Pottery

1. Pottery Dear cousin, I am very excited and honored to start pottery making today. Athenians value pottery very much because of its beauty and utility. I am able to make bowls, plates, drinking cups, jars and many other useful clay objects. I have been taught that to make these things, I shape wet clay on a wheel and then insert it in ovens for its final stage. You become very skilled and talented at this activity once you have practiced a series of times. I plan to make many works of pottery that will shape our city-states culture and art. As the years have past buy, we have created more realistic pottery with black figures. It shows stories of farming, mythical scenes, ship faring, and the daily life of Athenians. Pottery has made Athens a very attractive and artistic place, that separates us from many other Greek city-states. I hope you can come and experience one of the great assets of Athens! Love, Mandisa Me, starting my first work of art!

2. Education Dear cousin, Today was my first day of school, which is a very important day for all of Athens. Ever since I was seven, I have gone to school everyday willing to learn so I can grow up to be a great nurse. I just started a new class this morning where we learned literature, writing, reading writing and arithmetic. My friend Alisia told me that she is not allowed to attend school because her parents can not pay for private school. She has to learn from her parents and she continues to do household chores and duties. She says that under Solon’s rule, she is still required to be taught by her mother. I am very grateful for my families wealth. I am also very excited because I just started the flute, a very common instrument in Athens. I still do not understand why girls must be taught separately from boys, I feel that we should be taught the same education as the boys. My mother says I’m crazy for even thinking we these things. I hope I can see you soon, Athens is a great place! Love, Mandisa Learning is very valued here in Athens