Greek Culture and Hellenistic Period

Sophocles

A tragedy writer. Wrote the Oedipus Rex trilogy that includes Antigone.

Herodotus

Called the father of lies. Didn’t weed out the fantastical aspects of ancient civilizations. Also considered the father of history. He wrote about the Greek Persian wars.

Thucydides

Wrote the History of the Peloponnesian War. He put speeches into people’s mouths. He created speeches that historical people said, but they didn’t actually say it. He was not done writing when he died.

Xenophon

He finished the History of the Peloponnesian War after Thucydides died. He is also known for writing the anabis. Anabis is the story of Xenophon and the Greek mercenaries.

Aristophones

poked fun at the politicians of his day, the Peloponnesian War, and gender roles. Wrote Lysistra and the Clouds, a comedy writer.

Aeschylus

A tragedy writer, wrote the Persians, Agamemnon, and the Furies.

Euripedes

Wrote Medea, was a tragedian.

Socrates

questioned what he considered silly traditions and conventions. As a teacher, Socrates put students on the spot, asking them direct questions and forcing them to re-examine, justify, or abandon their assumptions (called the Socratic Method). Not everyone appreciated Socrates philosophy or methods; he was condemned in 399 BC for corrupting the youth and forced to poison himself with hemlock

Plato

Plato studied under Socrates (and wrote most of what is known of Socrates). Plato's philosophy focused on the inner, metaphysical forms of things, like ideas relating to goodness and ethics. Plato believed in future rewards for good conduct in life, laying groundwork for some ideas later found in Christianity. His philosophy also led him to advocate for his own brand of government, a “Republic” ruled by educated elites and by a philosopher king. He also founded The Academy, an important school.

Aristotle

A student of Plato, Aristotle’s philosophy focused on the intended purpose of things (e.g., the acorn would become an oak, man’s intended purpose was to become a politically conscious citizen). He also compiled lists and categories of things so that he could compare, classify, and better understand information. Aristotle believed political power rightly belonged to the rich and educated. He founded his own school, called the Lyceum, and taught Alexander the Great.

Diogenes

challenged and abandoned all traditional assumptions like loyalty and obedience to the polis. Cynics also lived in austerity (plain and simple living), thus their ideas did not appeal to the wealthy. Diogenes is reported to have “lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, ‘I am searching for a human being’

Epicurus

believed that life is nasty, brutish, and short. Therefore, you should enjoy the time you have, live life to the fullest while one was still around to enjoy it. Pleasure and comfort are good for the soul

Zeno

believed that the way to get through life reasonably free from pain was to engage in moderation in all things. Stoics did not embrace the highs and lows of life, instead they refused to allow themselves to feel too much happiness or too much pain. Believed the universe was guided by an organizing principle called “logos” or divine reason

Greek Art

Life like, but not realistic. Shown as the perfect Greek person would be, shows arete.

Greek Columns

There are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Doric are very basic, and lack bases. Ionic columns have bases and volutes(Spiral things on the top). Corinthian columns have bases, elaborate designs on the column itself, and more elaborate volutes.

Greek Women

Women in Greece were expected to be married and have children. They were not permitted to leave the house unless it was to the water fountains. They were chaperoned when they did leave.

Philips Reign

Took over ruling Macedon. Made changes to the military after studying the Greek hoplites in Thebes. He had them carry sarisas and work with archers. He also added cavalry to their forces. In the battle of Chaeronea, Alexander was on Philips left. Isokrates believed that Philip could drive out the Persians and would be good. Demosthenes thought that Philip was bad, that Greek would lose its individuality. Philip becomes the master of Greece and sets his mind on invading Persia. Philip is murdered by Psaneaus before they can go to war. Result of his reign is that the Macedons conquer Greece.

Alexanders Reign

They(Alexander and Darius) fought at Granicus, Issos, and Gaugamela. Once Alexander leaves Greece to invade Persia, he never came back.Alexander manages to defeat Darius due to getting the higher ground at the battle of Granicus river. Battle of Issos, Alexander gets up on a hillside and outsmarts Darius. Alexander wins this battle as well. Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander deliberately chose the low ground, and still won. Moves on to conquer India, wants to keep going but his army quit on him. Along the journey he is told by oracles he is invincible and a god. Once his army returns to Babylon after going through the Gedrosian desert, he makes his troops marry native. Alexander takes up some Persian customs before he mysteriously dies. The impact of his rule is his large empire, but he also starts the Hellenistic Period and Diadochi.

