WK 3

The Funeral Games of Archaic Greece: The Due of the Dead

• unknown if Homer was just a singular person or if it was a pen name for a group

• his job was record legends and myths (oral form) into written form

• 750-700 BCE he was active ish

• The Heroic age was the highest point

  A greek hero - usually not an olympian, but was aided by the gods who they worship. They were not seen as role models - they had vices. It was their goal to live on beyond their deaths. it could be achieved by seeking glory and renowned

• Funerary rites were an integral part of death. they included:

  • feasts

  • prayers

  • sacrifices

  • gifts

  • burning of the body

  • funerary games

Funerary Games

• Celebrated their life

• Participating was a way to show mourning

• Prestige could also be gained from these games despite them being funerary

• The games were made also to reinforce a militaristic society

• Had to be invited to partake in the games, but all could come and watch

• Honouring the specific person that had passed away, but also honour their fellow fallen (that were less important)

How Important were they?

• very

Activity: Did Achilles make fair judgements?

NO

During the boxing match, Aias and Odysseus fought three times. Achilles told them to stop and named them both winners. It is known that the two were friends with Achilles. Unfair with a friendship bias?

Even if certain competitors had divine intervention, was Achilles aware of this?

YES

Everyone did use their resources at their disposal and he had no direct affect on that portion.

Even though gods had interfered, it was normal that they would help their favourite heroes. if you had them you used them and you won.

Cunning and trickery mimics war and it was still considered fair.

Basically if everyone is cheating then no one is cheating.