Chapter 2: Ancient Greece

Aegean Cultures

• Geography– The Aegean Cultures

are found in the area of the Aegean Sea.

– The terrain is rocky with a huge dependency on the water.

Aegean Cultures

• Cycladic Culture– Existed around 2500-

2000 B.C.E.– The oldest of the

Aegean cultures.– Worshiped a mother

goddess figure.

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– Commonly referred to as the proto-Greeks.– Began significant development circa (ca.) 2000

B.C.E.

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– They were well known sailors and traders.– Relied on the ocean as their defense barrier.

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– Architecture

• Palace of Minos– Found on Crete at

the city of Knossos.– Has a number of

continual rooms with no discernible pattern.

– The word labyrinth has come to describe the palace (based on the story of Thesus).

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– Architecture• Minoan column is an inverted column that tapers

downward.• They also had an effective sewage system.

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– Art• Murals were very common.• Toreador Fresco

Aegean Cultures

• Minoan Culture– Art• Statue of the Snake

Goddess made of faience, a glazed ceramic.

Aegean Cultures

• Mycenaean Culture– These are the first true

Greeks and they made their appearance around 2000 B.C.E

– Came from the North and settled on the Peloponnesian peninsula.

– These are the Greeks who battled the Trojans.

Aegean Cultures

• Mycenaean Culture– Architecture• The Palace at Mycenae

– The Lion Gate, an entrance with a lintel (a heavy singular stone) that with a relieving triangle allows for the creation of a primitive dome, known as a corbeled dome.

– This is the precursor to the Roman arch.

Aegean Cultures

• Mycenaean Culture– Architecture• The Palace at Mycenae

– A dromos is an entryway in which ashlar masonry is used to help create a tholos, a circular building.

Aegean Cultures

Aegean Cultures

• Mycenaean Culture– Art• Rhyton-an artistic

drinking vessel.• The Golden Mask of

Agamemnon.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Religion– Polytheistic• Zeus• Hera• Hermes• Ares• Athena

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Religion– Oracles were religious

professional who interpreted the will of the gods.

– The most famous of these were the Oracles of Delphi, priestesses of Apollo.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Poleis (City-States)– Athens• Artistic• Cultural• Traders

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Poleis (City-States)– Sparta• Military Society• Egalitarian

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• The Peloponnesian War– This war weakened the

Greeks and helped Philip II of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great) to conquer them.

Philip II of Macedonia

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• The Peloponnesian War– The war was fought predominantly between the

Athenians and the Spartans over the use of Delian League money which was supposed to be used to finance against Persian Invasion.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– Geometric Style• This style was influenced by

the Dorians (Greek invaders that would create the classical period of Greece).• This style created repetitive

geometric patterns on vases and other pottery.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– Literature• Homer

– He will write the two famous epics.» The Iliad» The Odyssey

– His writings become the basis of Greek education.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– Literature• Sappho of Lesbos

– She was a female writer who wrote romantic poetry.

– She even indulged in homo-erotic poetry (lesbian love, which was forbidden in Greek society).

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-480

B.C.E.)• Ceramics

– Black-Figure is done by creating a black glaze over a natural clay background.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-

480 B.C.E.)• Ceramics

– Red-Figure was the inversion of black and generally considered to be a more superior art form.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period

(600-480 B.C.E.)• Sculpture

– Kourous is the making of a lifesize male nude taking one step forward and arms at his side.

– Kore is the female equivalent.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period

(600-480 B.C.E.)• Sculpture

– As abilities/technique in sculpting improved, proportioning became more accurate.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-

480 B.C.E.)• Philosophy

– It literally means the “love of wisdom” based on logic and reasoning.

– The Greeks will become the first people to truly question their world and society on a deeper level than others.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-480

B.C.E.)• Philosophy

– Presocratics studied the world and the role of humans in it.» Thales, one of these

philosophers, promoted the idea of man’s natural role in the universe.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-

480 B.C.E.)• Philosophy

– Presocratics studied the world and the role of humans in it.» Heraclitus believed

that the universe was in a constant state of flux as was man (a Yin & Yang like conflict).

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-

480 B.C.E.)• Philosophy

– Atomists » They believed in the

concept of the universe being made up of small, invisible, particles and the void between them.

» They were led by Democritus.

The Rise of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaean Art– The Archaic Period (600-480

B.C.E.)• Philosophy

– Atomists » Pythagoras

• The most well known of all the atomists.

• He believed “numbers” were at the heart of everything.

• The universe was controlled and functioned based on mathematics.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– The Athenian Golden Age is regarded as the

classical period of Greece and is the basis of Western tradition today.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Democracy• Though many politicians through

the year contributed to it, Cleisthenes divided Athens into neighborhoods, or demes, which became the basis of voting districts.• From demes, demos (the

people) and cracy (governed by) was formed.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Herodotus• He was regarded as the

“Father of History” for his recording of the Second Persian War.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture &

Engineering• The Acropolis

– It was the high point of the city.

