Comparative Cultures 12 - Greek Unit

The Acropolis

A fortified hill in Athens that served as a religious and ceremonial center.
Key buildings: Parthenon, Propylaea, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, and the Theatre of Dionysus.

Construction of the Parthenon

Built 447–438 BCE, commissioned by Pericles.
Made of marble, featured Doric columns and detailed sculpture.
Used subtle optical illusions for visual perfection (e.g., columns bulging in the middle, curved base).

Phidias

Lead sculptor responsible for decorative elements of the Parthenon.
Designed the massive chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Athena.

History of the Parthenon

Originally a temple for Athena

Later became a church, mosque, and was damaged during warfare.

Much of its sculpture was removed (Elgin Marbles).

Statue of Athena

38 ft tall, depicted with shield, spear, helmet, and Nike in hand.
Represented military victory and was the centerpiece of the Parthenon.

Aspects of the Parthenon’s Construction

Harmony, balance, and proportion were key.
Inward-leaning columns, thicker corners, and strategic spacing all create optical illusions.

The Elgin Marbles

Sculptural decorations removed by Lord Elgin and sold to the British Museum.
Controversial due to modern debates about cultural repatriation.

Caryatids

Female statues used as architectural supports on the Erechtheion.

Rigid enough to bear weight but sculpted with grace.

Doric Pillar

Ionic Pillar

Corinthian Pillar

Pottery Uses & Shapes

Used for storing oil, wine, water; also ceremonial and funerary purposes.
Durable, mass-produced — a major industry.

Red Figure

5th century BCE; red figures on black background.

Allowed for more realistic detail and expression.

Black Figure

6th century BCE; black figures on red/orange background.
Featured mythology, daily life, and occasionally erotic themes.

Exekias

Master potter and painter known for precision and storytelling (e.g., Dionysus cup).

Mediums & Themes

Bronze, marble, ivory-gold (chryselephantine).
Focus on realism, anatomy, movement, and idealized beauty.

Charioteer of Delphi

Bronze statue, slightly stiff but lifelike.

Subtle details: twisting torso, turned head, glass eyes.

Nike Adjusting her Sandal

Marble relief, elegant drapery showing feminine form.

Found in the Temple of Athena.

Dionysus

Depicted in pottery and statuary as god of wine, revelry, and transformation.

Hermes & Dionysus

Hermes holds baby Dionysus.
Delicate features and gentle human interaction

Missing grapes for infant Dionysus

Dying Gaul

Emotional realism; a mortally wounded Gaul.
Detailed features like mustache, neck band, and expression of pain.

Nike of Samothrace

Victory goddess.

Wind-blown garments and wings suggest movement.

Set on a fountain base; now in the Louvre

Greek Pantheon of Gods

Lived on Mount Olympus.
12 main gods: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Hermes, Dionysus, Hephaestus, and Hestia.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty, born from sea foam.

Apollo

God of sun, music, prophecy, medicine — promoted wisdom and moderation.

Zeus

King of the gods, sky/weather.

Poseidon

Sea, earthquakes.

Hades

Underworld, strict ruler of the dead.

Athena

Virgin goddess of wisdom, war strategy, crafts.

Born from Zeus’ head; protector of Athens.

Ares

God of war, destruction; disliked by other gods but lover of Aphrodite.

Greek Creation Myths

Chaos → Gaia & Uranus → Titans → Cronus → Zeus & Olympians

Titanomachy: War between Olympians and Titans.

Greek Morality Myths

Cautionary tales about hubris, fate, and the power of gods.

E.g., Persephone myth explains the seasons.

Physical Map of Greece

Mountainous (80%), many islands, divided by the Corinthian Gulf.

Geography led to development of independent city-states.

The Trojan War

Mythic war sparked by Paris abducting Helen.
Greeks used the "Trojan Horse" trick to win.
Important cultural and literary foundation (Homer's epics).

Ancient Athens

Small in size but rich in culture: democracy, theatre, philosophy, art.

Alexander the Great

Conquered Persia and beyond; spread Hellenism. Died in 323 BCE; empire divided among generals.

Hoplite Warfare

Citizen-soldiers in a phalanx formation.

Led to more democratic participation due to accessible weaponry.

Wars with Persia

Marathon (490 BCE): Greek victory.
Thermopylae (480 BCE): Heroic Spartan stand.
Salamis (480 BCE): Naval win for Greeks.
Plataea & Mycale (479 BCE): Final Persian defeats.

Wars between Greek City-States

Frequent conflicts despite shared culture.

Peloponnesian Wars

Sparta vs. Athens (431–404 BCE); ended Athenian power and Golden Age.

Wars with Rome

Macedonian and Punic wars led to Greek decline.

Rome became dominant Mediterranean power.