so you think you're ready to explore ancient Greece the land of gods and philosophers and Warriors and Homer and Gladiators fighting in coliseums and all that all right then strap on some sandals in a Togo you don't want to sit down in with open legs and let's slum it out through some of the shadiest neighborhoods at ancient Greece had to offer forget any idyllic visions of marble temples and Olive Groves instead we're diving into the dark underbelly of a civilization they gave us both democracy and horrible inequality that created some of the sketchiest areas history
has to offer let's get a lay of the land first ancient Greece was much more than just Athens and Sparta it was a collection of city states and each had its own things going on yet Athens and all of its AA for sure but there was also the massively fortified city of Thieves the maritime power of Corinth and its distinct architecture and Syracuse way out on the modern day island of Sicily each city state or polus was like its own little country complete with its own government customs and areas that were both revered and feared
you had your powerful cities like Athens which was the heart of learning and philosophy and Sparta known for its military might and No Nonsense lifestyle then there were smaller but equally intriguing places like Corinth famous for its Commerce and uh hospitality and thieves a city that seemed to always find itself in the middle of some political drama but let's not be too cynical there was some pretty Swanky areas in ancient Greece in Athens for example the district around Acropolis was built up with Elite residences this was basically the Beverly Hills of ancient Greece a place
where philos philosophers like Socrates might have sat down with Statesmen like Pericles and talked about the nature of existence there were white streets beautiful gardens and crazy nice architecture people here had money influence and probably more importantly private security though they called them servants back then the pla was another wealthy spot in Athens it was known for its Scenic views and a Marketplace stocked with vendors coming from all over it was a place where artists and intellectuals gathered and you might catch a glimpse of Sophocles himself pondering his tragic Masterpiece while sipping on water down
wine in Corinth the area around the Temple of Apollo was considered pretty Posh this was where the wealthier merchants lived the kind of people who made their Fortune trading olive oil and wine these areas were pretty clean relatively safe and home to some of the best symposia which were basically the ancient Greek version of a cocktail party the discussions at the symposia were Lively the wine flowed freely and the men gossip like the Kardashians but let's get to the juicy part the bad neighborhoods every city had them in Athens if you took a wrong turn
from the Agora you might find yourself in the district of caram micus this was the city's Pottery quarter by day but by night it transformed into a Labyrinth of shady dealings with sketchy characters this transformation was largely because it also hosted Athens largest cemetery which coupled by its pottery kils and Industrial atmosphere lended a somewhat eerie and unwelcoming Aura after dark the mix of the industrial and the ferial the transit Natures of the trades conducted there and the presence of tombs made caricas an area frequented by those on the margins of society from graved diggers
and Potters to possibly thieves and other characters looking to take advantage of the less police darker stretches of the district the metics or resident aliens often lived in less developed parts of the city and they had a tough go of it Medics or metii in ancient Greek were foreign residents in a city state who weren't granted full citizen rights because of their non-native status they contributed to the economy in many ways but they also got a bunch of discrimination thrown at them because of their Outsiders status they were barred from owning land and participating in
politics often relegated to shadier districts Medics were indispensable to the Athenian economy in several ways they often had professions And Trades that no other citizen wanted like sanitation and other hard/ smelly labor jobs but many Medics were also skilled Artisans and Craftsmen and Merchants their role was very important in trade and commerce fundamental to Athens Prosperity as a major trading Hub Medics could also be involved in Industries like pottery crucial for both domestic use and Export and ship building which were vital for Athens Naval dominance still though Medics often lived in less of fluent parts
of the city these areas were less desirable for a couple of reasons you have the double whammy of bad infrastructure and housing that led to more crime and social unrest the dense less regulated environments of these neighborhoods could be breeding grounds for tension and conflict then there was the parus the bustling Port of Athens sure it was vibrant and full of life and essential for trade but it was also crawling with sailor pickpockets and con artists think of it as the Vegas Strip without the neon lights and with a lot more stray dogs it was
