ABSTRACT
The size of the ancient Hellenic world reached its peak during the Hellenistic period. From the second half of the eighth century BC onwards, a large number of colonies were founded in Gaul, the Italian peninsula and North Africa as well as along the coastlines of Thrace, Euxeinos Pontos and Asia Minor. Wherever the Hellenes founded new towns, they established educational, political, military and religious institutions. The ephebia was a school that provided military, gymnastic and intellectual education for young men of 18-20 years of age. This chapter is based on the collection and analysis of data related to the foundation and expansion of ephebia all over the Hellenic world. It examines the general goals of this institution as well as its specific role in the making of masculinity.
