Culture of Athens

The culture of present day and ancient Athens have some similarities, but mostly they are different from each other. I will start with ancient Athenian culture.

For starters, slavery was a practice for many ancient Greecians. Even the simple shoemaker or tradesman had at least one or two slaves. Slavery was not seen as a sign or torment, more of a sign of power over others. Next, women in ancient Athenian society were treated unfair. Women were expected to have secluded lives, staying at home, making clothes,making meals, and supervising the slaves. They were not allowed go out except to visit other women, or to attend religious festivals. Women also did not take part in polotics, but some did accpeted into performing at religious festivals and maybe even becoming a preistess. Lastly, ancient Athenian culture. In ancient Athens, they had a polotheistic culture where even the slightest flaw against religion could upset the gods. Some of the main gods were Zues, king of gods and god of thunderstorms, Poseidon, brother of Zues and god of the sea, horses, and earthquakes, Hades, brother of Zues and Poseidon and god of the underworld, and Hera, wife of Zues and queen of godesses and goddess of marraige. Each Greek city-state had their own god called a patron god. Athens patron god was Athena(hence where they got the name Athens), goddess of war and wisdom.


Women dancing at a religious festival

Now let us focus on modern day Athenian culture. Slavery, unlike like anceint Athens, does not exist in Athens today and is ruled illegal for anyone to have a slave. Also, woman's role in society has changed dramatically. Women can now partake in politics as well as still perticipating in religious festivals like past Athenian women. Also, women can leave the house freely and do not have to do all the chores of the household. Finally, religion is probably the part of culture that has changed the most. Today, Athens is monotheistic religion containg Catholicism and Greek Orthodox. Some people still believe in the many gods, but 90% of greece today is either Catholic or Greek Orthodox.

Unlike the geography of Athens that was described earlier, the culture of Athens has dramatically changed over the many thousand over years. The main differences between the cultures is that slavery is illegal now, women have more rights today, and religion has changed the most from being polytheistic to monotheistic.