A Greek Playground

The Greeks loved life and lived it with zest. They had little interest in the afterlife which, even for the greatest of men, was believed to be an eternal unpleasantness.1

It was in this beautiful land was Terpsichore born, a little girl baby to a simple family in Athens.2

Yes, her name was Terpsichore, but not born to the Zeus or characters of mythology. Her mother was fascinated by the mythical world. She wanted to name her daughter, after the muse, Terpsichore. Terpsi's parents, the young couple were over joyed at the birth of this young girl.3

The day Terpsi was born, her little home was decorated with a wreath of wool, as their custom says. Friends and family dropped in to see the new born darling. According to their customs, as soon as a child was born, a naked father carried his child, in a ritual dance, around the household. The family decorated the doorway of their home with a wreath of olives (for a boy) or a wreath of wool (for a girl). 4

Thus Terpsi grew like an angel in her royal home, which had two to three rooms, built around an open air courtyard, built of stone. Most of the houses in ancient Greece were built of stone, wood or clay bricks. Larger homes might also have a kitchen, a room for bathing, a men's dining room, and perhaps a woman's sitting area. 5

Terpsi's parents loved her to the core. They would do anything for their little angel. She played with many toys, including rattles, little clay animals, horses on 4 wheels that could be pulled on a string and terra-cotta dolls. She knew not a tear, she knew not, what was a fear. She would wait for the night to see the stars appear in the sky.6

Then she would, run and sit on the courtyard, where her father would tell her fables, while her mother relaxed and did her sewing.7

In Athens, as in most Greek city-states, with the exception of Sparta, girls stayed at home until they were married. Their job was to help their mother, and to help in the fields, if necessary. So, Terpsi was also, expected to do the same. She had watched her neighbouring boys, go to school. She had then, innocently asked her mother, why wouldn't the girls be allowed to learn. Her mother had replied, telling she could learn to learn from the sky, learn to count from the stars, and learn to paint from the evening clouds. Somehow, this answer had fascinated Terpsi, so from then on, she had always tried to do, what her mother said.8

She would run to the courtyard, at sunset time and watch that beautiful shade of the evening sky.9

She would try to pour them out on paper, in vain went her attempts. She would throw that soon and slowly when stars appear, she would learn to count them, one by one. She was not sure, whether she had already counted them. She always got confused. Again, she would start from scratch. Thus she had learnt math. She would lie back on the courtyard cobbles, and watch the distant moonlight. She decided, she should be steady and strong in life, like that light. 10

She had ran to her mother, that night and said, that she had learnt everything in life, except painting, as she was not able to bring out the beauty of the evening sky. Her mother had smiled and asked her to think about it.11

Terpsi thought and thought, and set her hands to work. The result was a beautifully woven poem. Thus Terpsi, learnt poetry too.12

Greek women had very limited freedom outside the home. They could attend weddings, funerals, some religious festivals, and could visit female neighbors for brief periods of time. In their home, Greek women were in charge! Their job was to run the house and to bear children. 13

Most Greek women did not do housework themselves. Most Greek households had slaves. Female slaves cooked, cleaned, and worked in the fields. Male slaves watched the door, to make sure no one came in when the man of the house was away, except for female neighbors, and acted as tutors to the young male children. Wives and daughters were not allowed to watch the Olympic Games as the participants in the games did not wear clothes. Chariot racing was the only game women could win, and only then if they owned the horse. If that horse won, they received the prize14

Terpsi used to wake up early each day and follow her mother well. That was what was expected out of the Greek girls. She would have a lavish bath in hot waters and set to milk the goat. Later she would, go to the corner of the courtyard where, they grew grapes. She would pluck them, for breakfast and follow her mother to the kitchen, where the meal would be getting ready. Once breakfast was done, she would go with her mother to nearby field, where they would collect herbs and flowers, and later boil them to prepare their own perfumes. They would have a long nap later in the noon and when sunset came, it was time for her dad to return home and she would wait with so much eagerness.15

Once in a while, would a traveling peddler stop by, selling, hairpins, rings, and earrings and miniature pieces of jewellery. Terpsi would love to purchase from them.16

Months and years glided by. Terpsi was soon a young woman, innocent and filled with beauty. She was very brilliant and modest. No wonder, remember, the sky was her tutor ! It was one fine evening, almost sunset time, when Terpsi was sitting at her courtyard, looking at the crimson shades of the fading sapphire clouds. It was then, a peddler came by to sell his goods. Excitedly Terpsi, called out her mother and hurried as he unveiled his basket.17

Her mother had been to talk to a neighbour woman. The peddler soon, offered a small ear ring to Terpsi, which she was eyeing at. He had offerred to her for no cost. Terpsi hesitated. It was a very rare and precious gesture. Terpsi could not abandon that ear ring. She collected it from him and assuring to pay him, the money it was worth, she ran looking for her mother. When she came back, she found him gone. He had not expected the money from Terpsi.18

The next evening too, found him at their courtyard, selling his goods. This time, Terpsi determined to pay him for his yesterday's kindness and purchase more from him. She hurried out, and he unveiled his basket as usual. This time, Terpsi was shocked to find her gaze, not fixed at the basket as usual, but at this young man's charm and the slight smile on his face. She did not know, was it love or whatever on earth, it was called.19

It was when she heard her mother's voice, did she realise that time had past swept. She ran inside. That was the lats day she ever met him. Every sunset came, she would look out. He was in vain. It all faded, like the evening sky.20

She would, wait and wait, hoping, he would some day return. But years flew by.21

The lessons she had so far learnt, had helped her well. As she sat beneath the azure sky, each night, she would stare at the sky and gaze out for him. She knew, he was somewhere, alive and fine. He must be somewhere in a distant land. She had to take, life, as it moved on each day. As she sat in her courtyard, she would watch the distant hills, in a faded red light, given by the setting sun. Maybe, he dwelt in some distant land, across the hills, across the seas. That was life, she knew. She had learnt, the entire world was a stage. Her life moved, as the thread spanned. There was no use mourning over, something which she might not get. She tossed and turned and stared again. Time had gone by and it was almost mid night then. The evening sky had faded, revealing the silver stars. She looked up at them. She knew, they were in sky that night, to promise a bright sunshine ahead.22

She remembered her mother tell, when she was a little girl. "Learn from the sky !" The words rang in her ears. It was for the first time in her life, she was thankful to what her mother had taught. It was sufficient enough to help her, live her life.23