Did the ancient Greeks go nude in public?

Question

I was told that in ancient Greece,it was common for people to walk around nude in public.Is this true?

Answer 1

Nude Greeks

Answer 2

4

Answer 3

Ancient Greece had a particular fascination for aesthetics, which was also reflected in clothing or lack thereof. Sparta had rigorous codes of training and physical exercise naked. Athletes would compete naked in public sporting events. Spartan women, as well as men, would sometimes be naked in public processions and festivals. In the case of women, this practice was designed to encourage virtue while the men were away at war. Women and goddesses were normally portrayed clothed in sculpture of the Classical period, with the exception of the nude Aphrodite.

Answer 4

Not very common for going to market, but very common (even required) for athletic events (the word for gymnasium is from a Greek word meaning "nude exercise"). People would bathe nude in groups, and in general, no one was shocked by nudity.



That being said, Greece is warm by European standards, but just a tad chilly to be running around naked day and night, year around. Clothes could be an expression of wealth as cloth was hard to come by, so when nudity was not called for, people liked to wear clothes just to show they were not beggars or slaves.

Answer 5

No. Athletes often competed nude. Men often bathed nude at public baths. You're probably getting this idea from that. But not nudity as a general practice.

Answer 6

I do know that they trained athletically without clothes. That is why they are called 'gymnasiums'. The prefix comes from the adjective 'gymnos' which means naked. It seems like that wasn't a big deal to them back then, so it wouldn't surprise me if they walked around like that as well.

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

me no think so ;)