Hellenistic Civilization(323-146 BCE)

(323 BCE = Death of Alexander)

(146 BCE = Conquest by the Romans)

Alexander the Great

Hellenistic Civilization

Hellenistic because of, on the one hand, the predominant role of Greece and, on the other hand, not completely Greek, being more multiethnic, multiracial, and multicultural.

Hellenistic Civilization:General Principles

The fragmentation of Alexander’s empire into three kingdoms: Kingdom of Macedonia, Kingdom of the Ptolemies (Egypt), and Kingdom of the Seleucids (Syria).

In some ways, a continuation of basic Hellenic philosophies and aesthetics, but with significant new features.

Hellenistic Civilization:General Principles

The flourishing of large metropolitan centers: Alexandria and Pergamum

Diverse ethnic groups (Greeks, Macedonians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Africans) linked by trade.

A form of colloquial Greek called Koine was spoken throughout the Hellenistic world.

Hellenistic rulers had no interest in democracy.

Pergamum

Alexandria The best example of a large Hellenistic

metropolis. Population of about 1,000,000 Cultural diversity A center of learning and culture, featuring a

theatre, library, museum, lighthouse, etc. The world’s first university (a museum

dedicated to the Muses) was built in Alexandria.

The library contained 700,000 volumes of books.

Library of Alexandria

Exercise # 1

Find some information online about the cities of Alexandria and Pergamum during the Hellenistic Age.

Hellenistic literature The seriousness of Hellenism began to

give way to a Hellenistic love of playfulness as well as an interest in the ordinary, everyday subjects.

“New Comedy” – In contrast to the pointed, satiricial comedies of Hellenic Greece, the return to monarchy seems to have made playwrights more conservative in their willingness to criticize.

Menander, the leading figure of the New Comedy

Hellenistic literature Pastoral poetry – City life and its hassles

seems to bring with it a kind of nostalgia for country life.

At the same time, the poetry was a fantasy of country life, written by and for the upper class.

Theocritus created the new poetic forms of pastoral poetry as well as idyll.

Hellenistic Philosophy

Cynicism Skepticism Epicureanism Stoicism

Hellenistic Philosophy: Cynicism True freedom arises from realizing that

if one wants nothing, then one will never lack anything.

Isolation from the society Denial of physical comfort Autarky, or self-sufficiency, as the goal

of life Diogenes, the most prominent Cynic Alexander: if I were not Alexander, I

would prefer to be Diogenes.

Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes and Alexander

Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes of Sinope Banished from his country, Diogenes

spent most of his life in Athens, though he died in Corinth. He called himself the “Dog,” and held up the life of animals as a model for mankind. His task was the “recoining of values,” and to the civilization of Hellenic and Hellenistic world he opposed the life of animals and of the barbaric people.

Hellenistic Philosophy: Skepticism

Nothing could be known for certain All ideas and values must be

questioned. Truth is unknowable Autarky as the goal of life. Pyrrho of Elis was the founder of

Skepticism.

Hellenistic Philosophy: Epicureanism How to achieve happiness: The best way to keep one’s wants simple, and

thus to achieve happiness, was to abstain from sex and focus instead on friendship.

Also not to indulge in excessive desires Resist fame, power and wealth Freedom from fear: fear of the gods, of death,

and of the hereafter. Pleasure is the absence of pain Ataraxia, the desireless state, the goal of life Epicurus was the founder of Epicureanism

Epicurus

Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoicism The world is governed by the divine logos, or reason, or nature.

Freedom and happiness consist of living in harmony with logos

A resigned and deterministic outlook, but never apathetic.

Emphasis on dedication to work and duty Worldwide brotherhood Autarky (self-sufficiency) as the goal of

life

Hellenistic Religion: Mystery Cults

The mystery cult of Orpheus The mystery cult of Dionysus The mystery cult of Isis (and her

brother/husband Osiris). Isis was the most honored goddess of the ancient world.

The mystery cult of Mithraism

Mithra Touroctonous

Mithra

Anahita, Mithra’s mother

Isis

Isis

Orpheus

ORPHEUS was the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He was presented by his father with a lyre and taught to play upon it, which he did to such perfection that nothing could withstand the charm of his music. Not only his fellow-mortals, but wild beasts were softened by his music

Exercise # 2

Find information about the mystery cults of the Hellenistic age.

Hellenistic Architecture

The Corinthian column Taller, more slender and more

ornamented than either the Doric or Ionic columns.

Hellenistic visual arts Dramatic advances in sculpture Continuation of some Hellenic ideals

and subjects (e.g., portraits of gods and goddesses).

New interests related to extremes of emotion: violence, eroticism.

Some occasional interest in realism, in the portrayal of an individual.

Hellenistic sculpture

A new interest in capturing action and the excitement of a figure in motion, resulting in works that are less restrained than the Hellenic models. Figures are sometimes twisted or contorted in an effort to communicate the sense of action.

Boy Struggling with a Goose (101)

Hellenistic sculpture Dying Gaul:

Shows a mortally wounded barbarian warrior. By treating a foreign enemy with such nobility, the anonymous sculptor expresses a deep moral sense that was central to Hellenistic art.Made in Pergamene Style

Aphrodite of Melos (c. 160-150 BCE) Shows more of the

Classical (Hellenic) influence (idealized face and contrapposto).

Relatively new interest in the nude female form.

Sensuality

The Dying Gaul

The Dying Gaul

Hellenistic sculpture The Laocoon Group

(date unknown) Interest in emotional

extremes: terror and despair.

A moment of action. The “rhythm” and

“action” of the work draws the viewer’s eye to many different parts.

Old Market Woman (c. 200 BCE?) An ultra-realistic

portrait of a commonly seen character.

Still shows the virtuosity of the sculptor.

Social commentary or bad joke?

The Laocoon Group