Introduction to Ancient Greece

Geography of Greece

Greece is a small country in the south-east of Europe.

Near the Mediterranean Sea

The main part of Greece is on a peninsula

The rest of Greece is made up of islands

Troy

Athens

Sparta

Mt. Olympus

Crete

Macedon

Mycenae

Geography of Greece (cont.)

Cut off by mountains and the seas and isolated Led to the

formation of city-states

Limited interaction and unity of Ancient Greece

Created fierce rivalries and fighting

Greek City-States Polis: Greek city-state ruled in its own way

Differences in laws, government, and money All city-states shared the same language and

religion Most important ones: Athens & Sparta

One Culture Language: All Greeks used the same language and

alphabet History: Homer’s poems (Iliad and Odyssey) explained

their common origin and the achievements of their ancestors.

Religion: Greeks also worshipped the same gods. Greeks were polytheistic (believed in many gods).

Who the heck is Homer?

We actually know nothing for sure Greek Poet Greek Identity! Credited with Iliad and Odyssey

Looked back to the glorious age, connected past with stories of heroes and gods

Unified the values of courage and honor

Inspired the first Olympic Games

THE HOMERIC POEMS Oral creation of the

Homeric poems, Iliad and Odyssey (800-725). Written work (725-675).

“Epos” = poetic utterance = ‘epic.’

A rhapsode accompanying himself on the lyre sings traditional tales of heroes

Repetition for memory as well as meter and effect

SIX VALUES OF THE HEROIC WORLD

1. Afterlife (timé)

2. Glory (kleos)

3. Shame (aischros)

4. Fate (moira)

5. Pride (hubris)

6. Excellence/virtue (aretê)

Afterlife/honor (timé)

The Greek word for honor can also mean “price” or “value”

The best soldiers would receive the largest share or portion of the spoils of war

The more gifts the hero gains, the more honor he has

Ex: An Olympic athlete with the most medals has the most honor.

Glory (kleos) Occurs mostly after death When poets can sing of a hero’s immortal

deeds Glory lives on forever in the stories that

poets singEx: After Tupac’s death, his legend lives on.

Shame (aischros) Disgrace; the opposite of glory A shameful act is not necessarily immoral

or wrong but “ugly” When heroes commit disgraceful acts, they

feel the loss of face that comes from looking ugly in front of public opinion

Fate (moira) Comes to everyone Your ‘portion’ or ‘lot’ or ‘due’ in life Death for all, or the will of Zeus or another

god or goddess

Pride (hubris) Extreme pride or arrogance An overconfidence of one’s own skills,

abilities, or accomplishments Great heroes run this risk Ex: Odysseus in “Cyclops”

Excellence/virtue (aretê)

Great heroes also display particular excellence

This great quality often reveals a weak side as well

Ex: Odysseus is clever; Achilles is the best warrior

GREEK PHILOSOPHY “Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental

problems concerning subjects such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.”

Begins in WONDERMENT. In questioning. In activity… Reason, not faith, not authority! Asking the fundamental questions about this life of

space/time: “Why am I here?” “Who am I?” “How do I live life?” “What is Truth?”

Socrates asks, instead, “How far will reason take us? Can we ever truly know anything?”

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates