GreeceGreece

The Golden AgeThe Golden Age

Greek art and cultural Greek art and cultural achievement (the golden achievement (the golden

age)age) 480-338 bc was the 480-338 bc was the golden age of Hellenic golden age of Hellenic achievement- the peak achievement- the peak of their culture.of their culture.

Art, literature, Art, literature, philosophy, science, philosophy, science, mathematics all were mathematics all were significantly expanded significantly expanded (or invented) during this (or invented) during this time. time.

This period became the This period became the standard by which the standard by which the achievements of a achievements of a culture are measured.culture are measured.

Classical Art Classical Art (why is this stuff so good?)(why is this stuff so good?)

The people of the golden age pushed in a quest for The people of the golden age pushed in a quest for perfection- All who come after copy them perfection- All who come after copy them

Not until the renaissance in the 1400s will European art get Not until the renaissance in the 1400s will European art get BETTER than it was here. BETTER than it was here.

Artists themselves were not famous (often unknown) the Artists themselves were not famous (often unknown) the glory was for the polis. glory was for the polis.

Their art shows us what the Greeks thought was importantTheir art shows us what the Greeks thought was important Ideals of Human beauty- strength, courage, pride. Very Ideals of Human beauty- strength, courage, pride. Very

positivepositive Simplicity- each piece has a single message- Simplicity- each piece has a single message-

uncluttered.uncluttered. Form and function- everything in life should be useful Form and function- everything in life should be useful

and beautiful- anything worth doing is worth doing welland beautiful- anything worth doing is worth doing well

ArchitectureArchitecture Magnificent public Magnificent public

buildings were a way of buildings were a way of showing pride in the showing pride in the Polis. Polis.

Like Symmetry, Like Symmetry, simplicity and balance. simplicity and balance. Buildings were open- Buildings were open- known for columnsknown for columns

Building were made of Building were made of white marble- often white marble- often painted or covered in painted or covered in gold leaf. Parthenon the gold leaf. Parthenon the most famous- most famous- completed in 447completed in 447 bc bc

Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Doric, Ionic and Corinthian ColumnsColumns

An “Ideal” TempleAn “Ideal” TempleShould be symmetrical- the length should Should be symmetrical- the length should

be exactly double the frontbe exactly double the front

Athena Nike- AthensAthena Nike- Athens

Erechtheion - Porch of the maidens

The Oracle at DelphiThe Oracle at Delphi

The Parthenon 447 bc

The Parthenon todayThe Parthenon today

SculpturSculpturee

The Greeks The Greeks celebrated Human celebrated Human beauty in their beauty in their sculpture. Super sculpture. Super detailed and realistic. detailed and realistic. Sculpture was made Sculpture was made of either marble or of either marble or bronze. People (esp bronze. People (esp gods) were shown gods) were shown nude to show their nude to show their perfection.perfection.

Male PerfectionMale Perfection

FemalesFemales

PaintingPainting

The Greeks The Greeks pioneered Frescos- pioneered Frescos- but few of them but few of them survived into the survived into the modern world. The modern world. The best examples of best examples of painting are on their painting are on their pottery. These are pottery. These are excellent sources of excellent sources of information on information on everyday lifeeveryday life

What is Philosophy?What is Philosophy?

Search for Truth. No “right” answer- Search for Truth. No “right” answer- figure out what YOU believefigure out what YOU believe

Other cultures use religion for this- Other cultures use religion for this- Greeks use REASON.Greeks use REASON.

Believed that truth was out there and Believed that truth was out there and humans could understand it- positive humans could understand it- positive outlook.outlook.

Thales 1Thales 1stst known philosopher (660 bc) known philosopher (660 bc)

SocratesSocrates

470-399 bc “The Questioner”470-399 bc “The Questioner” First great philosopherFirst great philosopher To find truth- Start with a general idea, and use To find truth- Start with a general idea, and use

questions to grow more specific . (Socratic questions to grow more specific . (Socratic method)method)

Questioned EVERYTHING including government Questioned EVERYTHING including government and gods- which made him unpopular- executed and gods- which made him unpopular- executed 399 bc399 bc

PlatoPlato

427-347 bc. “the perfectionist”427-347 bc. “the perfectionist” Socrates student Socrates student The way to find truth is to look for The way to find truth is to look for

“perfection” eliminate anything that is not “perfection” eliminate anything that is not perfect- all that will be left is truth.perfect- all that will be left is truth.

