Did Athens take Athen boys to the military when they were seven?

Answer 1

In ancient Athens, boys did not enter the military at the age of seven. Instead, they underwent a more comprehensive education system called the "paideia," which included physical training, music, and philosophy, starting around the age of seven. Military training began later, typically at the age of 18, when young men would join the ephebeia, a program preparing them for citizenship and military service. Thus, while military training was an important aspect of Athenian life, it did not begin at such a young age.