The Athenian Welfare State and the Provision of Health Services

This chapter describes various aspects of sporting activities in Classical Athens. Athletic events were strongly related to the Greek way of life and ethos. It also analyzes Athens as the first historically recorded welfare state who provided financial compensation for various social groups such as orphans and wives who lost their parents in a war operation for the polis. The chapter also describes the provision of health services which were separate into two groups: (i) private provision of health services (ii) public provision of health services.