Greek Literature

arete

A notion of excellence bound up with the notion of fulfillment of purpose or function; the act of living up to one's full potential

Plato

ancient Athenian philosopher

Aristotle

one of the greatest of the ancient Athenian philosophers

Pericles

Athenian statesman whose leadership contributed to Athen's political and cultural supremacy in Greece

Minoans

earliest Greek civilization that had developed on the island of Crete by 2000 B.C.

Classical period

Persian Wars; The Golden Age; The Leadership of Pericles advances in society and culture

lyric poetry

a type of emotional songlike poetry, distinguished from dramatic and narrative poetry

drama

successor to the outburst of lyric poetry

Thespis

Legendary founder of Greek drama—created first actor (speaker separate from chorus)

Aeschylus

( 527-456 B.C)first known writer of tragedies, wrote 90 in all but only 7 have survived; He wrote the only recorded trilogy known during his time.

Sophocles

Wrote the Oedipus cycle, tradgedian

Euripides

tradgedian of Ancient Greece and psycholoist who viewed the conduct of man and the role of the gods with ske

Homer

ancient Greek epic poet who is believed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey (circa 850 BC)

Aphrodite

goddess of love and beauty and daughter of Zeus in ancient mythology

Apollo

god of poetry, music, prophecy, medicine, and archery

Ares

(Greek mythology) Greek god of war

Athena

(Greek mythology) goddess of wisdom and useful arts and prudent warfare

Hephaestus

(Greek mythology) the lame god of fire and metal-working in ancient mythology

Hera

queen of gods and of the heavens; goddess of women, marriage, and motherhood

Hermes

Messenger of the Gods; god of commerce, speed, thieves, and trade

Poseidon

(Greek mythology) the god of the sea and earthquakes in ancient mythology

Zeus

king of gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky, thunder, and justice

Archilochus

Greek poet, lived in exile for most of his life, wrote and encouraged Courage and Moderation

Callinus

citizen of Ephesus in Asia Minor

A Call to Arms

poem written by Archilochus, urging his fellow citizens to resist the barbarian hordes

Semonides

poet who lived during 7th century BC, early writer of satire

Alcaeus

Greek lyric poet of Lesbos

Sappho

called "the tenth muse" by Plato, form island of Lesbos, her poems mostly deal with personal relationships

Simonides

(556 bc-468 BC)most versatile of greek lyric poets

Pindar

greek poet known for choral lyrics, weaves mytholoical stories into poems

Theocritus

considered greatest of Alexandrain poets, originated pastoral poetry

epigram

comes from term meaning "inscription" used by Greeks to refer to an brief poem

Herodotus

called "father of history" by Cicero, wrote History of the Persian Wars and about Thermopylae

Thucydides

exiled from Athens, objective critic of his time, wrote a history (7 books completed); ex Funeral Oration of Pericles

Plato

sought solutions to the problems of society, pupil of Socrates, wrote The Apology, The Phaedo

Sophocles

prominent, patriotic citizen of Athens, ideal Athenian citizen, introduced the 3rd actor, wrote antigone