Greek History pt. 3

Plato

follower of Socrates

founder of the Academy.

interest in metaphysics (allegory of the cave)

Aristotle

Macedonian and tutor of Alexander.

founder of the Lyceum

found material world worth studying, study of virtues.

Stoicism

believed that everything was up to fate and the exact will of the gods, believed in 10,000 year repeated cycle.

Epicureanism

founded by Epicurus

goal in life was pleasure, ie. freedom from bodily pain and a troubled soul.

Battle of Leuktra

Thebans place Sacred Band on the left rather than following the norm of placing the strongest formations on the right. They decisively beat the Spartans and ended their hegemony.

Effort led by Epaminondas and was an important step in establishing Theban hegemony.

Megalopolis and Messene

two cities founded by Epaminondas of Thebes.

Megalopolis was the capital of the Arcadian league

Messene was a fortified city for the freed Messenian helots. (Spartan workforce=gone)

Theban Sacred Band

elite military formation described by Plutarch in Life of Pelopidas

Epaminondas

led Thebans in battle of Leuktra

led many invasions, including into the Peloponnese.

Established Arcadian League as a buffer against Sparta

Founded Megalopolis as capital of Arcadian League.

established Messene as city for freed helots

Mausoleum of Halicarnussus

Tomb for satrap, Mausolus (hence the name).

Located in Ionia, an ethnically Greek region with Persian influences.

depicts battle scenes like other Greek architecture (Parthenon)

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

sculpted by Phidias before the Peloponnesian War.

Located near the site of the Olympic games

holding Nike. made of gold, ebony, ivory, and gems.

Philip II

witnessed the battle of Leuktra.

reformed Macedon a lot, unifying noble families, expanding territory, and exploiting resources like silver and gold.

military reforms are very important

Third Sacred War

Philip II seized Thessaly but stopped there, didn’t attempt to extend power further southward into Delphi and Phokis.

Macedonian military

reforms of Philip II:

hetairoi - professional company cavalry. used wedge formation. lance and sword

Thessalian cavalry - rhomboid formation, javelins.

Pezhetairoi - foot companions who used sarissa (extremely long spears). small shields were strapped to arms.

forced marches trained soldiers to march long distances during campaigns.

Demosthenes

Athenian statesman and orator who opposes Philip.

speeches recorded as the Philippics.

Battle of Chaeronea

decisive win by Alexander against Athenians, who had declared war against Philip II. Philip II feigned a retreat which spreads out the Athenian line.

Thebans fought with Athenians. Sacred Band finished off

Plutarch, Life of Pelopidas, recounts Philip’s respect for them

Alexander the Great

supports syncretism of cultures to prevent rebellion while also maintaining control and influence.

*mosaic of Alexander fighting at Issus against Darius. Darius had retreated

coins depicting Alexander depict his hair resembling the horn of a Greek God. Possible sign of Megalomania as was being called son of Zeus by an Oracle in Egypt. THe other side of the coin depicts the Athena statue.

Persia campaign brings great wealth into Greece, including inflation.

Battle of Guagamela

Darius retreated again despite is larger force. Alexander cannot pursue him as he needed to help Parmenion.

Persian empire effectively broken as Babylon was captured soon after.

Proskynesis

practice of bowing. Normal in Persia but reserved for deities in Greece. Alexander attempts to adopt it but is forced to stop. Failed syncretism. possible sign of megalomania?

Hellenization

Greek is administrative language throughout Near East. influences education, philosophy, religions, clothing, names, ect.

Seleucid Empire

founded by Macedonian commander of Alexander, Seleucus I

great diversity of people, incentivized immigration into Greece

benefaction gifts to Athens

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Leader of Seleucid Empire

Jason reinstates himself as high priest of Judea, believing that Antiochus IV died in failed campaign against Rome

responsible for killing thousands in Judea and prompting the Maccabean revolt.

Ptolemaic Egypt

established by Ptolemy, satrap of Egypt

stole Alexander’s body, buried him in Alexandria

unified empire decisivelt ended once Antigonas killed in Battle of Ipsus

Alexandria

• lighthouse, large city, built into an organized grid with quarters, library with Papyrus

• syncretism of Greek and Egyptian religion

• library: all books confiscated, monopoly on papyrus, lodged scholars (part of Museion) built by Ptolemy II

  • Strabo describes it in Geography

• Zenodotus developed textual criticism (punctuation and grammatical symbols)

Bactria

Part of Seleucid Empire until seceeding

control silk road

syncretism of Greek and Indian culture: depictions of Buddha, Greek alphabet

Pergamon

independently ruled city in Ionia.

cultural center: Pergamese library with parchment

benefaction to Athens

Altar of Pergamon: an attempt to fabricate a mythological connections and sense of antiquity. Life size and at eye level

depicts battles

Hellenistic poetry

shorter, emphasis on the rich message. more light hearted and playful (Idylls by Theocritus focusing on idealized rural life)

• Callimachus - idea of shorter

Doruforus

spear holder, example of classical idealism of the body, face, and poses. non-specific.

• represents belief that aesthetic beauty reflects moral goodness

Laocuan and sons

expressions of pain, motion. Viewers will respond emotionally, connect and understand message.

boxer

tired, recent fight.

venus

imperfect body, in motion to hit the advances

Pyrrhus of Epirus

helps Greeks against Rome in Magna Graecia (Italian peninsula)

wins many battles but doesn’t have enough men to continue (Plutarch, life of Pyrrus)

Killed by brick in attempting to conquer Sparta

Battle of Cynoscephalae

Part of 2nd Macedonian War, Romans succeed as they are more mobile (maniples)

Maniples are small triple line, protected by equites cavalry.

Macedonian Wars

After 3rd, Macedon is split into 4 vassal republics. rebellions are quelled (Corinth razed and Athens Sacked)

Cleopatra VII

last Ptolemaic leader, fluent in many languages. affair with Caesar, courts Mark Antony. commits suicide in Battle of Actium.

Second Sophistic

during early AD of Roman Empire, literature reflect that of classical Athens. Rhetorical devices used by asiatics and style by attics.

Lucian’s True History