Greek Culture/Hellenistic Period Study Guide

Doric Columns

Columns lack bases and are relatively simple in design

Ionic Columns

Columns have bases volutes (the spiral decoration at the top of the column)

Corinthian Columns

Includes bases, more elaborate detail on the column itself, and feature more elaborate volutes, often in a floral style

Vases

Served as basic storage, but was also considered art and used for storytelling

Two Major Vase Styles

1. Black-figure

2. Red-figure

Greek Art

Vases, life-like sculptures, etc. All art depicts arete

Women’s Role

To be a wife and a mother

Herodotos

The father of history, gullible but some believe this was intentional, giving him the name “father of lies”

Xenophon

Finished the History of the Peloponnesian War, the Anabasis

The Anabasis

10,000 Greek soldiers fought their way from the center of Persia to the Black Sea.

Theater at Epidauros

Greek theater with such pure acoustics that it is still used today

Artemis

Goddess of the moon and of the hunt. Hunted and remained childless (neither of which was typical of Greek women did)

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and war (neither war or being childless was what typical Greek women did

Hera

Goddess of marriage. Perfect Greek wife for being a mother and a wife, and putting up with Zeus’ shenanigans

Greek Theater Genres

Tragedy and Comedy (Tragedy was more popular)

Aristophanes

Made plays that poked fun at politicians. Wrote Lysistrata

Metaphysical

 Abstract thought or subjects, meaning of existence, or truth

Sophists

Philosophers esteemed for their wisdom

Socrates

Philosopher who questioned almost everything. Created the Socratic method (“but why?”). Killed with hemlock for corrupting the youth

Plato

Socrates’ student who created the Republic and founded the Academy.

Republic

Plato’s perfect idea of a government, where people were ruled by educated elites and by a philosopher king

The Academy

A prominent school of Plato’s, also where the word “academy” comes from

Aristotle

Plato’s student, taught Alexander the Great, created classification systems, philosopher who studied the intended purpose of things.

Diogenes

Famous for showing his disdain for people he didn’t agree with in a crude manner

Epikouros

You should enjoy the time you have and life life to he fullest. Pleasure and comfort are good. “Yolo”

Zeno

Founder of Stoic philosophy. The idea of not embracing the highs or lows in life. “Zen”

Stoic Philosophy

Don’t embrace the highs and lows of life, leading a modern path. Much like Buddhism

Cynics

Reject all social norms. “To behave like dogs”

Pithos

“Tub”

Aeschylus

Wrote Aiskhylos

Thebes’ Issue

In one battle, Thebes’ loses the top 5 people in their government, and the top 4 successors of the throne.

Hellenistic

“Greek like” or “Greek influenced.” The spread of Greek culture outside of Greece.

#1 Reason Macedonians are Greek

The Macedonians were allowed to participate in the Olympic games

Pella

Capital of Macedon

Philip II (political negotiations)

1. Threatened parents into behaving

2. Good at making treaties

3. Got married to a lot of women

Sarisa

A spear that was very long, but also heavy, so you couldn’t have a shield

Philip II (military additions)

1. Introduced sarisas

2. Brings back cavalry

3. Strategies that make archers, infantry men, and cavalry people fight together

Philip’s Good Faith Negotiation

Spent his time as a hostage in Thebes’ by watching the Theban’s army train

Sacred Band

Theban army of 150 pederast couples (300 men)

Isokrates

Argued that Macedonians and Philip were good for Greece

Demosthenes (wins the argument)

Argues that Philip is bad. Why would they all want to serve one master instead of staying independent city states?

Battle of Cheronea (Athens vs Macedonia)

Macedonian victory. Gets help from Alexander, who was given the prime spot of honor. Alexander gets surrounded, which in Philip’s eyes, will determine Alexander’s fate. Alexander destroys the sacred band, and is a victorious general. Philip is now the king of all of Greece

Philip’s Murder

Philip is having a relationship with a young man, and the break up doesn't go well. The young man kills Philip, and then Philip’s bodyguards kill the young man.

Battle at Granikos

Alexander defeats Persia

Issos

Alexander defeats Darius III due to phalanx and use of cavalry, and Darius flees

Alexander’s relationship with Eygpt

Egypt accepted him as a Pharaoh with open arms

Gaugemela

Alexander defeats Darius as he flees, again

Darius III’s Murder

Darius’ subordinates murder Darius in hopes that Alexander will leave Persia alone, but since Alexander believes only a king can kill a king, he takes over Persia anyways and punishes the subordinates

Alexanders Ultimate Goal

To create a multi-cultural (mainly Greek) empire through…

1- Marriage (EX. marrying Darius’ daughter)

2- Build cities (EX. Alexandria)

The Diadokhoi of 3

3 dynasties emerge after Alexander’s death:

1- Antigonids at Macedon

2- Ptolemies at Egypt

3- Seleucids at Syria (and eastern provinces)

The Success of a New Kind of Monarchy Means…

The failure of a polis or Greek City-State as a political unit

Ptolemy

Alexander’s general whose family line took over Egypt after Alexander’s death

Ptolemies Ruling Style

The ruled like Greeks while adapting incest and divine kingship at Alexandria

Ptolemy Kings

Philadelphos: “sibiling-loving”

Eurgetes: “benefactor”

Philopator: “father-loving”

Eratosthenes

Calculated the world’s circumference

Archimedes

1- Discovered water displacement

2- Invented the lever

Serapis

A hybrid deity (part Zeus, Osiris, Apis, Dionysos) that shows Egyptian and Greek merged cultures

Syncretism

“The ability to recognize Gods in other cultures”

Seleucids

Descended from Seleukos in Syria. Involved is royal incest and divine kingship

Diadokhoi of 5

Alexander’s 5 generals who fought a civil war for rule over Alexander’s land. 3 emerged and 2 died.

Major Outcome of Alexander’s Death

Rise of the monarchies (Ptolemies, Seleucids, Macedonians) causing Greek City-States to fall out

Ostentatious

“Over the top”

Antioch

City built in Syria, torn apart by war

Pergamon

People of Pergamon wanted to imitate the highest known culture, so they imitated the Greeks

Pergamon Artwork is…

Lifelike AND realistic

Aiskhylos

Wrote Persians and the Orestaia Trilogy (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Furies)

Sophokles

Wrote Oedipus Trilogy (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus Colonnus, Antigone)

Euripides

Pointed out the Gods’ flaws, wrote Medeia

Thucydides

Began The History of the Peloponnesian War