Problems of Muses Education in the Ancient Cities of the Northern Black Sea Coast

Abstract

The article deals with the problems of education and upbringing in the ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea Littoral. Literary, epigraphic and material data sources characterizing the muses education are systematized. Namely: the study of grammar, literature, arithmetic, music. The inscriptions that can be considered as school exercises, texts of epitaphs, messages from ancient authors, archaeological materials, including funerals are analyzed. The material of the graffiti shows the peculiarities of teaching grammar and literature, the process of forming a unified system for writing throughout the Northern Black Sea Littoral. The process of teaching music and dance is still poorly covered in literature. A wide range of iconographic and archaeological materials have been used to expose this aspect of muses education. According to the author, the content and forms of education in the cities of the Northern Black Sea region were generally the same as in the cities of Greece itself. The possibility of obtaining the highest level of education from the local elite is emphasized. That is confirmed by the data on eminent philosophers from the Northern Black Sea region, such as Bosporan Sopheid, Bion Borisfenit, Posidonius Olviopolit and others. The following forms of organization of school education are considered: questions of school premises and educational accessories, methods of teaching and education, social background of students and teachers. The role of muses agonists and religious holidays as forms of quality control of education is shown. The connection of musical education with physical preparation and influence of political structure of the states on the development of education are considered.