Greek Civ Midterm

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)