a place where fortunes were made and lost over cup of kikon a sort of ancient Greek brew that was as potent as it was mysterious Corinth had its own Dent of inequity Acro Corinth a citadel overlooking the city it was Infamous for its Temple of Aphrodite which supposedly housed a thousand Temple prostitutes it attracted the kind of clientele who enjoyed the seedier side of life and were not too concerned about the difference between a drma and a silver oal if you know what I mean you don't it was said that in Corinth wealth could buy
anything and many a merchant found himself lured into the web of hedonistic charms thieves not to be outdone had the infamous cadmia this Citadel was often a political Hotpot and not always in a good way it was the sight of many a coup and conspiracy where you'd be wise to keep your head down and your mouth shut unless you felt like an impromptu stay in a dungeon so you're still visiting ancient Greece huh well if that's the case here are some survival tips to make sure you make it back to your own time without being
mugged or swindled or Worse ancient Greek brothel were called pora which is you know the origin of those internet websites that you definitely don't use they were hotpots for all kinds of unsavory things a bit of gambling a bit of illegal trading and a bit of Espionage in addition to the porna if you find yourself in one which is definitely because you got lost and definitely not because you were looking for it then you might want to keep your head on a swivel the brothel around ancient Greece were usually run by some pretty unsavory car
characters they were called porob bosos the Greek word for Pimps these pimps were actually listed in Greek texts right alongside the people with jobs like inkeeper cook and tax collector in Athens these pornoo were located in the red light districts of perus and caricas here you could find narrow dirty Alleyways with women walking around with sandals that had follow me in printed on their souls inviting potential clients towards their place of business and unlike many places today it was all completely above board a guy named Solin who was considered one of the founders of Athenian
democracy made public brothels legal so he could manage public health and tax them he built a Temple dedicated to Aphrodite with money almost exclusively from brothel taxes in ancient Greece talking to the wrong person could land you in some trouble take Barbers for example they weren't just your average hair cutters ancient Greek barber shops were the rumor Mills of the city talking too much could quickly make you the center of unwanted attention especially if you accidentally insulted a local crime Lord while discussing last night's impos mum doctors could also be a risky group to talk
freely with they double as early Pharmacists and apothecaries and had an extensive knowledge of herbs and potions that could heal you but also that could kill you asking the wrong questions or showing too much interest in what they were cooking up might lead to misunderstandings especially if they suspected you of trying to Pedal your own questionable remedies the market Traders could also be a slippery Bunch haggling was a fine art in ancient Greece but some Traders were better at turning to phrase than an honest profet the four you know it you'd be walking away with
a suspiciously light money pouch and a clay vase that definitely belonged to Homer himself if you're planning to explore the rougher parts of town or if you just want to look important consider hiring a sopax or a bodyguard these were often retired soldiers or Gladiators men who knew how to handle themselves in a fight but Choose Wisely some were known to be in a league with the very thugs they were supposed to protect you from now hiring a bodyguard wasn't just for safety it was also a status symbol walking through the Agora with a Burly
sopax in tow was the ancient equivalent of rolling up in a luxury Chariot just be prepared to pay a hefty fee and maybe a little extra under the table to keep your guard from switching sides at the first sign of trouble the sakis were more than just muscle they were also great at observing and negotiating a good bodyguard could diffuse a situation before it turned ugly and do it with simply a stern look or a couple of choice words it was often a good move to have someone who could navigate The Mean Streets of Athens
where social class and overthinking basically made life a g gaet but then also be aware of the false sophx which was a common scam in cities like Corinth these guys would often pose as protectors but then vanish at the first sign of danger or Worse lead you directly into a trap always ask for references and remember you get what you pay for ancient Greece was a land of contradictions it was a place where democracy flourished alongside slavery where the pursuit of wisdom coexisted with the love of a good brawl its neighborhoods reflected this Duality offering
both the heights of cultural achievement and the depths of human human Vice so if you're planning a time traveling Escapade to this fascinating World remember to keep your wits about you and your valuables hidden whether those valuables are physical or monetary and who knows you might just survive long enough to enjoy a nice jug of wine while watching a tragedy in the dionysian theater just make sure your somax is keeping an eye on the exits