Diadokhi

Five of Alexander’s generals divide up the empire for themselves and proclaim themselves kings. They fight each other for 40 years, after which 3 of the dynasties survive. Collectively, they are called the Diadochi. The remaining three are the Antigonids in Macedon, the Ptolemies in Egypt, and the Seleucids in Syria and the eastern provinces.The ptolemies in Egypt descended from Alexander’s general Ptolemy. They ruled from Alexandria founded by Alexander himself.Despite their Egyptian location, they ruled as Greeks (intervening in Greek affairs) for 300 years. While holding on to Greek or Hellenistic culture, they also adopted various non-Greek traditions, like royal incest, and the idea of divine kingship.Although they adopted some non-Greek traditions, they worshiped Greek temples. Built the lighthouse, and the Great Library. The Seleucids also practiced royal incest and divine power. It is with the Seleucids that Hellenistic tradition reaches its peak as they found many new cities.These cities helped import Greek culture and Greek society into new lands. The Antigonids did not practice royal incest!! Ruled Greece as Greeks

Pergamon

As an example of Hellenistic influence, the new kingdom of Pergamon prospered and the capitol itself was built up as a perfectly Greek city, complete with an acropolis, columned temples, theater, etc. Eventually surrender to the romans. The most imposing surviving monument of Pergamon is the Altar to Zeus. It has ionic columns and greek inspired sculptures. King Attalos is responsible for Pergamon. Eventually expands to a larger area. Has Classical Greek influence in realism, but are no longer realistic in terms of perfection. Has statues that show wounds.

Hellenistic Age

Ptolomies, Seleucids, and Antigonids are part of this period started by Alexander the great.The Hellenistic age witnesses the triumph of Greek culture and social institutions. It also witnessed new, more ostentatious kinds of monarchy(going back to Alexander’s fusion of Greek and Eastern traditions). The success of the new kind of monarchy means the failure of the polis or Greek city-state as a viable political unit. The hybrid culture of Greek or Persian cultures or Eastern cultures is exemplified by royal lines of Alexander's successors. It is with the Seleucids that Hellenistic tradition reaches its peak as they found many new cities.These cities helped import Greek culture and Greek society into new lands. Over time, leaders of smaller areas not originally associated with Alexander asserted their independence and claimed the Greek royal title of basileus, and issued Greek style coins. Such places wanted to be viewed as Greek as the Hellenistic culture was now associated with power and sophistication.

Syncretism

Being able to identify a god, even in a different form

the ability to recognize gods in other cultures

Serapus

Deity that is part Zeus, Osiris, Apus, and Dionysus. Hybrid deity

Ptolomies

Goes with the Diadochi and Hellenistic Age

The ptolemies in Egypt descended from Alexander’s general Ptolemy. They ruled from Alexandria founded by Alexander himself.Despite their Egyptian location, they ruled as Greeks (intervening in Greek affairs) for 300 years. While holding on to Greek or Hellenistic culture, they also adopted various non-Greek traditions, like royal incest, and the idea of divine kingship. Although they adopted some non-Greek traditions, they worshiped Greek temples. Built the lighthouse, and the Great Library.

Sarisa

A very long spear, heavier and longer than traditional Greek spears.

Hellenistic

Means “Greek like” or “Greek influenced” and it indicates the spread of Greek culture outside of Greece

Philosophy

Means love of wisdom. Philosophy was originally tied to science; both sought using rational rather than mythical explanations for how the world works. Over time, science and philosophy parted ways, science remaining more rooted in the material world, and philosophy increasingly focusing on ethics and metaphysical matters. Philosophers were often teachers (known as sophists). Esteemed for their wisdom, it became fashionable for wealthy families to send their sons to acquire education under the instruction of philosophers.

Metaphysical

Abstract thought or subjects, such as meaning of existence or truth