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Oikos
the household (house, family, property); smallest unit of society
polis
city/political unit of the community
oikos vs polis
personal obligations vs commitment to larger society
xenia
guest friendship; reciprocal relationship between visitors and hosts; guests were treated well in fear that they may be gods in disguise
aidos
shame
kleos
everlasting fame and glory for accomplishments in life
agathos
good
gods (what they care/don’t care about)
care: pollution of blood (incest/homicide)
don’t care: stealing, rape, adultery
mortals/fates
mortals were completely subject to the dictates of fate and the involvement of the gods
writing
alphabetic writing was the second literary source 800 BC; 1800 creteans develop linear writingand the Greeks later adapted it for their own use.
Homer
wrote the most famous epic poetry; blind rhapsode; not sure if he was real;
iliad (ca 750 bc)
odyssey (ca 725 bc)
oral tradition and composition
epic poems composed orally and written down many centuries later
repetition to create meaning
historia
inquiry or investigation; actively seeking knowledge through investigation
greeks were concerned with understanding human action, leadership, and the consequences of decisions
Achilles
son of Peleus and Thetis
known for strength, bravery, invulnerability
symbolism: the tragic hero, representing both human potential and the inevitability of fate
Agamemnon
brother of Menelaus and son of Atreus
leader of the greek forces during the trojan war; sacrifices his daughter and eventually murdered by his wife
symbolism: the brutal demand of leadership
Hector
son of King Priam, brother of Paris
greatest trojan warrior, known for nobility and commitment to his family/country
symbolism: values of honor, duty, family → tragic hero who fights for his city even when the odds are against him
Andromache
wife of Hector
symbolism: sorrow and the destruction caused by war (lost her husband and son)
Helen
daughter of Zeus and Leda
abduction (or elopement) with pari is the catalyst for the conflict
symbolism: the catastrophic effects of individual actions on society, as her beauty leads to the suffering of many
Priam
father of Hector and Paris
King of Troy
his plea for Hector’s body from Achilles demonstrated his humanity and the sense of justice and compassion that transcends war
Sarpedon
son of Zeus and Laodamia
Trojan prince
symbolism: his death emphasizes the transient nature of life and the idea that destiny governs both gods and men
Zeus
son of Kronos and Rhea
king of the gods and the ruler of the sky and thunder & lightning
tries to remain neutral but favors the trojans (tells the gods to stay out of the war but later helps the trojans)
Hera
wife of Zeus
helps the greeks throughout the war: aids achilles in his fight against hector, sends Athena prevent Achilles from killing Agamemnon and guide heroes in battle
Apollo
heavily involved with the Trojans
sends a plague to the greeks when Agamemnon refuses to return Bryseis
assists Hector by helping him fight Patroclus (ensuring his death)
Herodotus
“Father of History”
Histories is his main work (focuses on the Greco-Persian wars)
in Histories: detailed record of the conflict between Greece and Persia
Croesus
King of Lydia
famously consults the Oracle of Delphi before going to war with Persia, but he misinterprets the oracle’s prophecy and ends up losing his kingdom
Solon
Athenian statesman
important to deliver a message to Croesus: wealth and power do not guarantee happiness or a good life - true happiness comes from living a virtuous life and achieving honor
Cambyses
King of Persia
noted for invading Egypt but also his downfall
initially successful in expanding the Persian empire but later becomes a cruel and irrational tyrant
Xerxes
king of Persia
famously led the persian forces during the second invasion of greece (central event in herodotus histories)
campaign ultimately fails due to a combination of poor decisions, logistical challenges, and the greek resistance (at the battle of salami)
