Ancient Greece was a civilization that thrived from around 800 BC to 146 BC. During this time, Greek society went through major developments in politics, philosophy, science, art, and economics. When it comes to jobs and occupations, there was a good deal of variety in the opportunities available to the people of ancient Greece.
Farming
The majority of ancient Greeks made their living through farming. Agriculture was the foundation of the ancient Greek economy. The mild Mediterranean climate allowed for a long growing season, with farmers growing grapes, olives, grains, and vegetables. Wine, olive oil, and grain were major Greek exports. Most farming in ancient Greece was centered around small family farms and estates. Land ownership was a mark of wealth and status.
There were several common agricultural jobs in ancient Greece:
- Peasants – The lower class of small farmers who owned very little land.
- Landowners – Wealthier Greeks who owned large estates worked by slaves and serfs.
- Serfs – Peasants who did not own land but worked the land for wealthy landowners.
- Slaves – Captives and purchased slaves who did much of the manual labor on estates.
- Overseers – Freemen appointed by landowners to manage the estates and slave labor.
Agriculture dominated life in ancient Greece and the majority of jobs were related to farming and food production in some way. Both men and women played active roles on the farm looking after crops, livestock, and vineyards.
Trade and Manufacturing
Trade was another huge part of the ancient Greek economy. Greek traders drew on an expansive network of colonies and trading posts around the Mediterranean. Greek trade connected cultures across the Mediterranean, exchanging commodities, foods, wines, art, religions, and ideas. Major Greek exports included olive oil, wine, pottery, and metalwork.
There were many key jobs related to manufacturing and trade:
- Craftsmen – Skilled workers who made products like pottery, metal tools and weapons, jewelry, wines, perfumes, and oils.
- Merchants – Traders who bought Greek products and exported them to foreign markets across the Mediterranean.
- Sailors – Crewmen on trade ships and warships that escorted merchant vessels.
- Bankers – Wealthy financiers who made high interest loans and currency exchanges.
- Shopkeepers – Urban shop owners who sold goods directly to consumers.
- Tavern Owners – Greeks who ran shops selling food and drink.
Greek cities like Athens, Corinth, and Aegina were major hubs of industry and commerce. Skilled artisans and craftsmen had workshops producing goods for export. Marketplaces and harbors bustled with traders and merchants buying and selling wares.
Government
As Greek society developed a system of city-states and governments, there were also specialized jobs related to running the bureaucracy and administration of cities like Athens and Sparta:
- Politicians – In Athens, men over 30 served one-year terms on the ruling council.
- Generals – Elected military leaders responsible for defense strategy.
- Government clerks – Administrative officials who kept state records.
- Tax collectors – Workers who gathered taxes from citizens.
- Priests – Religious officials who conducted rituals and offerings.
- Judges – Rulers who decided the outcomes of trials.
Participation in civic duties and politics was limited to free adult male citizens in ancient Greece. Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded. Running the government provided work for upper-class citizens in Greek city-states.
Military
Wars were commonplace between the various city-states and kingdoms of ancient Greece. Greek society relied heavily on soldiers and warriors to defend cities and conquer new territory. Military service was a requirement for male citizens:
- Hoplite Soldiers – Heavily armed Greek foot soldiers who fought in phalanx formations.
- Slingers – Light troops who hurled stones and projectiles to harass the enemy.
- Archers – Mobile skirmishers who used bows and arrows.
- Cavalry – Wealthy citizens who could afford horses served as scouts and shock troops.
- Naval personnel – Rowers, sailors, and marines who manned warships.
Military jobs provided opportunities for Greek citizens to advance their standing through courageous service. The spoils of war also allowed soldiers to gain promotion, wealth, and status.
Religion
Religion was deeply embedded in ancient Greek society. Temples honoring the Greek gods were central features of every major city. There were a number of occupations related to religious worship:
- Priests – Religious officials who conducted sacrifices, offerings, and rituals.
- Priestesses – Women who served at temples, especially of goddesses like Athena.
- Seers – Prophets and oracles who claimed to interpret divine messages.
- Temple Wardens – Caretakers who maintained the temples.
- Festival Planners – Organizers of major religious festivals and events.
Serving the gods provided an important role in Greek society. Many religious jobs provided opportunities for women outside the home as priestesses and cult personnel.
Entertainment and Sports
The ancient Greeks placed a high value on arts, entertainment, and athletics. Major sporting events like the ancient Olympics were important community gatherings. There were specialized jobs related to these public spectacles:
- Athletes – Sports competitors in events like boxing, wrestling, racing, and javelin throwing.
- Trainers – Coaches who trained athletes and competitors.
- Actors – Thespians who performed comedic and tragic plays.
- Playwrights – Writers who scripted dramas and comedies.
- Musicians – Poets, singers, and instrumentalists who provided entertainment.
- Dancers – Acrobats and chorus-line dancers at events.
Entertainers and athletes gained fame and admiration in Greek society. Victors at events often received lavish prizes and honors.
Education
Classical Greek culture placed a strong emphasis on education, philosophy, and knowledge. Schools appealed to upper-class families who could afford tuition:
- Tutors – Private educators who taught young Greek children.
