Western Humanities 201 1st Exam

6 basic ingredients of Ancient Civilizations

6 basic ingredients of Ancient Civilizations

1. Some form of urban life with permanent dwellings
2. Systems of government
3. Development of distinct social classes, wealth, and occupation
4. Tools and specialized skills for production
5. Written communication
6. Shared system of religious beliefs

Conceptual Art

mostly based on ideas, provokes thought in the viewer

Realistic Art

a snapshot of something real, gives insight into life back when the art was created

Ancient Egypt geography

Geographic Isolation: Sahars, mountains, few invaders. Nile river overflows twice a year

Polytheism in Ancient Egypt

Polytheistic: religious stability- afterlife is a continuation of good life.

Pharaohs

Theocracy: pharaohs (god-kings)
-no law of code, no mobility

Ancient Egyptian Art

Stone, massive, permanent, sold, stable, outlines rituals. Conceptual more than realistic.

Amarna period

- Amenhotep changes name to Akhenaton to worship one God
- The sun god causes art style to include more curvature
- Ended with akhenatons death

Mesopotamian geography

Fertile Crescent along the Tigris and Euphrates. Constant battle for resources.

Mesopotamian characteristics

Governing power of priests- not divine like the pharaohs

Cuneiform

- Mesopotamian
- A writing system., helped us learn about the history of Mesopotamia
- One of the oldest known forms of writing

Epic of Gilgamesh

- Oldest Western Epic
- Gives us insight to polytheistic belief in gods with similarities to Greek gods
- Enlil wanted to demolish the people, one other God told Utnapishtim to build a boat and save himself from Enlil and the flood. Utnapishtim sailed for 6/7 days, then let out a dove to check for land. Enlil was angry that he survived.

Similarities/Differences between Noahs flood and The Epic of Gilgamesh

- God wanted Noah to survive, but the father of the Gods, Enlil, did not want anyone to survive in The Epic.
- Noah sailed for 40 days, while Utnapishtim only sailed for 6/7.
- Noah was a prophet, chosen by God. Utnapishtim was not a prophet, but he was a good man and was favored by the God that saved him.

Minoans

- Crete Island
- Pretty isolated
- More focused with beauty and living life since they didn't have many threats.
- Architecture was more open, didn't worry about fortifications

Mycenaeans

- Not geographically isolated, located on the mainland
- Not a lush, fertile place
- Stony, rocky, focused on survival
- Fortification, defense, warfare
- Troy- setting in the Iliad- is in Mycenaean

Myths as sacred texts and their 4 functions:

1. Exemplary tool- model for behavior
2. Reveals will and history of supernatural beings
3. Makes world understandable, answers questions
4. Provides basis for ritual- the enactment of myth

The Hero's Adventure:

- Sacrificial
- Elevated status (maybe)
- Superhuman capabilities
- Courage
- Mentor who guides them
- Vast journey
- Maybe a point of near defeat
- pivotal moment

Qualities of the Greek Gods

- Extension of humanity
- Immortal
- Special Powers
- Able to exercise their powers on other gods or humans for their own pleasure
- Constantly fighting with each other

Greek culture, politics, and rapid devlopment

- Traders: constant interaction with other cultures
- Arête: diligence in the pursuit of excellence
- Interest in observing the world around them
- Constant attempt to perfect the human form
- Polis: Greek City State

Greek Art Characteristics

- Geometric Age came first- focuses on vases in art, beautify regular things
- Black figured vases developed into red figured vases at the end of the geometric age while geometric design was still prominent
- Black strips of clay placed on vases, etched away to create detail

Archaic Period Art

- Red painted on vases
- Statues
---stiff
---not very realistic
---hair looked like beads
---archaic smile
- Interest in the humans form and statues

Archaic Period politics

- Rulers were tyrants
- Draco: ruler who created first code of laws
- Beginning of legislative and executive branches:
---Voting within neighborhoods
---First form of democracy?

