Lec 4: Rhetoric in Homer

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical periods, administrative scripts, and cultural concepts from the lecture on Homer and ancient Greek rhetoric.

Bard

A valued professional entertainer in ancient Greek culture who performed oral history and epic songs for religious and entertainment purposes.

Bronze Age (Aegean)

The period spanning roughly ~1,500–1,200 BCE, marked by the Mycenaean civilization and ending with the Bronze Age Collapse.

Early Iron Age

The period spanning roughly ~1,100–750 BCE (often termed the 'Dark Ages' prior to Homer), characterized by migrations, depopulation, breakdown of trade, and a shift to iron usage.

Minoans

A seafaring, artistic, and trade-focused Aegean civilization centered on Crete (~2,000–1,500 BCE) at sites like Knossos, Phaistos, and Mt. Ida.

Mycenaeans

A warrior culture located in mainland Greece (~1,700–1,200 BCE) centered on the Peloponnese at sites like Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns, and Sparta.

Linear A

The Minoan writing system used exclusively for administrative purposes, such as accounting, economics, and semi-centralized resource redistribution.

Linear B

The Mycenaean writing system used exclusively for administrative tasks including accounting, economics, and resource distribution.

Epic Poetry

A genre of long-form poetry meant to be sung, following specific poetic conventions and typically recounting stories of mythical figures.

Nostoi

A category or theme of epic poetry centered on a hero's homecoming journey.

Kleos

Glory, fame, or honor gained through battlefield prowess or righteous acts that translates into high social standing and prestige.

Time (ti-may)

The physical manifestation of honor, displayed through battlefield trophies, stripped enemy armor, and distributed loot.

Agon

The concept of contest or struggle, physical or intellectual, through which heroes compete to win kleos.

Xenia

The sacred ancient Greek code of 'guest-friendship' or hospitality extended to strangers to build trust and social structure.

Aristos Achaios

A Greek term meaning 'best of the Achaeans,' used in the Iliad to describe Achilles.

The Iliad

A Homeric epic poem chronicling events during the final year of the Trojan War, focused on themes of anger, war, struggle, death, grief, and the wrath of Achilles.

The Odyssey

A Homeric epic poem following Odysseus' ten-year journey home to Ithaka, focusing on themes of travel, trickery, love, and homecoming.