Chariot - Rider on Goose - Wheel Driven Toy - Mycenae - 1100 BC - Museum Reproduction - Ceramic Artifact

Item Specifics

Material: Ceramic
Condition: New, Handmade in Greece.
Height: 15 cm - 5,9 inches
Width: 12 cm - 4,7 inches
Length: 14 cm - 5,5 inches
Weight: 580 g

The Ancient Greeks gave great importance to toys as they were contributing to the self-education of children. Toys were considered to develop companionship, cultivate the spirit and teach children to respect the rules. Some of the most widespread toys were the rattle, the plaggona (doll), and the athyrma (little horse), as well as other ceramic animals on wheels. Boys in Ancient Athens wanted to show that they had grown up, therefore they imitated the adults who used real horses in races by playing and dragging the little horse toy. Those toys were even dragged by dogs, small horses, or children themselves. The sources concerning the athyrma were found in the works of Plato, Aristophanes, and Aristotle. These refer to the importance of nature, the characteristics, and the significance of toys during childhood. Finally, the phenomenon of the existence of toys, played by both boys and girls or toys for which one of the two sexes played was observed, without yet implying that it was forbidden for children of the opposite sex to play as well.