| The city-states of early Greece are generally | | | | |
| considered together as one of the first great | | | | One area of the popular activities of the |
| civilizations. This doesn't mean they weren't | | | | city-states that lives on today can be seen |
| up for a little fun. | | | | in most major cities. In this case, we are |
| | | | talking about street artists. In the |
| Having a Good Time in the City-States of | | | | city-states of ancient Greece, it was popular |
| Early Greece | | | | to come upon street poets and singers of all |
| | | | variety and ability. This form of artistry |
| People in Greece had a remarkable veneration | | | | was translated to the future through bards |
| for their gods and goddesses. As a result, | | | | and on to street mimes and such. If you visit |
| most of the early group activities focused on | | | | Europe today, you can still find street |
| the deities and, in particular, praising | | | | artists in many cities with Venice, Vienna, |
| them. This was accomplished through a bevy of | | | | and Paris having a vast array of talented |
| religious festivals held throughout the year. | | | | people plying their trade. |
| In truth, there is a bit of a question as to | | | | |
| whether these festivals were more for | | | | In ancient Greece, the public performers |
| political aims than fun and worship. Given | | | | served a unique function when compared to |
| this fact, we will leave it at that. | | | | modern street artists. The Greek public |
| | | | entertainers were itinerant artists traveling |
| Sports played a large role in the | | | | from one place to another. This made them an |
| city-states. To this end, the modern Olympics | | | | excellent resource for news from far away |
| were founded during the time. Any real | | | | locations. Keep in mind there was no Internet |
| comparison, however, ends there. Unlike | | | | or newspapers during those times. In there |
| modern times, the ancient Olympics were | | | | stead, traveling street artists delivered the |
| mostly about showing up and/or killing rivals | | | | news even if it was a little out of date - |
| as political statements. The battles and | | | | and you thought dial up was slow! |
| events often replaced war between two | | | | |
| city-states and it was not uncommon for the | | | | Having a good time in the city-states of |
| loser to die in his efforts. While we hold | | | | Greece was both mild in the form of street |
| the modern Olympics as two separate events, | | | | artists and vicious in the form of the |
| summer and winter, the city-states called for | | | | Olympics. Nonetheless, it is interesting that |
| four different Olympics each and every year. | | | | many these events and practices have survived |
| No, they did not hand out gold medals and | | | | to these modern times, some 2,500 years |
| certainly not bronze medals. | | | | later. |