Ancient Greek Schools

Education was very important in ancient Greece. Boys from families who could afford it went to school starting around age seven. They learned reading, writing, math, and music. Physical fitness was also a big part of Greek education.

What Boys Learned

Greek boys had three types of teachers. A grammatist taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. A kitharist taught music and poetry. A paidotribe taught gymnastics and sports. Students wrote on wax tablets using a pointed stick called a stylus.

Girls and Higher Education

Girls in ancient Greece usually did not go to school. They learned household skills at home from their mothers. In Sparta, however, girls received physical training just like boys. Older boys could study with famous philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle at special academies.

Fun Facts

• Plato's Academy in Athens is considered one of the first universities in the Western world.
• Greek students wrote on wax tablets that could be smoothed over and reused.
• Spartan boys left home at age seven to train as soldiers.

Did You Know?

The word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word "schole," which originally meant "leisure" or "free time."