““The Republic” (Plato's perfect polis) The Republic” (Plato's perfect polis) wanted all to have a chance to succeed- wanted all to have a chance to succeed- and be lead by the best (distrusted and be lead by the best (distrusted democracy of Athens)democracy of Athens)

AristotleAristotle

384- 332 bc “the categorizer”384- 332 bc “the categorizer” Plato’s student. Most famous thinker ofPlato’s student. Most famous thinker of ancient worldancient world Thought human could understand Thought human could understand

anything- put things in categories so they anything- put things in categories so they are not so overwhelming- then you can are not so overwhelming- then you can see truthsee truth

Developed scientific method. Defined Developed scientific method. Defined various branches of sciencevarious branches of science

Tutor to Alexander the GreatTutor to Alexander the Great

Mathematics (Pythagoras)Mathematics (Pythagoras) Math, science, medicine all considered Math, science, medicine all considered

philosophy because you are trying to philosophy because you are trying to understand the worldunderstand the world

Greeks built on ideas of Egyptians- focus on Greeks built on ideas of Egyptians- focus on breaking down and explaining math in naturebreaking down and explaining math in nature

Pythagoras- said any object can be broken Pythagoras- said any object can be broken into a mathmatical formulainto a mathmatical formula

Pythagorean theorem Pythagorean theorem a² + b² = c²a² + b² = c²

Medicine (Hippocrates)Medicine (Hippocrates)

Studied the human body- believed Studied the human body- believed disease came from nature, not a disease came from nature, not a punishment from the gods (reason)punishment from the gods (reason)

said disease came from an said disease came from an imbalance of “humors” (blood, imbalance of “humors” (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile)phlegm, yellow bile, black bile)

Swore to treat anyone who needed it Swore to treat anyone who needed it (Hippocratic oath)(Hippocratic oath)

History! (Herodotus)History! (Herodotus)

Greeks 1Greeks 1stst civilization to record culture and civilization to record culture and experience- their and other people’s too. experience- their and other people’s too. (much of what we know about ancient (much of what we know about ancient peoples comes from them- and isn’t always peoples comes from them- and isn’t always accurate)accurate)

HerodotusHerodotus- Travelled around the - Travelled around the Mediterranean and wrote about many Mediterranean and wrote about many cultures (including Greece) recording the cultures (including Greece) recording the pastpast

ThucydidesThucydides- Wrote about a great war as it - Wrote about a great war as it was happening, recording the effect it had was happening, recording the effect it had on societyon society

Greek Theater- Why is it Greek Theater- Why is it important?important?

Theater began in religious Theater began in religious festivals (acting out myths) festivals (acting out myths) but grew into but grew into entertainment – all poleis entertainment – all poleis had a theaterhad a theater

New Idea: Greeks used it New Idea: Greeks used it to explore emotion. to explore emotion. Allowed people to Allowed people to experience feelings – experience feelings – CatharsisCatharsis

Theatrical festivals huge Theatrical festivals huge events (like Olympics) events (like Olympics) writers competed to have writers competed to have plays performed.plays performed.

All actors male- wore All actors male- wore masks to show character masks to show character and emotion and emotion (comedy/tragedy)(comedy/tragedy) Very Very little props/scenery etc…little props/scenery etc…

TheatersTheaters

TragediesTragedies

Sad ending. Sad ending. Common themes: People have a “flaw” Common themes: People have a “flaw”

that they cannot overcome. Man struggles that they cannot overcome. Man struggles against fate (tyche) and fails. Man is too against fate (tyche) and fails. Man is too full of pride (hubris) and is punished.full of pride (hubris) and is punished.Sophocles:Sophocles: “Electra”, “Antigone”, “Electra”, “Antigone”,

“Oedipus Rex” classic tragedies about “Oedipus Rex” classic tragedies about fate and bad choicesfate and bad choices

ComediesComedies

Happy ending (not always funny)Happy ending (not always funny) People have a conflict, but it works out in People have a conflict, but it works out in

the end. Often set in polis- and use real the end. Often set in polis- and use real people, issues and events to send a people, issues and events to send a message (satire)message (satire)Aristophanes:Aristophanes: “The Clouds” a satire of “The Clouds” a satire of

Plato's perfect polis.- there is no such Plato's perfect polis.- there is no such thing as perfectionthing as perfection

Lyric PoetryLyric Poetry

Poems of emotion Poems of emotion Greeks 1Greeks 1stst people in history to spend people in history to spend

much time writing about feelings- joy, much time writing about feelings- joy, love, friendship, loss, sorrow, etc…love, friendship, loss, sorrow, etc…

Poems show that Greeks encouraged Poems show that Greeks encouraged freedom of expressionfreedom of expressionSappho Sappho celebrated love: friendship, family, celebrated love: friendship, family,

romantic. Poems are open and honestromantic. Poems are open and honest