AntigoneAntigone BackgroundBackground

ReligionReligion

• The Greeks believed that their beliefs in The Greeks believed that their beliefs in the gods would make their daily lives the gods would make their daily lives better; consequently, they also believed better; consequently, they also believed that the gods would take care of them that the gods would take care of them after death.after death.

• PolytheisticPolytheistic The Greeks believed in The Greeks believed in many different gods and goddesses.many different gods and goddesses.

• These gods / goddesses controlled These gods / goddesses controlled everything, from the weather to who won everything, from the weather to who won a race.a race.

ReligionReligion• As you know, each As you know, each

god / goddess god / goddess controlled one or controlled one or two things. two things.

• Temples were built Temples were built in each town for one in each town for one god / goddess.god / goddess.

• Greeks sacrificed Greeks sacrificed animals to honor the animals to honor the gods.gods.

• The only temple still The only temple still standing today is the standing today is the Parthenon, Parthenon, built in built in honor of Athena, honor of Athena, goddess of wisdom goddess of wisdom and war.and war.

ReligionReligion

• All gods lived at the top of Mount Olympus.All gods lived at the top of Mount Olympus.• Greeks would go to holy sites called Greeks would go to holy sites called oraclesoracles..• At the oracles, Greeks and the priest of the At the oracles, Greeks and the priest of the

temple would pray to the gods and ask temple would pray to the gods and ask questions about their future. questions about their future.

• Gods answered their questions using signs Gods answered their questions using signs from nature.from nature.

• For example, at the oracle of Dodona, you For example, at the oracle of Dodona, you would write your question on a slab of lead would write your question on a slab of lead then give it to the priest, who listened to the then give it to the priest, who listened to the rustling leaves of sacred oak trees to tell you rustling leaves of sacred oak trees to tell you the god’s answer.the god’s answer.

SettingSetting

• Play takes place just before the Play takes place just before the Trojan War, about 1250 BCE.Trojan War, about 1250 BCE.

• Superstition was very strong and Superstition was very strong and science essentially did not exist.science essentially did not exist.

Government in Government in AntigoneAntigone

• Each city-state in Greece had its own Each city-state in Greece had its own form of government.form of government.

• These city-states were separated from These city-states were separated from each other and because of the each other and because of the mountainous terrain of Greece, travel mountainous terrain of Greece, travel from one city to another was difficult.from one city to another was difficult.

• This travelling difficulty did not stop This travelling difficulty did not stop them from fighting with each other them from fighting with each other often, however. often, however.

• Greeks were stubborn.Greeks were stubborn.

GovernmentGovernment

• Bronze Age Thebes (1200s B.C.)Bronze Age Thebes (1200s B.C.)• Sophocles explores social and political Sophocles explores social and political

issuesissues• Creon has an authoritarian ruleCreon has an authoritarian rule• Antigone is strong-willedAntigone is strong-willed• He combines these to warn against the He combines these to warn against the

dangers of dictatorship and to dangers of dictatorship and to highlight the status of women in Greek highlight the status of women in Greek society.society.

GovernmentGovernment

●● Creon is KingCreon is King

→ → what the king says is law → going against what the king says is law → going against him is punishablehim is punishable

●●Though he can create any law he wants, he Though he can create any law he wants, he must still obey the gods.must still obey the gods.

Funeral RitesFuneral Rites

●● Rituals for the wealthy were Rituals for the wealthy were extravagant. Gold and jewels were extravagant. Gold and jewels were

often buried with the repected and often buried with the repected and honored dead.honored dead.

● ● It was believed that if you were not provided a It was believed that if you were not provided a

proper burial along with appropriate rituals, you proper burial along with appropriate rituals, you were destined to suffer between worlds until were destined to suffer between worlds until your rites of passage into the underworld were your rites of passage into the underworld were completedcompleted

Funeral RitesFuneral Rites

• Upon death, the spirit of the dead leaft Upon death, the spirit of the dead leaft the body as a little breath of wind.the body as a little breath of wind.

• The deceased was then prepared for The deceased was then prepared for burial.burial.

• If the burial rites were not performed, If the burial rites were not performed, that was considered an that was considered an insult to human insult to human dignitydignity..

• Women were primarily in charge of Women were primarily in charge of conducting the burial rituals.conducting the burial rituals.

Funeral RitesFuneral Rites

• 1. 1. ProthesisProthesis – laying out the body– laying out the body• Relatives / friends came to mourn and pay Relatives / friends came to mourn and pay

their respectstheir respects

• 2.2. EkphoraEkphora – funeral procession – funeral procession• Took place just before dawnTook place just before dawn• Few objects were placed in graves but Few objects were placed in graves but

they were marked by elaborate steel statuesthey were marked by elaborate steel statues

• 3. interment of the body or the 3. interment of the body or the cremated remainscremated remains

Role of WomenRole of Women

• Greek women had no political rightsGreek women had no political rights• Controlled by menControlled by men• Most important duty for city women Most important duty for city women

was to bear children—preferably was to bear children—preferably male—and to run the house.male—and to run the house.

• Rural women were to tend to the Rural women were to tend to the agriculture: harvesting olives, fruit, agriculture: harvesting olives, fruit, gather vegetables.gather vegetables.

WomenWomen

• They completely ran the householdThey completely ran the household• Many women were domestic slaves who Many women were domestic slaves who

cooked, cleaned, and carried watercooked, cleaned, and carried water• Only in the poorest homes was the wife Only in the poorest homes was the wife

expected to do these duties.expected to do these duties.• They limited their time outside the They limited their time outside the

home to visiting only their nearest home to visiting only their nearest female neighbors. Exceptions to this female neighbors. Exceptions to this were weddings, funerals, and religious were weddings, funerals, and religious festivals.festivals.

WomenWomen

• Antigone holistically rejects the Antigone holistically rejects the norm for women in society.norm for women in society.

• Ismene believes that women should Ismene believes that women should respect their place in society.respect their place in society.

MotifsMotifs

• Sins of the father are the sins of the Sins of the father are the sins of the child.child.

• Tyranny vs democracyTyranny vs democracy• Conformity vs free willConformity vs free will• LoyaltyLoyalty• Law vs moralityLaw vs morality