Ancient Greece: The Classical Spirit Early Greece

Ancient Greece: The Ancient Greece: The Classical SpiritClassical Spirit

Early GreeceEarly Greece

Minoan CivilizationMinoan Civilization

Crete (2500 – 1250 B.C.)Crete (2500 – 1250 B.C.)

Palace of KnossosPalace of Knossos

Artisans: jewelry, figurinesArtisans: jewelry, figurines

Women: free and equal Women: free and equal

Bull-leaping as athletic eventBull-leaping as athletic event

Mycenaean CivilizationMycenaean Civilization

Palace cities on Greek mainlandPalace cities on Greek mainland

Warrior societyWarrior society

““Mask of Agamemnon”: one of the Mask of Agamemnon”: one of the treasures found in a grave in Mycenaetreasures found in a grave in Mycenae

Trojans caused the fall of Mycenae Trojans caused the fall of Mycenae bringing on Greece’s “Dark Age.”bringing on Greece’s “Dark Age.”

Early Greek PoetryEarly Greek Poetry

Homeric epics: long narrative poems; Homeric epics: long narrative poems; heroic deeds; hero who brings pride to heroic deeds; hero who brings pride to country. country. Iliad Iliad and and Odyssey: Odyssey: First First masterpieces of Western literature.masterpieces of Western literature.

Heroes: Achilles and OdysseusHeroes: Achilles and Odysseus

Despite man’s frailties, his life is nobleDespite man’s frailties, his life is noble

Sappho’s Lyric PoetrySappho’s Lyric Poetry

Lyric poems: brief, expressing feelings, Lyric poems: brief, expressing feelings, often accompanied by a lyre.often accompanied by a lyre.

Sappho’s poems expressed her love for Sappho’s poems expressed her love for her women friends.her women friends.

Lived her life on the island of LesbosLived her life on the island of Lesbos

Art in Early GreeceArt in Early Greece

The Archaic period: 650-490 B.C. The Archaic period: 650-490 B.C. Progression from the Egyptian modelsProgression from the Egyptian models

NaturalismNaturalism: attempt to represent objects : attempt to represent objects as they appear in natureas they appear in nature

Vase painting: red-figure technique: Vase painting: red-figure technique: figures left unpaintedfigures left unpainted

Greeks’ range of feelings and actionsGreeks’ range of feelings and actions

SculptureSculpture

KourosKouros: free standing nude male youth. : free standing nude male youth. Shows ideal of youthful male beautyShows ideal of youthful male beautyKoréKoré: softer or female version. Clothing : softer or female version. Clothing softened statuesoftened statueCalf BearerCalf Bearer: naturalistic and shows the : naturalistic and shows the idea of a sacrificial burdenidea of a sacrificial burdenKritios BoyKritios Boy: more realistic and less rigid as : more realistic and less rigid as compared to compared to KourosKouros with disappearance with disappearance of the Archaic smileof the Archaic smile

The Classical PeriodThe Classical Period

Opens with Greeks’ victory over Persians Opens with Greeks’ victory over Persians at Salamis in 490 B.C.at Salamis in 490 B.C.Golden Age: 480 B.C. and 404 B.C., Golden Age: 480 B.C. and 404 B.C., Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian Wars. Culture lasted until death of Wars. Culture lasted until death of Alexander the Great.Alexander the Great.Polis life: Human nature dictates life in Polis life: Human nature dictates life in citycityPericles: Delian LeaguePericles: Delian League

Women in Classical AthensWomen in Classical Athens

Excluded from public affairsExcluded from public affairs

Household duties: organization, Household duties: organization, supervision and labor.supervision and labor.

Hetaera: Hetaera: foreign women who worked as foreign women who worked as courtesans, entertainers and prostitutes.courtesans, entertainers and prostitutes.

Some Some hetaera hetaera highly educatedhighly educated

The Greek TempleThe Greek Temple

The Parthenon (447 B.C.) Dedicated to The Parthenon (447 B.C.) Dedicated to AthenaAthenaPost-and-lintel formPost-and-lintel formEntablature: decoration of the vertical Entablature: decoration of the vertical column and horizontal beamcolumn and horizontal beamOrders: Styles of columnsOrders: Styles of columnsCella: enclosed inner room of templeCella: enclosed inner room of templeRefinementsRefinements

Parthenon SculpturesParthenon Sculptures

Phideas: Athena statue in cella and again Phideas: Athena statue in cella and again on the east and west pedimentson the east and west pediments

Three Goddesses on East PedimentThree Goddesses on East Pediment

FriezeFrieze

Cella frieze: low relief, Cella frieze: low relief, Athenian Athenian HorsemenHorsemen, depict the heroism and nobility , depict the heroism and nobility of Athenian citizens.of Athenian citizens.

Other Acropolis BuildingsOther Acropolis Buildings

Propylaea: massive gatewayPropylaea: massive gatewayErechtheum: Ionic temple with two porchesErechtheum: Ionic temple with two porchesCaryatids: Porch of the MaidensCaryatids: Porch of the Maidens

Classical HumanismClassical Humanism

Belief that “Man is the Measure of All Belief that “Man is the Measure of All Things” Protagoras.Things” Protagoras.

Nobility of human intelligence and actionNobility of human intelligence and action

Human ability to understand and control Human ability to understand and control the world.the world.

““Secular” humanism controversial today.Secular” humanism controversial today.

The Classical StyleThe Classical Style

Representing the human figure in motion: Representing the human figure in motion: turning point for Greek sculptors.turning point for Greek sculptors.

