GREEKLITERATUR

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Brief History of Greek LiteratureFew literary traditions have been as influential to Western

society as Greek literature. From the works of Homer to the musings of Aristotle, ancient Greek literature forms the foundation of Western thought. Greek literature and thought has continued to influence Western society, as the conquests of Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire spread Greek thinking throughout the Western world. The Greek literary tradition is deep and rich, with a profound impact felt throughout all civilization. 

Preclassical Era Greek literature traces its roots to the preclassical period, beginning around 800 B.C. The great poets, Homer and Hesiod, worked during this time period. Homer’s two great works, the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,” are the foundation of Greek literature. These two epic poems set the tone, scope and form for Greek literature for centuries to come. 

Classical EraThe classical era of Greek literature was an explosion of forms, ideas and techniques that have formed the basis of Western literature. The classical period is particularly noteworthy for the emergence of Western philosophy and the invention of drama. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the three great philosophers of ancient Greece, lived during the classical period. These three Greeks have had an immeasurable impact on the development of civilization. Socrates is notable for being the muse of Greek philosophy, the original thinker who inspired all who followed after him. His teachings are preserved in many of Plato’s “Dialogues.” Plato was a student of Socrates who went on to found the Academy of Athens, the first institution of higher learning. Aristotle was himself a student of Plato’s; his status is such that he is often simply called “The Philosopher.” He composed many of the bedrock works of Western literature, including “Physics,” “Metaphysics,” “Politics,” and more.

Greek Religionencompasses the collection of beliefs

and rituals practiced in ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices. These different groups varied enough for it to be possible to speak of Greek religions or "cults" in the plural, though most of them shared similarities. Also, the Greek religion extended out of Greece and out to other islands. Many Greek people recognized the major gods and goddesses: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Dionysus, Hephaestus,Athena, Hermes, Demeter, Heracles, Hestia, Asclepius and Hera

Hellenistic EraBy the conquest of Greece by Phillip II and later

by Alexander the Great, the influence of Greek literature had begun to spread around the world. Poetry was the main literary product of the Hellenistic period, with the trio of Theocritus, Callimachus and Apollonius leading the way. Theocritus invented the pastoral poem, while Apollonius is famous for his “Argonautica,” the story of Jason and the search for the Golden Fleece. Callimachus worked at the Library of Alexandria and is famous for his “Aetia,” an elegy exploring the origins of many things. Callimachus was also the model for the Roman poet Ovid.

Greek literature has a storied history, full of towering names and prominent works. The history of Greek literature is in many ways the history of Western literature as a whole. The world owes Greece a great debt for its contribution to the development of human civilization.

GODS & GODDESSESAGLAEA APHRODITE APOLLO ARIADNEARESARTEMISASCLEPIUSATHENACRATUS

DEIMUSDEMETE

RDIKEDIONEDIONYS

USEUTERPEHERAHERACL

ESHERMES 

PHOBUSLEUCIPPIDE

SHYGEIAHESTIAPOSEIDONTHEMIS THYONEZEUS

The Greeks are recognized as an exceptional people. They are known in history as the “noble Greeks”.

The history of Greek literature is divided into three periods. The first period, covering the Pre-Homeric age and the Homeric age, extends from remote antiquity to the age of Herodotus to the death of Alexander the Great. The third period, the Period of Decline, extends from the death of Alexander the Great to the enslavement of the Greeks by the Romans and Extends to A.D. 1453.

Greek literature has the following qualities

Permanence and UniversalityEssentially Full of ArtistryOriginalityDiversity of talentIntellectual quality

Greek history goes back to the Bronze Age, between 300 and 1200 B.C. in the Golden Age or Classical Age of ancient Greece, many of the Greek masterpieces were constructed. This is the time that the Parthenon was built in Athens, and Sophocles wrote Oedipus the King.

Greek Art and LiteratureThe Greeks produced a civilization that

in many ways has never been surpassed in the world. Greek art is well-known

throughout the world. There are four majors forms of Greek art:

ArchitecturePainting

SculpturePottery

Greek DramaThere were three great tragic writers: •Aeschylus•Sophocles•Euripides•AristophanesPolitical DevelopmentPericlesPindar

Greek Writers:

ThespisAristophanesHerodotusThucydidesXenophonArt and ArchitectureAcropolisParthenonPhidias

OrationDemosthenes

Philosophy and ScienceSocratesHippocratesHerophilusEuclidArchimedesLysanderAlcibiadesPhilip IIAlexander the GreatErastosthenes

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