Wild Child! A Workshop for Ages 7–13

Join the Hellenic Museum this school holidays for a lively workshop, where fearless Argonaut Adventurers aged 7–13 are invited to explore and experience the fascinating coming-of-age rituals of the ancient world!

We’ll begin together with an engaging talk about the significance of coming-of-age festivals in ancient Greece: why they mattered, what they symbolised, and how they prepared young people for the next stage of life. Afterwards, we’ll separate, just as the ancients did, into boys and girls, with each group embarking on their own unforgettable ritual:

For the Girls: The Arkteia – Playing the Bear

Girls will take part in the Arkteia, a ritual held in honour of Artemis, goddess of the wild. As part of this ancient tradition, participants will embrace their untamed side by donning saffron robes and ‘playing the bear’. There will be running, dancing, and getting in touch with our ‘wild sides’ in a symbolic act of transformation and renewal. This ritual is over 2,500 years old and was performed to appease Artemis after the death of one of her sacred bears.

For the Boys: The Spartan Gymnopaedia

Boys will follow in the footsteps of young Spartan warriors by learning about the Gymnopaedia, a bold athletic festival where boys proved their readiness for adulthood through vigorous war dances and songs. This annual event was as much about physical endurance as it was about pride, discipline, and the warrior spirit.