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