Greek and Roman children played with toys much like those of the present day, but they were simple and inexpensive. Rattles for babies were made of terracotta with a few pebbles enclosed (Case 3, middle shelf). An interesting toy for a small child is the terracotta horse from Cyprus with large jars in its panniers such as those carried by real horses for taking provisions to and from market (Case 2, top shelf, [fig. 49]). Carts were favorite playthings; a small oinochoë in Case 3 shows a boy driving two goats harnessed to a chariot, and on a white lekythos painted for a child’s grave (Case F in the Fifth Room), a little boy is going to Charon’s boat for his journey over the Styx, drawing his toy cart ([fig. 50]). Of course, Greek and Roman children kept house with their dolls, and charming miniature vases were made for them, some for the doll’s table and others for her toilet and wedding. These vases, which are decorated with scenes of children at play, were given, it is thought, as presents on a festival day called Choes, “Jugs.” A number of different types are in Case G in the Fifth Room.
FIG. 49. TOY HORSE ON WHEELS
Dolls were made of wax and clay. The two seated terracotta dolls without joints in Case L in the Seventh Room were found in graves at Tarentum in Southern Italy. Another made of bone has jointed arms and could easily be dressed (Case 3, tail-piece, p. 46). These dolls were originally painted in bright colors, which have been destroyed by time.
FIG. 50. TOMB LEKYTHOS. CHILD DRAWING A CART
Rolling hoops, contrary to modern ideas, seems to have been a boys’ sport. A boy with a hoop may be seen on a vase in Case J in the Fifth Room ([fig. 52]). Mothers and nurses swung small children in swings, as in the scene on a vase from Southern Italy (Case P, Sixth Room), and older girls also enjoyed this pastime. As part of a game or perhaps as forfeit, girls sometimes carried one another on their backs. A terracotta statuette represents two girls playing ephedrismos, as this game was called (Case 3, [fig. 55]). Young women and girls, as well as boys, played with whipping-tops, as is shown on a lekythos on the same shelf ([fig. 53]), and on one side of a toilet-box two girls are playing a game of ball with a wicket ([fig. 51]). Children also played hide-and-seek, tug-of-war, and many games with beans, nuts, pebbles, small coins, and the astragals described in the section on Amusements (pp. 68-69).
FIG. 51. GIRLS PLAYING BALL