The ancient Greeks Greeks are the people who began our civilization.
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The ancient Greeks
“Greeks are the people who began our civilization.”
Greek influences
Philosophy
Science
Art
Architecture
Politics
Literature
Philosophy
Science
Art
Architecture
Politics
Literature
Geography of Greece
Rugged terrain
Mountains, sea, islands
Small, self-sufficient villages
Meadows for planting crops
Pastureland for livestock
Forests
Geography
City-State
Known as polis
Might be known for olives, wine, marble, or pottery
Local, independent city-states
Greece was NOT unified country
Outsiders considered “barbarians”
Politics in the polis
Agora—marketplace
Typical citizen intimately involved in public life of community.
Citizen who did not participate in public life was scorned.
“Idiotes”—a private person. One who doesn’t participate in debate or public life.
Religion
Pantheon of gods
1. Lived on Mt. Olympus
2. Cool, controlled, and detached
3. Could interfere with daily lives of humans
Greek gods
Represent worst of human behaviors
Are immortal
Are all-powerful
Frequently consort with mortal men and women
Interfere in human affairs (take sides)
Greek Gods
Become annoyed with humans and use their powers if they are insulted or dishonored.
NOT judges of morality
Sacrifices and libations are ways of honoring the gods.
Greek gods on Mt. Olympus
Have banquets
Have love affairs
Plot
Quarrel
Mock and deceive each other
Go on vacation
Arête
Personal excellence
Highest level of excellence to which a warrior could aspire
Combination of courage, pride, and nobility.
Closely related to code of honor
Desire for excellence—the Greek spirit
Passion for perfection
Attention on man as a creature who has both physical and spiritual attributes
Physical and intellectual excellence
“Best”—olives, wine, ships….
Intellectual curiosity
Related to desire for excellence
Ask question WHY
Prime interest—man, his world, his spirit, his capacities
Code of honor
Personal honor—Greek’s primary concern.
Untarnished reputation and personal honor.
Warriors need to be acknowledged and respected by his peers
Spoils of war—warriors’ material possessions.
Importance of funerals
Show respect for dead.
Funerals could last several days. Funeral is show of respect a warrior has earned.
If one is not given a proper funeral, his soul would wander the earth forever.
Hubris
Exaggerated pride or self-confidence
Arrogance
Defiance of the gods
Punished by the gods
Homeric legend
Blind rhapsode
Traveling performer
Oral tradition
Probably sang the poem accompanied by a lyre
Homeric question
See handout
Centuries long debate
Identity of author
Just one?
Questions about Homer
Why are plot, style and dialect sometimes inconsistent?
Did Homer simply write down stories that many bards had recited and reshaped?
Did the Greek alphabet exist when Homer lived?
Definition of an epic
“A long narrative poem in elevated style presenting characters of high position in adventures forming an organic whole through their relation to a central heroic figure and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation of race.”
Characteristics of an epic
Hero is a figure of imposing stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance.Setting is vast in scope, covering great nations or the world.Actions consist of deeds of great valor or those requiring super-human courage
Epics
Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—interest themselves in the action and intervene from time to time.
Style of sustained elevation and grand simplicity is used.
Epic poet recounts deeds with objectivity.
Epics—literary conventions
Poet begins by stating theme and invoking a muse to inspire the poem. (Invocation)Poem starts in medias res and presents necessary exposition in later portions of the epic.Catalogs of warriors, ships, and armies are included.Main characters make extended formal speeches.Poet makes frequent use of epic similes (Homeric)Meter is dactylic hexameter.
Iliad
Title means story of Ilion—story of Troy
Earliest existing work of literature of European literature
Iliad
Written approximately 850 BC.
Just before end of the Dark Ages.
Time when oral tradition is most important.
Probably intended to be recited or chanted.
Homer’s audience would know the story well.
Trojan War
Both Iliad and Odyssey are based on legend of Trojan War.
Homer does NOT tell the story of the war.
Iliad takes places in the final year of the war and covers a few weeks.
City of Troy
Walled city.
Greeks in ships on shore
Fighting is conducted on plain outside of Troy’s walls.
Themes of Iliad
Wrath of Achilles
Brutality of war
Fate/Role of the gods
Honor
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