Based on literary and archaeological sources, the first part of the book talks about the activities of the oldest secondary schools on the territory of modern Ukraine and Russia. They appeared in the 5th century. BC e. in the ancient states of Tire, Olbia, Chersonese and Bosporus, which the Greeks founded on the Black Sea coast. The author describes the learning process and characterizes the role of school knowledge for mastering many professions, their necessity for government, religious and public figures, and also shows the influence of education on the leisure time of citizens. The second part of the book is devoted to a description of public and private leisure in the ancient states of the Northern Black Sea region. The main types of leisure time were visits to the gymnasium, stadium, theater, central square of the city and port, evening feasts and various games, and for intellectuals, along with this, reading books, studying various sciences and writing their own works occupied a significant place. CONTENTS: Introduction 5< /p>

Part I. Education 7

Primary education 11Secondary school 21Higher education 33School knowledge as the basis for many professions 46Private and official letters 55Poetry in the culture of citizens of Olbia, Chersonesos and Bosporus 67Conclusion 79

< p>Part II. Leisure 83

Organization of public leisure 87Gymnasium and stadium 87Theater 98Thermal baths 108Private forms of leisure 110Symposium 110Joint meals of members of religious communities 126Royal feasts in the Bosporus official receptions in Olbia 127Entertainment and gambling 130Hunting 135Visiting mountains and ports 137Scientific studies and literary creativity 142Historians of Bosporus and Chersonese 144Conclusion 179