Ancient Ancient GreeceGreece

Warriors , Athletes, Warriors , Athletes,

& Scholars& Scholars

Greek City StatesGreek City States

AAthens: Center of intellect, thens: Center of intellect, democracy, arts, freedomdemocracy, arts, freedom

OOlympia: Sanctuary to worship the lympia: Sanctuary to worship the gods, site of the ancient Olympic gods, site of the ancient Olympic games games

SSparta: Center of military strength, parta: Center of military strength, strategy, simplicitystrategy, simplicity

Map of Ancient GreeceMap of Ancient Greece

Sparta Sparta Ideology of existence centered on the Ideology of existence centered on the

state:state:

Individual lived & died for the stateIndividual lived & died for the state

““Chosen” soldiers served from ages 7-60 Chosen” soldiers served from ages 7-60

Soldier’s life focused on: simplicity, Soldier’s life focused on: simplicity, discipline, self denial discipline, self denial

Women were given much individual Women were given much individual freedom & were educated in a similar freedom & were educated in a similar manner to men. manner to men.

AthensAthensNamed for Athena: goddess Named for Athena: goddess

of wisdom & knowledgeof wisdom & knowledge

Developed a democratic government Great appreciation for the arts, architecture,

literature, philosophy, intellect (Mathematics, biology, physics, astrology)

Reproduction of Ancient Athens, about 120 AD

The Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, was the religious shrine and high fortress for the Athenian people. Its walls were built on a layer of limestone rock overlooking the city. Within these walls, the people of Athens built temples and buildings, the most famous, of which, being the Parthenon.

Important Philosophers of Important Philosophers of AthensAthens

Socrates: Set the standard for all western philosophy

Known for critical reasoning

Open discussions that questioned every day life & the “big questions.” Plato: Student of Socrates, Plato passed on

philosophical dialogues & focused on the natural world and how it works. *Allegory of the Cave & Republic

Aristotle: Student at Plato’s institute. More interested in Science than Plato & Socrates. Believed in “order out of chaos” – give order to the natural world. (Classified plants & animals)

SophoclesSophocles FamilyFamily

From distinguished Athenian familyFrom distinguished Athenian family Father = Sophillus – wealth from slave-manufactured Father = Sophillus – wealth from slave-manufactured

weaponryweaponry Boyhood EducationBoyhood Education

the usual poetry & gymnasticsthe usual poetry & gymnastics Social ProminenceSocial Prominence

military general/admiral, saw no battle himselfmilitary general/admiral, saw no battle himself president of treasury boardpresident of treasury board member of government advisory boardmember of government advisory board reputation for sanity and diplomacyreputation for sanity and diplomacy

Sophocles Cont’d.Sophocles Cont’d. Success in TragedySuccess in Tragedy

468 B.C. (28 yrs. old) won Dionysia Competition 468 B.C. (28 yrs. old) won Dionysia Competition Devoted life to theatreDevoted life to theatre

PopularityPopularity Conventional ReligionConventional Religion

Certain order in the universe, enforced by fate & godsCertain order in the universe, enforced by fate & gods One must take responsibility for one’s lifeOne must take responsibility for one’s life

PersonalityPersonality Loved AthensLoved Athens Wit, Charm, Wisdom, stability, common senseWit, Charm, Wisdom, stability, common sense

Theatrical Devices & ContributionsTheatrical Devices & Contributions mechane/deus ex machina “god from machine” [dayus ex makina—phonetically mechane/deus ex machina “god from machine” [dayus ex makina—phonetically

]] increased # of chorus from 12 to 15increased # of chorus from 12 to 15 added 3rd separate individual character, more complex plotsadded 3rd separate individual character, more complex plots

Works of Literature: Works of Literature: 123 plays in 63 years of writing; 7 survive today123 plays in 63 years of writing; 7 survive today

Died 1-2 years before his beloved city fell to Spartans (405 or 406 B.CDied 1-2 years before his beloved city fell to Spartans (405 or 406 B.C.) .)

Greek Theater Terms to Greek Theater Terms to Know: Know:

Great DionysiaGreat Dionysia:: City DionysiaCity Dionysia: annual spring festival in honor of Dionysus, when : annual spring festival in honor of Dionysus, when dramatic competitions were held among three poets selected by the city dramatic competitions were held among three poets selected by the city

Theater of DionysusTheater of Dionysus: : performance site of drama in Athens on the performance site of drama in Athens on the south slope of the acropolis (see below); part of shrine to this godsouth slope of the acropolis (see below); part of shrine to this god

ChorusChorus: : group of 12-15 men who sing and dance during the plays. They group of 12-15 men who sing and dance during the plays. They often represent the collective community, but not necessarily the poet's often represent the collective community, but not necessarily the poet's thoughtsthoughts..

skênê:skênê: pronounced "skaynay"; building or tent at back of acting area; pronounced "skaynay"; building or tent at back of acting area; often painted for sceneryoften painted for scenery

orchestra:orchestra: the dancing area; chorus occupies this spacethe dancing area; chorus occupies this space

mêchanê:mêchanê: pronounced “makena”- crane used to lift actors above the pronounced “makena”- crane used to lift actors above the acting area; usually actors are playing gods here, hence the phrase deus ex acting area; usually actors are playing gods here, hence the phrase deus ex machinamachina

The theater of Dionysus, under the south side of the Acropolis. It was here that every year Aeschylus, Sophokles, Euripides, Aristophanes,played their plays during the festival of Dionysus, given by the city.

The Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, was

OedipusOedipus What you need to know before What you need to know before

reading: reading: Tragedy:Tragedy:

a favorite among ancient Greeksa favorite among ancient Greeks At the heart of all tragedies existed the main character’s hubris (pride).At the heart of all tragedies existed the main character’s hubris (pride).

Dramatic Irony: Dramatic Irony: Contrast between what the character believes to be true in his/her Contrast between what the character believes to be true in his/her

situation –and- what the audience knows to be true as the story situation –and- what the audience knows to be true as the story unfolds. unfolds.

Oracle at Delphi:Oracle at Delphi: DelphiDelphi = City in Greece considered by ancient Greeks to be the center = City in Greece considered by ancient Greeks to be the center

of the world. of the world. A shrine/temple for Apollo existed at Delphi…A shrine/temple for Apollo existed at Delphi…

OracleOracle = prophesy = prophesy At the temple for Apollo in the city of Delphi, a priestess of Apollo sat At the temple for Apollo in the city of Delphi, a priestess of Apollo sat

on the shrine and when asked a question, mumbled an answer = her on the shrine and when asked a question, mumbled an answer = her oracle. Her words were thought to be prophetic (from Apollo) and oracle. Her words were thought to be prophetic (from Apollo) and often were hard to understand and open to interpretation.often were hard to understand and open to interpretation.

Oracle of Oracle of DelphiDelphi

The two most important concepts that all ancient Greeks subscribed The two most important concepts that all ancient Greeks subscribed is found inscribed on the Shrine at Delphi:is found inscribed on the Shrine at Delphi:

““Know ThyselfKnow Thyself””

““Nothing in Excess” Nothing in Excess”

Dating back to 1400 BC, the Oracle of Delphi was the most important shrine in all Greece, and in theory all Greeks respected its independence. Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was considered to be the omphalos - the

center (literal navel) of the world.People came from all over Greece and beyond to have their questions about

the future answered by the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo. And her answers, usually mysterious, could determine the course of everything from

when a farmer planted his seeds to when an empire declared war.

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Two images of Oedipus solving the riddle of the sphinx as portrayed on classic Greek vases.

Statue of a sphinx