Hellenic (Classical) Period Art

- Combination of realism and ideal forms
- Contrapposto: counterbalance
- Serene face
- Beautiful realism in body with perfect body
- "Man is the measure of all things"

Doric Architecture

- Similar to male form
- Stylobate: flooring
- No base
- Broader columns, utilizes fluting (lifelike appearance)
- Plain capital: top of the column, no volutes on the Doric order
- Architrave: first layer above the column
Frieze: lot of sculpture, 3 columns (triglyph) alternate with the metopes (could have artwork)
- Cornice: kind of like the roofline (jutting out)
Pediment: Triangle, super important

Ionic Architecture

- Similar to female body
- Base
- Slender columns, utilizes fluting (gives it a lifelike appearance)
- Capitol: has volutes
- Architrave
- Frieze: not broken up by triglyphs and metopes
- Cornice
- Triangle Pediment

Parthenon

- Entasis: entry
- Lord Elgin bought much of the Parthenon in the 1700s and helped cause a resurgence of neoclassicism by doing so.
- Relief sculpture: sculpture that is attached to a background, not 3D, different stages (high, medium, low)
- Sculpture in the round- 3D
- Erechtheum- Ionic Order, Porch of the maidens (Caryatids: columns in the shapes of women)

Battle of Marathon

Happened in the Archaic Period during the Persian Wars
- Final Greek Victory in 479

Hellenic Golden Age

- Pericles in power in Athens democracy
- Construction of acropolis
- Abuse of power in Delian league results in Peloponnesian War (Greek Civil War) between Athens and Sparta

The Apology of Socrates

Written by Plato
Hellenic Classical Period
Accusations at trial
- Corrupting the youth
- Socrates doesn't believe in the gods
- Socrates takes money for his teachings
Socratic method: question and answer
Using Logos to determine ethos

Plato

Reality: Theory of Forms: consists of pure forms/ ideas
- Remember from previous existence
- Adding material results in the shadow of reality: concept of chairiness vs. material chair
- Allegory of the cave
Doctrine of ethos- competing absolute forces/ polar opposites
- Good vs. Bad, light vs. dark
Political theory of ideal society- the republic achieves balance
Power of music. Mathematical
Philosopher king

Aristotle

Reality must include our forms and the material
- process of dynamic change with complete climb to an ultimate perfection- unmoved mover
Ethics- life of virtue obtained by "golden mean". balance
- Virtues are relative means, not absolutes
- Abstain>temperate<indulge
- Cowardice>courage<foolhardiness

Hellenistic Period

- Hellenize: to spread greek culture
- Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquests
- Enormous expansion
- Decline of the polis and emphasis on individual
- Increased trade contact, dissemination of ideas
- Koine dialect of Athens universal language
- period of turmoil and change

Hellenistic Period Art

Greater Realism and focus on individuals:
- Emotions: suffering, tension, stress
- Extremes of ages
- Theatrical action: bold movements
- Evokes a sense of space
- Corinthian order: decorative acanthus leaves, large scale

Homer's Iliad

Epic literary conventions
Formal beginning includes:
- Appeal to the muse
- Statement of theme
En Medias Res: in the midst of things
Formal poetic rhythm
Formal structure- 24 books
Epithets: a few words that describe a character
- "swift runner Achilles", "white armed hera"
Homeric simile: long and drawn out simile
Hubris: pride

Characters in The Iliad

Greeks: Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Thetis, Helen, Peleus
Trojans: Hector, Andromache, Paris, Helen, Priam

Hector: unselfish, self-oriented man, loyal to his state vs. Achilles: Self- centered man who was spurred by revenge

6 Elements of Tragedy in Greek Plays:

1. Plot
2. Character
3. Thought
4. Language
5. Melody
6. Spectacle

Catharsis:

a purification or purging of unwanted emotions from the spectator. Theraputic effect

Characteristics of Greek Plays

Complex plot with a beginning, middle, and end
- Reversak
- Recognition
Tragic hero with hamartia: a tragic flaw that is out of balance, too much or not enough
Chorus: regarded as one of the actors, part of the whole and integrated into the performance
All male actors, and only a few of them, so they had to wear masks to play different characters

