Ancient Greece: Unit 6-7

δῆμος (λόγος 6) - Essence

Demos, meaning “people.” In Ancient Greece it typically meant the organized body or populace made up by the common people.

δῆμος (λόγος 6) - Chronology and Context

• Originally referred to a local district or village but was soon evolved to represent the people of a city-state, more so in the context of political power. 

• In Classical Athens (508/507 BC) and onwards the meaning of the word soon expanded to the entire body of Athenian citizens.

δῆμος (λόγος 6) - Significance

• Typically refers to the general overall population, specifically during the age of democracy in Athens

• Emphasizes the collective democracy and will of the people which differentiates the rule by that of a monarch or an aristocracy

• The Greek root words of democracy, demos meaning “people” or “common people” and kratos meaning “power” or “rule.” Democracy directly means “rule by the people” or “power of the people.”

  • Also the Greek root word of “demographics,” meaning the study of statistical data about a population and the groups that may reside within it. 

• Used as the basis of citizenship, with after the reforms of Cliesthenes in 506 BC, being enrolled within demos became the new requirement for citizenship, which heavily contrasted the previous system based on family groups (phatries). 

• The key archstone of the state, as each had their own local government, leaders, and religious celebrations. Also being used to group the ten tribes of Athens.

Pronomos Krater (ἔργον 6) - Essence

A large vase used for mixing wine with water, carrying a depiction of an ancient theatrical troupe

Pronomos Krater (ἔργον 6) - Chronology and Context

• Created around 400 BCE in Athens

• Discovered in a tomb at Ruvo di Puglia Italy, the imagery and inscriptions suggest that it was a vase for victory in a drama contest. Or it represents the elite marriage between two cities, so the scene instead depicts the connection of the two unions

Pronomos Krater (ἔργον 6) - Significance 

• An important surviving visual evidence of ancient Greek theater

  • Mainly for its depiction of a theatrical chorus and cast, with the musician Pronomos and the Greek god Dionysus

• Helps archaeologists understand the types of masks and costumes that was used in greek theater, showing actors and members of the chorus in different outfits and in moments of preparation

• Celebrates possibly a theatrical celebration or victory with the use of Greek wreaths, and the present of Dionysus as he is a patron of the theater. Because his origins come from religious festivals celebrating him.

• Helps show the process of how Greeks overall performed plays showing both the on stage and off stage moments that would possibly occur at the time when the Greeks were preparing for their plays and performances.

Sicily (τόπος 6) - Essence

Referred to by the Greeks as Sikelia and was a major center of Hellenistic culture, also known as part of Magna Graecia “Greater Greece”

Sicily (τόπος 6) - Chronology and Context

• Formerly an ancient Greek settlement, during this period it was known as Magna Graecia with it beginning in the 8th century BCE and lasting until the 3rd century BCE. 

• Established because of overcrowding, hunger, and search for better trade routes and opportunities with the Greeks establishing a flourishing and culturally significant region.

Sicily (τόπος 6) - Significance

• It had extremely fertile land that could help produce valuable crops like olives and grapes, with its location in the Mediterranean made it a major trading center. 

• Syracuse amongst other city states growing into a powerful naval and military force, which had rivaled Athens and was fighting against Carthage for control of the area. 

• The island became a cultural hub for Greek theater, contributing with mimes, as the island had attracted famous poets, who composed many popular works like Pindar’s victory odes. 

• With the Greeks coming to Sicily they had introduced to the local area democracy, philosophy, science, drama, and the Greek language was spoken there until the Middle Ages. 

• Soon led to centuries of conflict, known as the Sicilian Wars as with the presence of both Greek and Carthaginian powers fought to be the one in control. 

• Served as a crucial site of communication between Greek and Roman powers, as the control of the local area contributed to the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage.

Thebes (τόπος 7) - Essence

A Greek-city state located in the region of Boeotia, known mainly for its powerful warfare and had played a key role in the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.

