Exploring cultural contributions of Classical Greece

•Mythology•Poetry and Fables

•Drama•Art and Architecture

Myths are traditional stories about gods and heroesPolytheistic is the belief in many gods and

goddessesGods & Goddesses controlled or affected

people’s lives and shaped events

Greek Mythology

ZeusChief godgod of the sky, rain,

and lightningThe Olympic Games

If you weren’t Greek you could not compete

Athletes would come from hundred of miles

Athletes were from different polises.

Hades god of the underworld brother of Zeus and Poseidon Ruled with his wife Persephone Power to be invisible

Hera Poseidon

Queen of the OlympiansWife and sister of Zeusgoddess of marriageShe is usually seen with

a scepter, a cow, or peacock.

god of the seaBrother of ZeusSailors relied upon him for

favorable winds and safe voyages, but he was moody.

Apollo Artemis

god of light.Patron of many things,

including archery, music, prophecy and medicine

goddess of the hunt and wild animals.

She helped women in childbirth but also brought sudden death with her arrows

Aphrodite Hephaestus

goddess of beauty and love

Protectress of sailorsDaughter of Zeus and

Dione

god of fire and of the artisansHusband of AphroditeHe was the only ugly god

Athena

goddess of wisdom, protector of cities

Protectress of those who worship her in times of war, also patron of household crafts

Patron goddess of Athens

god of the MarketOrators, writers, and

commerce; protector of thieves and of mischief-makers.

Messenger to mortals

Hermes

Ares Dionysusgod of WarHe is often depicted

carrying a bloodstained spear. His throne on Mount Olympus was said to be covered in human skin.

god of wine and fertilityShowed mortals how to

cultivate grapes.

Demeter

Goddess of crops, giver of grains and fruit

When depicted in art, Demeter is often shown carrying a sheaf of grain.

Mount OlympusThe highest mountain

in GreeceHome to the 12 most

important gods and goddesses

Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, and Poseidon.

Gods & Goddesses

Human CharacteristicsThey married, had

children, quarreled, played tricks on each other, and fought wars.

Rituals - set of actions carried our in a fixed way. Help keep the gods happy.Festivals

Greek beliefsEach person had a fate or

destinyProphecy

Prediction about the futureOracle

A sacred shrine where a priest or priestess spoke for a god or goddess - predict the future

Temple of Apollo -were the Oracle at Delphi lived Answers could be interpreted

to always be the right answer

Greek Poetry and FablesOldest in the Western worldShakespeare borrowed many Greek ideas to write he’s

famous playsEpics

Long poems that tell about heroic deedsHomer - writer and poet

His epics based on stories of war between Greece and the city of Troy

Iliad - prince of Troy kidnapping the King of Sparta’s wife Odyssey- Greek hero Odysseus (fought in the Trojan War) trying to

make it back home to his wife

Greek stories taught courage and honor and the value of friendship and love

The Iliad

The Odyssey

Aesop’s fablesAesop told his stories to many people throughout his

life. Each of these fables have a lesson to be told.These stories were retold and passed down from

generation to generation by word of mouth. The fables were not written down for over 200 years.The stories end with a moral to assure the reader

understands the message. Over 600 fables are have been collected and written

down.Aesop’s fables

Greek DramaA story told by actors who pretend to be characters.

Tragedy

•Struggles to overcome difficulties but fails

•Early Greek vs. Later Greek tragedies

Comedy

•Happy ending

•Big questions

•Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes

• Sophocles – playwright who used 3 actors and painted scenes (Oedipus Rex and Antigone)

Euripides – playwright characters were everyday people who questioned real world problems, especially war

Oresteia play written by Aeschylus about evil causing more evil

Aristophanes’ style (Saturday Night Live?) plays made fun of politicians

Greek ArtIdea:

ReasonModerationBalanceharmony

ArchitectureThe art of designing

and building structures

Most important architecture

The ParthenonThe orders

DoricIonicCorinthian

Used to express ideas

Favorite subject

Sculpture