Felipe Arraño’s Reviews > Athens: A History, From Ancient Ideal to Modern City > Status Update

Symposia include elements of ritual and religion, also eating, drinking and sex (p. 136-137). Food and feasts were plain; rich and poor alike ate pretty much the same foods; cereals and grains were the dominant intake, about 75% (p. 138). Average life expectancy for women was 30 years, for men a bit more (p. 139). Clothes, similar to Indian sari (p. 139). During these years, women were already getting rid of body hair (p. 140). The household (p. 140-141). Love was rare, marriages were contracts (p. 142). Hetairai were for pleasure, concubines for the body’s daily needs, and wives for the procreation of legitimate children and the maintenance of the household; thus women were treated simply as commodities for the satisfaction of male needs (p. 143-144). Athenian homoeroticism, affairs were monogamous and lasted few years, old person and boy were benefited by the relationship (p. 144-145). Athenian views on friendship in general: they frankly acknowledged that a friend was just someone for whom you felt affection but someone who could help you out (p. 146). A homoerotic affair might be a man’s closest chance to experience love (p. 146).