Thebes (τόπος 7) - Chronology and Context

• During the Mycenaean period it was a major center, reaching its peak around this time before its decline around in 1200 BCE. 

• During the Persian War (499-449 BCE) Thebes had sided with the Persians, also known as “Medizing.” During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) Thebes was a major ally of Sparta against Athens.

Thebes (τόπος 7) - Significance

• Known as a once powerful city state, place of mythology and tragedy, and was a major rival to other powers like Sparta with its military prowess. 

• Challenged overall the balance of power, which was mainly dominated at the time by Athens and Sparta. 

• Due to the fact that they had sided with the Persians in the Persian Wars and soon after with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, they clashed afterwards with Sparta after.

• Thebes was eventually destroyed by Alexander the Great in 335 BCE.

• Housed many famous Greek tragedies and myths like Cadmus, Oedipus, Antigone, and Hercules. 

• The city’s founder Cadmus is credited to the introduction of the Phoenician alphabet to Greece. 

• Differ amongst Athens as it was a major agricultural society, versus Athens being a more trade and export city. As the city of Thebes has fertile soil meaning they were more able to grow an abundance of crops. 

• Located on a plateau, which meant they could easily look over the land, helping overall making them a strong force to be reckoned with.

ψυχή (λόγος 7) - Essence

Also known as Psyche referring to the broad concept of life and breath, the main motivating principle behind a person, their inner soul and self.

ψυχή (λόγος 7) - Chronology and Context

• Seen in the Homeric period (8th century BCE) such as in Homer’s works, Iliad and Odyssey, with psyche being the force that leaves a person's body upon death. 

• Upon the Classical period (5th century BCE) the concept took on a more philosophical concept and became more complex.

ψυχή (λόγος 7) - Significance

• Refers to breath or “breath of life” that brings life to a living being. 

• With the word being rooted in breathing and blowing, it is implied to mean the last breath someone takes before dying. 

• Central to religious and philosophical thought as it typically was translated as “soul” and “spirit” representing the animating principle of a human.

• Aristotle and Plato often explored the psyche as the principle behind movement, consciousness, and one’s self. 

  • Aristotle had thought the psyche as the “form” of a living being, or a multitude of capacities that defined a species

  • Plato saw psyche as something immortal, with psyche surviving upon death and existing before birth. As he saw the soul as something eternal housed in something temporary. 

• Best represented in the myth of Eros (Cupid) and Psyche. 

  • Psyche was seen as the goddess of the soul, who undergoes many trials and tribulations to end up with her love Eros, the god of love. The myth is often seen as a metaphor for what the soul will do to achieve immortality and the divine love between the union of two people.

School of Athens (ἔργον 7) - Essence

A fresco depicting the celebration of philosophy being the foundation of European civilization, with it blending ancient Greek and Roman ideals and thoughts with Renaissance culture.

School of Athens (ἔργον 7) - Chronology and Context

• Painted around 1509-1511 in the Vatican and represents the proliferation of philosophy during the ancient Greek and Roman periods. 

• The central figures in the piece being Aristotle and Plato. Showing the differing philosophical ideals they had with Plato being idealistic and Aristotle being empiricist.

School of Athens (ἔργον 7) - Significance

• The Renaissance brought again a revival of classical philosophy, arts, and literature. Shifting away from its medieval focus before on religion towards humanism, making a contrast from the Dark Ages. 

• Depicts many Greek philosophers, scientists, mathematicians together, representing the importance of them laying the groundwork for Western thought. Especially during this time with its renewed interest with Ancient Greek and Roman thought. 

• During this era it blended contemporary Christian thought with Ancient Greek and Roman values.

• The painting which featured Aristotle and Plato in the center showed their ideals and values through their movements within the painting. With Plato pointing toward the sky representing his idealistic world, while Aristotle pointed towards the physical world representing his philosophy of how experiencing the world is the main source of all knowledge.

• The painting represented the human ideals and values during the Renaissance era representing the renewed interest of classical thought was important to help them grow and progress as a society.