Origin of Greek Plays

Festival of Dionysus
- Competition of playwrights, three playwrights compete for glory
- Catharsis: audience reaction
- Chorus often represented a group of people within the story
- Held twice a year, all Athenians came
- Theater carved into natural hillside.
- Orchestra: the circular stage
- Skene: the backdrop
- Much action happens off stage, wars and battle will be talked about but never seen
- Musica element and choreographed movement
- Deus ex machina: " god in a machine"

Oedipus Rex

Written by Sophocles
History: During the Peloponnesion War
- plague strikes
- pericles dies
- Oedipus Rex first performed
- Mirrors many Athenian attributes of the time
- Sophocles a popular dramatist
Perfect tragedy: single issue resolved within 24 hours. Plot.
First in a trilogy: Antigone, Oedipus at Colunus
Know myth to the Greeks
Chorus represents the people of Thebes, specifically the Elders

Major themes:
- Hubris
- Exploration of Fate
- Role of the Gods
- Motif of Blindness- Tiresias

Etrsucans

Migrated from Asia Minor (Troy). COnquered central Italy and Rome, defeated by the Romans more than 100 years later
We know about them mainly from their city of the deads (Necropolis)
Very religious people

Characteristics:
- Influenced Romans:
Street plans, City infrastructure, triumphal procession, gladiatorial combat, chariot races, arches, realistic portraiture, 2 name system
- Remains uniquely etruscan: highly spiritual, concerned with afterlife, equal treatment of women, artistic features: similar features with archaic (more movement), desired immediate impact, less interested in intellectual proportions, less concerned with accuracy of human body.

Legends of Rome's Founding

Romulus and Remus
- Divine Father- Mars
- Royal mother
- Barriers
- Raised by Lupa- a she wolf
- Oracle of Destiny

Aeneas
- Divine Mother-Venus
- Mortal Father
- he was a great leader, guided by the gods from his homeland, journeyed, reached italy, fights against the italians that are there, marries a princess (Lavinia).

Roman Republic

10% Patricians- aristocrats, absentee landlords
90% Plebians- hard working fathers
Results in poor economics, debt-slavery, welfare system
Executive, legislative, and the army
Punic Wars vs. Carthage
Julius Caesar:
- Patrician
- Enters Army
- Conquers Gual
- Forms 1st Triumvirate
- Wins Civil War vs. Rival
- Declares himself Dictator for Life with the backing of the army

Roman Empire

Octavian changes name to Caesar Augustus
Emperor Augustus- "Revered One"
- Golden Age
- Still keeps senate
- Pax Romana
- Propoganda art

Octavian

- Caesar's grandnephew, adopted son
- Army
- 2nd Triumvirate
- Final battle between Mark Anthony and Octavian
- battle of Actium
- Defeat of Anthony and Cleopatra results in the Roman Empire

Roman Propoganda Art

- Augustus Caesar statues (handsome, commanding), triumphal arches (placed in victorious battle places)

Roman Equestrian Statues

- person on a horse
- person in a position of power
- usually commanding
- looking like they have power

Versatility of the arch

arches could span a greater distance, they could intersect, they could create domes

Symbolism in Roman art

Prima Porta: baby on Augustus' leg thats riding a dolphin represents the connection between Aeneus and Augustus.

Connections between roman art with greek and etruscan art

- The romans copied the realistic proportions, sense of movement, and overall beauty of greek art.
- They were inspired by the Etruscans with their arches.