Idealized, yet moving toward naturalismIdealized, yet moving toward naturalism

Greek SculptureGreek Sculpture

Kritios BoyKritios Boy: Human figure in motion: Human figure in motion

Classical Style: naturalism and idealismClassical Style: naturalism and idealism

Myron’s Myron’s DiscobolusDiscobolus

Riace Warrior Riace Warrior Phideas? Phideas?

Praxiteles’ Praxiteles’ Aphrodite of CnidosAphrodite of Cnidos

Contrapposto: Contrapposto: S curveS curve

Hellenistic StyleHellenistic Style

Emotionally charged realism of later Greek Emotionally charged realism of later Greek sculpturesculpture

Alexander the Great Persia and EgyptAlexander the Great Persia and Egypt

IndividualityIndividuality

LaocoLaocoöön and his Two Sonsn and his Two Sons

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Athens: Greek TheaterAthens: Greek Theater

Forms: Tragedy and Comedy Forms: Tragedy and Comedy

Power of the godsPower of the gods

Course of human destinyCourse of human destiny

Nature of love and justiceNature of love and justice

Dyonisus patron god: wine, revelry and Dyonisus patron god: wine, revelry and intoxication. Dyonisian festivalsintoxication. Dyonisian festivals

Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

Open-air theaters or amphitheatersOpen-air theaters or amphitheatersWealthy citizens paid playwrights and Wealthy citizens paid playwrights and producersproducersYearly competitionYearly competitionActors in front of the Actors in front of the skeneskeneChorus: actors who danced and chanted Chorus: actors who danced and chanted on the on the orchestraorchestra, the area surrounded by , the area surrounded by the the theatrontheatron

Greek PlaywrightsGreek Playwrights

Thespis: One actorThespis: One actor

Aeschylus: added a second actor and Aeschylus: added a second actor and dialogue. Suffering and guilt led to godsdialogue. Suffering and guilt led to gods

Sophocles: Golden Age of AthensSophocles: Golden Age of Athens

Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex by Sophoclesby Sophocles

HubrisHubris

CatharsisCatharsis

PlaywrightsPlaywrights

Euripides: realism, social commentaryEuripides: realism, social commentary

Showed people as they were, gripped by Showed people as they were, gripped by violent passionsviolent passions

MedeaMedea

Greek ComedyGreek Comedy

Humorous portrayal of everyday themes Humorous portrayal of everyday themes and characters.and characters.

Aristophanes: Aristophanes: CloudsClouds and and LysistrataLysistrata

Greek PhilosophyGreek Philosophy

Philosophy: came from Greek’s Philosophy: came from Greek’s fascination with rational inquiry.fascination with rational inquiry.Materialists: substance of which all matter Materialists: substance of which all matter was composedwas composedIdealists: evidence of a divine and rational Idealists: evidence of a divine and rational plan for cosmos--Pythagorasplan for cosmos--PythagorasSophists: professional teachers, skepticsSophists: professional teachers, skeptics—Protagoras. Became cynical.—Protagoras. Became cynical.

SocratesSocrates

Founded classical Greek philosophy and Founded classical Greek philosophy and never wrote a word.never wrote a word.Socratic MethodSocratic MethodGadfly of Athens—Morals worth more than Gadfly of Athens—Morals worth more than life itself.life itself.““The unexamined life is not worth living.”The unexamined life is not worth living.”Trial and death: Tried for religious and Trial and death: Tried for religious and moral offenses.moral offenses.

PlatoPlato

Student of SocratesStudent of SocratesWrote Socrates’ dialoguesWrote Socrates’ dialoguesApologyApology: Socrates’ trial: Socrates’ trialPhaedo: Phaedo: Socrates’ last conversationSocrates’ last conversationThe Republic: The Republic: Ideal city-state/ Three parts Ideal city-state/ Three parts of soul: reason, moral courage, appetitesof soul: reason, moral courage, appetites““Allegory of the Cave”Allegory of the Cave”The AcademyThe Academy

AristotleAristotle

Challenged Plato’s teachingsChallenged Plato’s teachings

Tutor for Alexander of MacedoniaTutor for Alexander of Macedonia

EthicsEthics: Happiness is found in balance : Happiness is found in balance between two extremes: Golden Meanbetween two extremes: Golden Mean

PoeticsPoetics: Formal pattern of Greek drama.: Formal pattern of Greek drama.

LyceumLyceum

Greek MusicGreek Music

Music: of the “Muses” Goddesses who Music: of the “Muses” Goddesses who inspired creative arts.inspired creative arts.

LyreLyre

AulosAulos

Music could bring about feelingsMusic could bring about feelings

Music lost foreverMusic lost forever

Pythagoras’ intervals: octavesPythagoras’ intervals: octaves

Hellenistic AgeHellenistic Age

Philip of Macedon subdued Greek city-Philip of Macedon subdued Greek city-states. Succeeded by son Alexanderstates. Succeeded by son Alexander

Alexander loved Greek civilization and Alexander loved Greek civilization and spread it throughout his empire in Persia spread it throughout his empire in Persia and Egyptand Egypt

Hellenistic: Greek-likeHellenistic: Greek-like

Hellenistic LegacyHellenistic Legacy

Collected great classical manuscripts in Collected great classical manuscripts in libraries.libraries.

Artists imitated forms and ideas of the Artists imitated forms and ideas of the Greeks.Greeks.

Playwrights copied Greek theaterPlaywrights copied Greek theater

Euclid: Planets revolve around the sunEuclid: Planets revolve around the sun

Established Greek culture as the standard.Established Greek culture as the standard.