Greek Culture

Doric Columns

Columns lack bases and are relatively simple in design.

Ionic Columns

Columns have bases and also have voutes (the spiral decoration at the top of the column).

Corinthian Columns

Have bases, more elaborate detail on the column itself, feature more elabourate volutes, often in a floral style.

Vases

Stored food and exportable items and served as an art form. Scenes represent daily life or mythology. They contained black-figures on red backgrounds and red-figures on black backgrounds.

Greek Art

Sculpture is more life-like in the Classical Period, but they are not more realistic. Classical Period sculpture depicts the Greek ideal of arete, which means excellence. Greek sculpture in this period only portrays the perfect or ideal form.

The ideal Greek woman:

Remained absent from public events and concentraded on raising children and serving as devoted wives. They did not venture into public.

Women were able to:

Go to the fountain, attend certain, supervised religious ceremonies, go shopping at the agoras, visit relatives. They were escorted anywhere they went. (Visiting the fountain allowed the women a rare opportunity to socialize with each other).

The symposion

Large, male-only social gatherings, often featuring heavy wine consumption. The only women allowed at the sympoison were entertainers, such as flute girls and hetairai.

The Goddess Artemis

The chaste goddess of the moon and of the hunt. She hunted and remained childless, neither of which was like the typical Greek woman.

The Goddess Athena

The chaste goddess of wisdom and war. Neither war nor remaining childless was like the typical Greek woman.

The Goddess Hera

The goddess of marriage. She did represent the ideal greek woman because she was a mother and a wife. She also put up with/allowed Zeus’ actions.

Herodotos

A historian called the “father of history” who recorded stories from his travels and wrote about the Greco-Persian (Greek/Persian) wars, which he saw as a continuation of conflict between east and west going back to the Trojan War. He recorded whatever he heard during his travels, especially about other cultures. Thus, he often wrote strange, fantastical tales about places he visited, letting the reader decide if the story was accurate. This tactic earned him the nickname, "father of lies.” His most famous work is called “The Histories,” a 10 volume work about the Persian Wars.

Thucydides

A historian who was an Athenian general who wrote and recorded history of the Pelopennesian War (between Athens and Sparta). He refused to record implausible myths like Herododos, but he did sometimes insert suitable speeches into the mouths of the individuals he wrote about for dramatic purposes. He also gave credit in his writing to collective groups rather than individual people/heroes. He did before he finished his history of the Peloponnesian War.

Xenophon

An Athenian historian who finished the historical account of the Peloponnesian War after Thucydides died. He resumed the history where Thucydides left off. He was selected to replace 5 generals seized and executed by the Persians. He proved the Persians were vulnerable. He led 10,000 Greek soldiers and wrote about his experiences in the "Anabasis." This influenced Alexander The Great to attempt similar grand expeditions. He became closely involved with senior Spartans (King Agesilaus II). A Greek coalition, including Athens, rebelled against Spartan hegemony in mainland Greece.

Greek Theatre

New conventions in performing arts, such as “drama” as we know it today. They also invented the formal setting for drama, the theater, as a large semi-circle structure with tiered seating, allowing for good acoustics and focus on the stage.

Theatre at Epidauros

The largest preserved ancient theater which could seat up to 15,000 people.

Greek Drama:

Came in two varieties: tragedy and comedy. Of the two, tragedy was considered reputable and popular. Drama performed by all-male casts, wearing suitably dour or funny grotesque masks.

Aristophanes

A playwriter who's commedies were also used for social commentary. He poked fun at the politicians of his day, the Peloponneisian War, and gender roles. In his comedy, Lysistrata, Greek women got so fed up with their husbands being constantly at war, they staged a sex strike until peace was restored.

Aiskhylos

A playwriter who wrote Persians, a tragedy that imagined the reaction of the Persian court to the news of Xerxes’ misadventures in Greece. Not only was this set in the playwrite’s own times, but it attempted to use a foreign perspective, in this case imagining the perspective of the Persians while written for a Greek audience. He added second actor to the stage. His most famous work is the Oresteia trilogy, about the curse on the House of Atreus. It was made up of these three plays : Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Furies (Eumenides)

Sophokles

A playwriter who wrote tragedies about the ancient legends of Thebes. These are called the Oedipus trilogy: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus Colonnus, and Antigone, who chose to bury her dead brother even though he was considered an enemy of her city-state. This tragedy was also a commentary on how polis demanding too much from its citizens.