– It contained many of the important temples.» The Parthenon

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture &

Engineering• The Acropolis

– It was the high point of the city.

– It contained many of the important temples.» The Temple of Athena

Nike

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• The Agora was the market place.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• The Stoas were the roofed colonnades.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• Columns

– Doric were the oldest and simplest form of the columns.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• Columns

– Ionic were characterized by the scrolling capital.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• Columns

– Corinthian were characterized by large curling acanthus leaves.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Architecture & Engineering• Columns

– Caryatids were statues of female figures found on the Erechtheion (also located on the acropolis).

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Sculpting• Kritios Boy

– The weight if focused on one leg.– The spine forms a gentle “S” curve.– The pose is relaxed and natural.– This was sculpted by Kritosis.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Sculpting• The Spear Bearer (Doryphoros)

– This statue was considered the new measure of perfect proportions.

– It is believed to have become one of the most copied works of the ancient world.

– It was created by Polykleitos.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Sculpting• Aphrodite of Knidos

– This statue was regarded as the female equivalent of the Spear Bearer.

– It was created by Praxiteles.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Drama• Aeschylus

– He was the creator of tragedy (the downfall of a great hero).

– His best known play is Orestia.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Drama• Sophocles

– He is commonly regarded as the greatest tragedy writer of his time.

– His best known play is Oedipus the King.

– This is also where Sigmund Freud created the term Oedipus Complex.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Drama• Euripides

– He is a dark tragedy writer.– His best known plays are

The Trojan Women and Electra.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Comedy• Aristophanes

– He is regarded as the master of comedy writing.

– His best known play is Lysistrata.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy• Socrates

– He was known as the “Father of Ethics.”

– He coined the term “Know Thyself.”

– He sought out truth and knowledge above all else.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy• Socrates

– He created the “Socratic Method,” a form of continual questioning until an answer is achieved.

– He was charged with corruption of the Athenian youth and chose death over exile.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy

• Plato– He was a student of Socrates

and it is through his work, that Socrates' thoughts and insights survive.

– He believed truth could be obtained through mathematics.

– He also believed in the concept of the “Perfect Form or Idea.”

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy

• Plato– His work, The Republic,

describes his ideal society.» It is separated into three

distinct classes.• Intellectuals• Soldiers• Workers

» It is governed by the intellectuals and run by reason.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy• Aristotle

– He was a student of Plato.– He is referred to as the

“Father of Science.”– He used the Socratic Method

of Reason as the basis of his arguments and intellect.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Philosophy• Aristotle

– He believed that all things were in motion and moving toward its potential.

– However, he was grounded in reality, unlike Plato.

Educating Alexander the Great.

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Music• The Lyre

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Music• The Aulos

Classical Greece

• The Golden Age of Athens– Music• Musical Modes or

scales were developed by the Greeks.

Hellenistic Greece

• Alexander the Great– His conquest of Greece,

Northern Africa, and Asia (up to India) made Greek an international language.

– The Greeks referred to themselves as Hellenes.

Hellenistic Greece

• Alexander the Great– After his death, his generals divided the empire

but maintained fairly good relations with one another.

– This helped the spread of “Hellenistic” culture.

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Architecture– Greek style makes its way across the world.– The Altar of Zeus at Pergamon

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Architecture– Nike of Samothrace

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Architecture– Laocoon and His Sons

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Philosophy– The Sophists• These philosophers were active

at the time of Socrates; however, their concepts and beliefs will have a great deal of impact on the Hellenistic philosophies.• They believed that all things

were relative to a person’s experiences.

Protagoras was believed to be the first of the Sophists.

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Philosophy– The True Hellenistics• Stoicism

– This was the belief that an individual can only exercise control over his own will.

– This concept also believed that it could be directed toward the benefit of society.

– This philosophy will later be embraced by the Romans.

Zeno of Citium

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Philosophy– The True Hellenistics• Epicureanism

– This philosophy promoted the enhancement of physical pleasure and the reduction of pain.

– However it strove for balance, not overindulgence.

The philosophy was founded by Epicurus.

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Philosophy– The True Hellenistics• Skepticism

– This philosophy believed in the concept that man is not capable of rendering judgment because nothing could be known for certain.

– The goal became to abandon the search for knowledge and accept uncertainty. Pyrrho of Elis was one of the

creators of the Skeptic Movement.

Hellenistic Greece

• Hellenistic Philosophy– The True Hellenistics• Cynicism

– The belief was to free oneself from desire.

– This concept is classical Buddhism.

Anisthenes, one of the founders of the movement.