Pantheon

The oldest standing domed structure in the world
Oculus- eye opening in the top
Concrete- the romans started using concrete as a medium
Constantine:
- One of the last powerful emperors during Rome's decline
- transfers capitol to Constantinople
- Legalizes Christianity

The Aeneid

Written by Virgil, an Etruscan
Themes and purposes:
- propoganda for rome and Augustus
- explores conflicting aspects of roman life
- explores conflicting themes of furor
- establishes rome's ultimate destiny and legacy
- combines the legends of rome's founding

new hero:

Furor:

individual desire, rage of war

pietas:

loyalty and reverence to gods and family

Comparison of shields with Iliad that represent the differences between Greece and Rome

- The shield of Achilles in the Iliad depicts a normal life in peacetime, it symbolizes the world beyond the battlefield, and implies that war constitutes only one aspect of existence.
- The shield of Aeneas is the shield that Aeneas receives from the god Vulcan to aid in his war against the Rutuli (Turnus). Imprinted on the front of the shield is a grand depiction of the destiny of Aeneas' descendents and the future of Rome.
- Greek is more romantic, Roman is more literal and practical.

Ludi

- Roman athletic competitions
- Origin of the word ludicrous
- To the death (end goal)

Aeneas

protagonist, demi-god, Trojan

Venus

Aeneas' mother, goddess of love

Anchises

Aeneas' mortal father

Creusa

Aeneas' first wife, dies in the Trojan war

Asncanius (Iulus)

Aeneas' son, symbol of Julius Caesar

Pallas

Aeneas' friend, killed by Turnus

Dido

Queen of Carthage, hit by Cupid's arrow to love Aeneas, becomes his lover, Aeneas eventually leaves her

Turnus

When Latinus engages Lavinia to marry Aeneas instead of him, Juno, who hates the Trojans, drives him mad. He is slain by Aeneas after causing a war and killing Pallas.

Epicureanism

Pleasure of mind is ultimate good tranquility
Live to avoid fear- death and the gods:
- The human being comprises a mind, soul, and body. No part of the human is immortal.
- The world isn't prepared for us by any ogd since the gods are perfect but the world isn't. Therefore, there is no purpose of design to existence.
- The gods take delight in peace. They are forever calm, beyond all pain, and have no need of us. They do not reward or punish us, they don't even really pay attention to us.
Evolves into Christian sanctuary of the monastery

Stoicism

- Virtue is turning the Will in agreement with nature- gods
- Reinforces community ethic of Rome
- First step toward spiritual peace is the rational recognition of what you can and cannot control in this existence.
- Belief in order instead of chaos
- "What is mine, what is not mine?"
- Banquet allegory- don't worry about things that may not come to you, accept the things to do. Don't yearn for things that don't happen for you.
- Evolves into a political theory centered on the concept of social duty.

Agamemnon

Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae and leader of the Greek army in the Trojan War of Homer's Illiad. He is presented as a great warrior but selfish ruler, famously upsetting his invincible champion Achilles and so prolonging the war and suffering of his men.

Achilles

Achilles was considered a hero because he was the most successful soldier in the Greek army during the Trojan War. According to post-Homeric myths, Achilles was physically invulnerable, and it was prophesied that the Greeks could not win the Trojan War without him.

Patroclus

Patroclus was a childhood friend, close wartime companion, and the presumed lover of Achilles.

Thetis

The mother of Achilles

Helen

Reputed to be the most beautiful woman in the ancient world, Helen was stolen from her husband, Menelaus, and taken to Troy by Paris. She loathes herself now for the misery that she has caused so many Trojan and Achaean men. Although her contempt extends to Paris as well, she continues to stay with him

Peleus

Peleus, in Greek mythology, king of the Myrmidons of Thessaly; he was most famous as the husband of Thetis (a sea nymph) and the father of the hero Achilles, whom he outlived.

Hector

He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing countless Greek warriors.

Andromache

Andromache, in Greek legend, the daughter of Eëtion (prince of Thebe in Mysia) and wife of Hector (son of King Priam of Troy). All her relations perished when Troy was taken by Achilles.

Paris

Paris is the catalyst for the Trojan War. First, he chooses Aphrodite over Hera and Athena, which angers them. Then, he kidnaps Helen from her home and her husband King Menelaos. This causes the Greeks to come to Troy and get her back.

Prium

Father of Hector, got his body back from Achilles after he was killed