Fields, Schools, and Daily Work
Peasants at Work
Unaware of the artistic and archaeological treasures around them—attractions that draw students and travelers from thousands of miles away—the Greek peasants continue their daily work in the fields. On the day of our visit, women with their skirts tucked up were busy breaking the earth with heavy hoes, carefully heaping soil around the roots of currant bushes.
Fields of winter wheat stretched out with tender green shoots, while nearby, a fodder plant resembling alfalfa grew strongly within stone fences. These fences, sturdy and imposing, were often built using stones taken from the ruins of ancient Corinth, connecting the work of today with the remnants of the past Excavations at Old Corinth.
Here and there, ancient threshing floors could be seen, almost as venerable as the pillars of the Temple of Apollo. These circular areas, thirty to forty feet in diameter and paved with smooth stones, were used after the harvest to separate grain from stalks. Cattle would walk in circles over the grain, crushing it and freeing the kernels. In his Epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul referred to the command in Deuteronomy: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Observers might also have made a plea for the blindfolded donkeys that patiently worked the treadmills to fill irrigation reservoirs, ensuring that crops survived during dry spells.
Daily Life and Simple Joys
Around the reservoirs, women washed clothes and spread them on the grass and cobblestones to dry in the sun. Children played nearby, absorbed in simple games, much like those enjoyed by youngsters in America Bulgaria Private Tours.
Before reaching the ancient city, we passed a crossroads where a group of young schoolchildren was pouring out of an unpainted adobe schoolhouse. Most wore tunics made of blue-and-white checked gingham, a pattern familiar to New England housewives as aprons. It was the noonday recess, and the students seemed happier leaving school than entering it. Laughter and playful pranks filled the air, including a small wrestling match that we paused to watch.
Lessons in Humility and History
In an adjoining lot, a boy of about twelve, dressed in a similar tunic, was herding a group of pigs. His expression suggested he felt the task beneath him, and we silently sympathized. Yet, one might encourage him by recalling that many famous figures began life with humble work: one of the greatest popes tended pigs as a child, and Francisco Pizarro, the conquistador of Peru, did the same before joining the Spanish army. These examples remind us that modest beginnings can lead to greatness.
Connecting Past and Present
Traveling through these fields and villages, one cannot help but feel the connection between modern life and ancient history. The peasants’ daily labor, the children at play, and the use of stones from old ruins all reflect a continuity of life that stretches back centuries. Even amid simplicity and hardship, Greece retains a quiet dignity, showing how the people continue to live in harmony with their past.
