Ancient Greece Ancient Greece BackgroundBackground

Government and PoliticsGovernment and Politics

Greek City StatesGreek City States– Called a “polis”Called a “polis”– Athens and Sparta Athens and Sparta

the most powerfulthe most powerful– Lead to much Lead to much

violence and violence and warringwarring

The Good LifeThe Good Life

Philosophy, Education, Philosophy, Education, and Literature and Literature extremely importantextremely important

Philosophy derives Philosophy derives from Greek word from Greek word meaning “love of meaning “love of wisdom”wisdom”

Stressed learning Stressed learning about the world at about the world at large – great advances large – great advances in science, medicine, in science, medicine, art, philosophyart, philosophy

AcropolisAcropolis

ErechtheumErechtheum

SculptureSculpture

LiteratureLiterature

HomerHomer- One of the greatest Greek poets- One of the greatest Greek poets

-Wrote -Wrote The IlliadThe Illiad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey

-Celebrated the heroes of the Trojan War-Celebrated the heroes of the Trojan War

-Set the standard for the epic pattern-Set the standard for the epic pattern

-Created archetypes that hundreds of great -Created archetypes that hundreds of great writers – including Vergil, Dante, writers – including Vergil, Dante, Shakespeare, James Joyce – alluded to when Shakespeare, James Joyce – alluded to when in the need of a metaphorin the need of a metaphor

-One of our biggest sources of information on -One of our biggest sources of information on Greek ideals and mythologyGreek ideals and mythology

The EpicThe Epic

A long, narrative poem built around A long, narrative poem built around

a hero and his adventuresa hero and his adventures

Setting in a far away, vast and often Setting in a far away, vast and often unnatural landunnatural land

A hero struggles and is put up to a test of A hero struggles and is put up to a test of endurance to prove his endurance to prove his aretearete

Usually gods or supernatural beings take Usually gods or supernatural beings take part in the actionpart in the action

Follows a very specific story patternFollows a very specific story pattern

Epic StyleEpic Style

Tone is over the top and elevated and Tone is over the top and elevated and highly formal in languagehighly formal in language

Traditionally told in the oral tradition, which Traditionally told in the oral tradition, which means they were memorized and sung means they were memorized and sung along to musical accompaniment, usually a along to musical accompaniment, usually a harpharp

Used repetition again to stay in rhythm and Used repetition again to stay in rhythm and aid memoryaid memory

Repetition pleased audiences, like a song Repetition pleased audiences, like a song choruschorus

Epic StyleEpic Style

In Medias Res (in the middle of things)In Medias Res (in the middle of things)– Many major events have already taken place and Many major events have already taken place and

are later revealed in flashbacksare later revealed in flashbacks– Audiences were already familiar with the story, Audiences were already familiar with the story,

only needed to develop themeonly needed to develop theme The Invocation of the MuseThe Invocation of the Muse

– Muses are nine goddesses who were believed to Muses are nine goddesses who were believed to preside over the arts and sciencespreside over the arts and sciences

– Homer calls on the Muse to inspire him with the Homer calls on the Muse to inspire him with the material he needs to write the storymaterial he needs to write the story

Purpose of the EpicPurpose of the Epic

Conveyed information about the culture Conveyed information about the culture that created them, including their that created them, including their history, weapons, rules, fears, beliefshistory, weapons, rules, fears, beliefs

Used as text books: contained history, Used as text books: contained history, moral rules, values, and idealsmoral rules, values, and ideals

Epic hero represents the ideal man: by Epic hero represents the ideal man: by looking at his traits, we can see what looking at his traits, we can see what the people found important and what the people found important and what they valuedthey valued

The Epic Hero

The Epic Hero Embodies Specific Traits– Has superior or superhuman abilities (strength,

cunning, intelligence)– Is significant or glorified in culture – noble birth– Reflects the ideals of a particular society– Is charged with a quest– Receives help from others or new powers– Has a weakness or a flaw that gets him into

trouble (usually hubris – pride)– Ethical – does what is right for his people

The Legacy of the Epic

Epic Hero Cycle has been used in hundreds of tales and in nearly every culture

Archetype – universally understood symbol or character that has been copied over and over again so that audiences know what to expect

Archetype Examples

The Villain

The HeroThe Hero

The Wise Old ManThe Wise Old Man

The Damsel in DistressThe Damsel in Distress

Other ArchetypesOther Archetypes

The UnderdogThe Underdog The Trickster/FoolThe Trickster/Fool The WitchThe Witch The TemptressThe Temptress The Mother FigureThe Mother Figure The Father FigureThe Father Figure

Epic Example – The Lion King

Unusual Birth or Born of Noble Birth

Simba was born a prince

Charged with a Quest

Simba is told by Mufasa to avenge his death and save his kingdom.

