Part I: Athens, Pages 48 through 102 Summary and Analysis

The Houses of Athens

The houses of Athens include semi-detached houses and hill houses. The semi-detached homes are large and two-storied and adjacent to other similar homes. Hill homes are homes literally cut into the sides of hills. Wall art is in evidence in the ruins via fragments of painted plaster and is a common practice going back to the Bronze Age. Bright colors may have been used on the wall in large areas, decorated with stripes of lighter colors. The House of Many Colors has fragments that indicate the plaster was molded into rectangular panels, an early example of the Masonry style that remains popular for many decades.

The dining room is where the symposion or drinking party is held in which only men participate. Food is served—like bread and...