they need education for? They have opinions and that is what matters. This is a democracy, rule of the people, despite amount of money, despite level of education, despite social position. To be part of the democracy they must be a male citizen of Athens and not a slave. That is all that matters. Isn’t that good? You said democracy was a good thing and that it is simply defined as rule of the people.”
Although he was wondering how good all this was, he happily collected another ostracon.
THETA
This card explained that tax money now pays the officeholders, so that the poor have no closed doors to their being a part of the democracy.
Since our guest was the aristocracy, he could have an ostracon.
Our guest dubiously took another ostracon.
IOTA
This card said: Because it’s too difficult to prove before a court that a particular individual posed a threat to democracy, ostracism is instituted.
Once a year a person who appears to be a threat can be banished from Athens for 10 years.
Collect an ostracon.
OSTRACIZED
Now we explained ostracism to our guest.
He understood what it meant but didn’t realize this was common in Greek government.
As good Ancient Greeks, we proclaimed, “Isn’t it a good thing to get rid of trouble makers?”
He couldn’t argue with that.
Looking for his ostracon, he couldn’t find any.
I exclaimed, “What? What do you need with more? Look, he’s hoarding all of these!”
My kids jumped into the foray, and we gathered really close around our guest.
Picking through the ostracons from his hand, I cried, “Look! They have writing on them!”
My son cried, “They all have Kallixenos’ name written on them!”
I cried out, “He’s trying to ostracize one of our good friends! He’s going to make people use these when they vote for ostracism! I think you should all ostracize him!”
My kids were all talking about the same thing at the same time and out guest said, “Why don’t I know what is going on?”
DICTATORSHIP
Coming out of character, we admitted we set our guest up, just like he could have been in Greek democracy, if they were trying to get rid of him.
“Ohhhh, I guess democracy isn’t a good thing after all.”
This is why the Colonial Williamsburg Patrick Henry fired up when someone suggested that he was helping to form a democracy.
In a nutshell, Patrick Henry angrily told us that democracy led to dictatorship.
Now things are clicking that we have a republic which is different from a democracy, but that’s our next Becoming History presentation. Stay tuned!
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Then my son started his Alexander the Great presentation.
His believable audacity shocked our guest. Taught by his mother that he was descended from a god, Alexander the Great felt invincible.