- Schoolmasters – Teachers who instructed groups of older children.
- Philosophers – Thinkers who lectured on ethics, logic, metaphysics, and natural science.
- Scribes – Educated writers who could read, write, and copy texts.
- Librarians – Scholars who managed collections of books and scrolls.
Higher learning was mostly reserved for wealthier Greek men. But education and philosophy became more accessible to the middle classes by the late classical period.
Medicine
Doctors and healers provided medical care in ancient Greece. They practiced a mixture of pragmatic medicine and mystical healing rites:
- Physicians – Trained doctors and surgeons.
- Midwives – Female practitioners who assisted with childbirth.
- Herbalists – Gatherers and preparers of medicinal plants and remedies.
- Temple Healers – Priests who claimed health cures with divine magic.
- Cult Healers – Quacks and frauds who sold fake remedies.
Medical practice was limited by the lack of scientific knowledge. But skilled Greek physicians made progress in areas like anatomy, surgery, and herbal pharmacology.
Construction and Mining
Major construction projects required workers with specialized building skills. Mining also provided important minerals and resources:
- Stonemasons – Skilled craftsmen who worked with stone materials.
- Carpenters – Woodworkers who built infrastructure from timber.
- Roofers – Workers who installed roof tiles.
- Plasterers – Craftsmen who applied interior and exterior plaster.
- Foremen – Overseers who managed complex building projects.
- Miners – Laborers who excavated metals, minerals, and stone from mines and quarries.
Architectural sites like the Parthenon and Erechtheion on the Acropolis of Athens stand as testaments to the skilled labor of Greek builders and artisans.
Fishing
The Greek coastline, islands, and rivers provided plentiful catches of fish and shellfish. Fishing was important both for domestic food and for exports:
- Fishermen – Boats crews who netted fish offshore.
- Fish farmers – Workers who maintained artificial saltwater ponds to raise fish.
- Fish processors – Workers who dried, salted, and prepared fish for shipment.
- Fishmongers – Urban retailers who sold fresh fish and seafood.
- Pearl divers – Skilled swimmers who retrieved oysters for gems.
Quality Greek fish like tuna, mackerel, and eel were exported across the Mediterranean. Shellfish like oysters and purple dye mollusks were also valuable exports.
Domestic Service
In wealthy Greek households, domestic servants and slaves took care of routine chores and provided luxury services:
- Maids – Female servants and slaves who cooked, cleaned, and waited on the women of the house.
- Valets – Male attendants who served the men.
- Nannies – Childcare providers for infants and young children.
- Tutors – Educators for privileged youth.
- Gardeners – Caretakers of household gardens and orchards.
- Stable hands – Groomers and tenders of horses and livestock.
Elite Greeks showed off their wealth and status with large households of servant. Poorer families did their own domestic chores or perhaps had one servant.
Prostitution
In ancient Greece, prostitution was a legal profession for women. Brothels operated openly, often integrated with taverns. Common prostitution jobs included:
- Sex workers – Women and girls providing sexual services.
- Madam – The female owner and manager of a brothel.
- Pimp – A manager for sex workers.
- Flute girls – Sex workers providing entertainment and flirtation.
High-class courtesans provided educated companionship to wealthy men, not just sex. But most prostitutes were slaves or lower class women with few options.
Jobs for Women
Women had fairly limited occupational choices in ancient Greek society. Respectable women from good families were expected to focus on domestic matters, not work outside the home. But poorer women had to find whatever employment they could, often working as vendors, farm laborers, wet nurses, cloth makers, or servants.
Some of the few professional roles open to women included:
- Midwives – Skilled birth assistants.
- Priestesses – Religious temple servants.
- Wet nurses – Breastfeeding providers for infants of elite women.
- Musicians and dancers – Female entertainers for events and festivals.
- Prostitutes – Legal sex work in brothels.
- Maids and servants – Domestic help in wealthy households.
Only the most educated elite women could become prominent as scholars, poets, or philosophers. Men controlled most aspects of public life in ancient Greece.
Jobs for Slaves
Slavery was widespread in ancient Greece. Enslaved peoples came from war captives, purchased slaves, or even abandoned children. Slaves provided forced labor in many roles:
- House slaves – Domestic servants doing cooking, cleaning, childcare.
- Farm workers – Agricultural labor on rural estates.
- Mine workers – Brutal underground mining of metals and minerals.
- Workshop laborers – Manufacturing help for craftsmen.
- Public workers – Government-owned slaves doing jobs like policing or clerical work.
- Sex slaves – Forced prostitution with no rights.
Slaves had no choice in their occupations. Skilled slaves could be rented out by their owners for profit. Manual labor like mining was dangerous drudgery done only by slaves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ancient Greece offered a wide array of jobs and occupations. Farming and agriculture employed the majority of Greeks, especially in rural areas and villages. Urban Greeks worked in diverse trades like manufacturing, commerce, fishing, and construction. Wealthy elites had jobs in government, military leadership, and religious service. Medicine, education, arts, and entertainment provided other career paths. But opportunities were more limited for women, slaves, and non-citizens.