Toys And
Dolls of Ancient Times part#1
Egyptian, Greek & Roman
part of A Brief History of Toys
& Games
By
John
(aka Oaky Wood)Ó2005/06
Toys provide us with evidence of both social
and economic life, fewer toys in existence meant hard living or times of
unrest, many toys
indicates affluent societies that were free from wars or civil unrest.
Ancient Egypt
Most of the objects called
“playthings” have been found in tombs, therefore they probably have a
more religious significance than actual playthings or toys. Although we
must bear in mind that a lot of the ancient pharaohs died very young
indeed, maybe still in their childhood? Many miniature and small objects
were assumed to be toys because of their similarity to objects played with
by children today, but this does not necessarily mean that they were.
Toys:
Tops of glazed pottery.
Animals carved in wood with
moving parts (e.g. jaws).
Pull-a-long and wheeled toys
and boats.
Paddle dolls characteristic
shape, beaded head dresses.
Ushabi figures doll-like
jointed slave figures.
Ancient Greece And Rome
These two were very highly developed civilizations with
children at play illustrated on vases and shown in sculptures and on
various wall paintings. Writers and scholars wrote of children playing and
of the games they played. Both cultures devoted to the cult of physical fitness, and
many of the playthings did reflect this fact, and many were games of skill
or endurance. Young boys in both societies were often brought up as young
soldiers, for they were recruited as teenagers to be part of their famous
armies which dominated most of Europe and Southern Asia in their hay-day.
Roman Legion's spreading as far as Britannia, bringing their toy-making
skills with them amongst other things. The Greeks were the great thinkers,
mathematicians, designers and scholars. But still found time to make toys
for their children.
Toys:
Hoops Rome: iron and Greece:
bronze.
Balls Greece: skin envelope
stuffed with wool.
Horses terra-cotta models and
early hobby horses.
Handcrafts pushed or pulled by
children.
Games of chance very popular, dice?,
knuckle bones, played with ankle bones of sheep (modern snobs?).
Rattles used in religious
ceremonies but also by children
Dolls of clay and various ones
made of wood, jointed with string.
Masks played an important part
of the Greek and Roman theatres.
By
John
(aka Oaky Wood)Ó2005/06
Oaky Wood was a qualified professional toy
maker / designer running his own craft workshops for
over 10 years in the UK, and is currently retired
through ill health. His main business now is designing
and running his own websites The Oakwood Grafix
Group http://oakwoodgrafix.co.uk/
and is currently developing “The Corner 4 Women” an
eZine for every woman, http://thecorner4women.com
and is the resident Agony Uncle, article writer and
poet
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