Description: This book describes a variety of artistic pursuits and everyday amusements enjoyed in ancient Greece. Two great epic poems in particular, Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, are discussed to give the reader a clear idea of the fascinating tales that gave Greeks their sense of "Greekness". Then a general discussion on the importance of poetry follows, showing how poetic performances in music, dance, and theater were part of Greek life. Musical instruments, hymns, and popular songs did for the soul what sports did for the body, according to the ancient Greeks. Several aspects of Greek plays, players, and playwrights are discussed, in addition to set building, theater design, and choreography. Greek architecture, sculpture, pottery, painting, and woodcarving are examined as prime examples of the Greek's love of beauty and order. Other topics, each covered in a double-page spread, include Sports and Games, Writers and Thinkers, Science and Knowledge. "Legacy" sidebars throughout the text give modern-day examples of the influence of Greek art, music, theater, and stories. For example, readers appreciate the influence of Greek design on buildings such as the Capital in Washington D.C. and town halls, libraries, and fine old homes throughout the United States.

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