Euripides

A playwriter who was popular with the people of Greece, in spite of never being a big winner of the play festivals. Limited the role of the gods in his plays, and often times created characters who were morally corrupt or unlikeable as heroes. His most famous work is Madeia, about a scorned wife who seeks revenge on her husband.

Philosophy

Meaning “love of wisdom.” It was originally tied to science. Rational thinking instead of mythological explanations for how the world works. Over time, science and philosophy parted ways; science remaining more rooted in the material world, and philosophy increasingly focusing on ethics and metaphysicial matters.

Metaphysical

Abstract thought or subjects, such as meaning of existence, or truth.

Sophists

Philosophers that were teachers and got paid for their wisdom. It became fashionable for wealthy families to send their sons to aquire education under the instruction of philosophers.

Socrates

A philosopher who questioned what he considered silly traditions and conventions. As a teacher, he puts his students on the spot, asking them direct questions and forcing them to re-examine, justify, or abandon their assumptions (called the Socratic Method). Not everyone appreciated Sokates’ philosophy or methods. He was condemned for corrupting the youth and forced to poison himself with Hemlock. Socrates seperates himself from the sophists (he was not getting paid for educating others).

Plato

A philosopher who studied under Sokrates (and wrote most of what is known of Sokrates). His philosophy focused on the inner, metaphysical forms of things, like ideas relating to goodness or ethics. He believed in future rewards for good conduct in life, laying groundwork for some ideas later found in Christianity. It led him to advocate for his own brandd of government, a “Republic,” which was also the name of his book. He believed the common man should have no role in the government besides doing what they are told, and only educated elites / a philosopher king would rule. He also founded The Academy, an important school.

Aristotle

A philosopher and student of Plato. Created a philosophy that focused on the intended purpose of things. He also compiled lists and categories of things so that he could compare, classify, and better understand information. He believed political power rightly belonged to the rich and educated. He founded his own school called the Lyceum, and taught Alexander The Great. By the Middle Ages, he is the most revered Greek philosopher.

Doegnes/Cynics

Cynics - associated with the philosopher Diogenes, Cynics challenged and abandoned all traditional assumptions like loyalty and obedience to the polis. Cynics also lived in austerity (plain and simple living), thus their ideas did not appeal to the wealthy. He embraced a life of poverty and was shameless of his behaviors that challenged social norms.

Epikouros

A philosopher who - and his followers (the Epicureans) - believed that life is nasty, brutish, and short. Therefore, you should enjoy the time you have, live life to the fullest while one was still around to enjoy it. Pleasure and comfort are good for the soul. (YOLO)

Zeno/Stoics

Zeno and the Stoics’ phelosphy believed that the way to get through life reasonably free from pain was to engage in moderation in all things. Stoics did not embrace the highs and lows of life, instead they refused to allow themselves to feel too much happiness or too much pain. They believed the universe was guided by an organizing principle called “logos” or divine reason.

Hellenistic

Means “Greek like” or “Greek influenced” and it indicates the spread of Greek culture outside of Greece.

Macedonia

Madecon existed on the margins of the Greek world. It differed from the rest of Greece in that Macedons retained a king, and the Macedonian king had been a vassal of Persia in the early 5th century. Despite this, Macedon was accepted as a fellow Greek area because they believed the king was a descendent of Herakles/Hercules, as a supposed son of Zeus in Greek heroic stories. Their Greek identity was furthered by their inclusion in Olympic competitions. Some Macedonian kings emulated the high culture of Classical Greece by inviting Athenian intellectuals to their kingdom. Most Greeks, however, considered Macedon a weak state and relatively backward into the 4th century.

Philip II

When Philip took over Macedon, it was in disarry and on the verge of the civil war. He spent time in Thebes and was inspired by Greek political and military ideas. He instituted new changes to the Macedonian military. He took control over other regional barons including Thessaly and Thrace, which gave him control over precious medals and trade routes. He used diplomacy to cement his power and practiced polygamy (he married the daughters of other regional leaders to gain control over their cities). He made the sons of Macedonian braons attend school near him (which was an honor for the braons, but also kept barons from challenging him as their sons were essentially hostages).

