Report on Greek People - Book Report/Review Example

If anyone has even a little knowledge of Greek Myths and Legends then that person wouldn’t find any difficulties in identifying the various legends being used in the movie industry, novels and of course naming of various places are often named after Greek gods too. The book “Greek People” by Robert Kebric extensively discusses Ancient Greeks and there are countless examples from their lives that people can still learn a lot of lessons, if one is eager to. Beginning with, Greeks laid much importance to the worship of gods and they had a code of rules and regulations through which they lived.

Though the concept of Theism was not endorsed in their lives but they did appreciated the presence of some Being who is in charge of it(Kebric, 2004). The typical roles of men and women were prescribed for the Greeks; men went to either wars or theatre and the women were obliged to take care of the house and domestic affairs. It is important to notice that women were not allowed to take part in politics or perform at the theatres (Kebric 24). Also, they were not allowed to take part in games and neither to watch boys play because it was a custom that boys used to play naked(Kebric, 2004).

Though feminine characters were played in the theatre but they were played by men in female costumes. The only way out for women was to act as priestess’ in the various temples of the Greek gods. Ancient Greeks lived by farming, though Greek was not exactly an agricultural land but since trade was not so popular in those days so people had no other choice to do so. Olives were main the dietary source for them apart from the meat of hunted animals. It was considered a sin to uproot an Olive tree and the reasons are quite obvious.

Apart from these they also had bread, vegetables, fish and eggs as sustenance. It has been found through books and leaflets written by ancient Greeks that the rich could have slaves, 50 even, to work for them (45). The slaves ploughed their lands and took care of their homes. The rest of the people lived in mud houses that were re-built from time to time as the mud houses have a tendency to crumble(Kebric, 2004). Because of this Archeologists refrain from digging places that belonged to ancient Greece as it would definitely damage the site as a whole.

The Greeks indulged themselves in more mental games than physical ones. Those included marbles, dice, checker and knucklebones; the physical ones included archery, horse races and much more. Again, men participated in them only. It seems that segregation of the sexes was a very sensitive matter as, “Greek men and women ate separately. Slaves carried in food and wine on small tables.At home, a Greek man sat on the best chair, called a thrones. His wife and children sat on small chairs and stools.

” Like the Egyptians, the jewelry were buried alongside the person that belonged to them. Their clothing and their lifestyle acted as social marker, as people belonging to the high class always travelled with a slave and wore expensive jewels and their clothes were of fine quality that consisted of a tunic which covered till the ankles and a cloak, according to the weather. Quite contrary to their appearance were the rest of the people who had no chariots and travelled alone or with friends/family with no shoes on.

Since, the weather remained rather hot in Greece, so hats which were wide-rimmed were a part of the clothing of the Greeks as it shaded their eyes from