****Only he knows the real truth and can battle Scar.

Travels to an Unknown World(Sometimes Symbolically)

Simba has to remain in Scar’s land and learns to fight the bad guys

Hero is Tested to Prove His Worthiness

Simba fights the hyenas, Nala, trains with Timon and Pumba

Magical or Helpful Companions

Reaches a Low Point – Hero is Nearly Defeated

A Resurrection

Simba overcomes and defeats Scar

Restitution – Hero regains rightful place or wins the prize

The StoryThe Story The Acheans (Homer’s word for the The Acheans (Homer’s word for the

Greeks), have been fighting a ten year Greeks), have been fighting a ten year war against Troy. On their way home, war against Troy. On their way home, Odysseus, the Greek hero, and his men Odysseus, the Greek hero, and his men anger the sea god Poseidon when they anger the sea god Poseidon when they blind his son, the giant Cyclops.blind his son, the giant Cyclops.

Poseidon does everything he can to Poseidon does everything he can to prevent Odysseus and his men from prevent Odysseus and his men from getting home. This takes him another ten getting home. This takes him another ten years.years.

The Story Cont. Meanwhile, while Odysseus was Meanwhile, while Odysseus was

gone, suitors are fighting to marry gone, suitors are fighting to marry his wife, Penelope, so that they may his wife, Penelope, so that they may become the king of Ithaca.become the king of Ithaca.

To avoid this, Penelope tells her To avoid this, Penelope tells her suitors that she will choose one as suitors that she will choose one as soon as she finishing weaving a soon as she finishing weaving a tapestry, but she undoes the work tapestry, but she undoes the work she does during the day every night.she does during the day every night.

SettingSetting

About 3,200 years agoAbout 3,200 years ago Written about 600 years after the Written about 600 years after the

actual Trojan War ended – is a actual Trojan War ended – is a mixture of fact, legend, and mythmixture of fact, legend, and myth

Outside Troy, a great walled city in Outside Troy, a great walled city in present day Turkeypresent day Turkey

Gods and Goddesses

Zeus (Jupiter) – King of the gods, god of the sky and of thunder

Aphrodite (Venus)

goddess of love, lust and beauty

Apollo (Apollo) Apollo (Apollo)

god of music, medicine, health and god of music, medicine, health and archeryarchery

Ares (Mars)Ares (Mars)

God of war, murder, and blood shedGod of war, murder, and blood shed

Athena (Minerva)Athena (Minerva) Goddess of wisdom, Goddess of wisdom,

warfare, strategy, warfare, strategy, handicrafts, reason – handicrafts, reason – wife to Zeuswife to Zeus

Demeter (Ceres)Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of Goddess of

fertility, fertility, agriculture, agriculture, grain, and grain, and harvestharvest

Dionysus (Bacchus)Dionysus (Bacchus)

God of wine, parties, and merrimentGod of wine, parties, and merriment

Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)

Goddess of the hunt and of all wild Goddess of the hunt and of all wild things, and the moonthings, and the moon

Hades (Pluto)Hades (Pluto)

God of the underworld and of wealthGod of the underworld and of wealth

Haphaestus (Vulcan)Haphaestus (Vulcan)

God of fire and the forge (makes God of fire and the forge (makes weapons and armor)weapons and armor)

Hera (Juno)Hera (Juno) Goddess of marriage, women, Goddess of marriage, women,

childbirthchildbirth

Hermes (Mercury)Hermes (Mercury)

God of flight, thieves, mischief, God of flight, thieves, mischief, commercecommerce

Hestia (Vesta)Hestia (Vesta)

Goddess of hearth and homeGoddess of hearth and home

Poseidon (Neptune)Poseidon (Neptune)

God of the sea and of earthquakesGod of the sea and of earthquakes