Philip II’s Three Military Changes

The Macedonian Phalanx: Greek hoplites (soldiers) used sarisas (longer spears) and wore heavy armor, which made the phalanx more powerful.

Introduced calvary: (military men on horses)

Improved Military Force: With the combination of hoplaties/foot soldiers, calvary, and archers, Philip was able to force other regional braons to submit to him.

Isokrates

Believed Philip II’s could unite the Greeks against Persia.

Demosthenes

Believed Philip II’s growing power would destroy the independence of Greek city states. Demosthenes leads Athens and Thebes against Philip II in battle, and Philip II wins the Battle of Chaeronea.

Battle of Chaeronea

Demosthenes leads Athens and Thebes against Philip II in battle, and Philip II wins the Battle of Chaeronea. After, Philip II of Macedon allies with other independent Greek city states to attack the old enemy, Persia (Sparta refuses to participate). Before he can begin, Philip II is murdered.

Alexander The Great (finish pls)

Philip II’s son and was only 20 at the time of his father’s death. Alexanders main goal was to create a multiethnic? empire? spreads Greek culture by building many cities and city states and by marriage

Diadokhoi

Five of Alexander’s generals divide up the empire for themselves and proclaim themselves kings. They fight each other for 40 years, after which 3 of the dynasties survive. Collectively, they are called the Diadokhoi. These 3 dynasties are: The Antigonids in Macedon, the Ptolemies in Egypt, and the Seleucids in Syria/the eastern provinces.

The Hellenistic World

Greek-like age witnesses the triumph of Greek culture and social institutions. It also witnessed new, more ostentatious kinds of monarchy (going back to Alexander’s fusion of Greek and Eastern traditions). The success of the new kind of monarchy means the failure of the polis of Greek city-state is a viable political unit. The hybrid culture of Greek and Persian or Eastern cultures is exemplified by the royal lines of Alexander’s successors.

Ptolemies

In Egypt, they descended from Alexander’s general Ptolemy. They ruled from Alexandria, founded by Alexander himself. Despite their Egyption location, they ruled as Greeks (intervening in Greek affairs) for 300 years. While holding on to Greek or Hellenistic culture, they also adopted various non-Greek traditions: Royal incest and the idea of divine kingship. Although they adopted non-Greek traditions, they worshipped in Greek temples and invented Greek intellectuals. They built an enormous lighthouse and created a magnificent library. (The library at Alexandria was the center of Greek culture and learning, attracting great scholars).

Philadelphos (Ptolemy king)

Philadelphos means “sibling-loving” because he married his sister.

Euergetes (Ptolemy king)

Euergetes means "benefactor.”

Philopator (Ptolemy king)

Philopator means “father-loving.” Many believed he killed his father to take the throne, so he gave himself the name to throw off suspicion.

Eratosthenes

A Ptolemy scholar and mapmaker who calculated the circumference of the Earth, which also shows they knew the Earth was round.

Archimides

A Ptolemy scholar and mathmatician/inventor who discovered the principle of water displacement and invented the lever (providing great mechanical advanatges).

Isis

Over time, the Greek and Egyptian cultures merged with each other in areas such as religion. The Egyptian Goddess, Isis, was ultimately worshipped in Greece.

Serapis

During the culture merge between Greece and Egypt, new hybrid deities emerged such as Serapis (part Osiris and sacred bull Apis from Egypt, and part Zeus and Dionysos from Greece). Serapis became a popular deity throughout Hellenistic Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Synkritism

The ability to recognize gods in other cultures. For example, three different representations of Isis are represented in different ways by different cultures, but is still the same goddess.

Seleucids (resume)

They adopted divine kingship and royal incest. Antioch is their main city.

Antigonids

They did not do royal insest or divine kingship

Pergamon

A perfect example of a Greece city state, however it is not located in Greece. Used Greek language and Greek culture (temples, theater, agora, designed like a Greek city but is located in modern day turky)