Week 2 Session 1: Classical Literature PDF

Week 2 Session 1 Ayşegül Avcı Yaşar University 1119 Classical Literature Historical Background of Greek Mythology *Giulio Romano, The Assembly of Gods around Jupiter's Throne  Settled in Paleolithic Times (Before 70,000 BC) but information...

Week 2 Session 1 Ayşegül Avcı Yaşar University 1119 Classical Literature Historical Background of Greek Mythology *Giulio Romano, The Assembly of Gods around Jupiter's Throne  Settled in Paleolithic Times (Before 70,000 BC) but information from this period is hypothetical and tentative. Paleolithic and Evidence from Neolithic period (6000-3000 BC) is more abundant based on archeological findings Neolithic Settled agricultural communities Periods (Stone Neolithic inhabitants came from the east and north Religion was present Age) Female figurines → exaggerated sexuality (ex. Swollen belly, buttocks, and full breasts) might mean fertility Male figurines → less in number, some ithyphallic (visible sexuality) meaning? Knowledge on worship and ritual, role of male/female → limited and inconclusive  Bronze Age Migration from Asia Minor across the Aegean to the southern Peloponnesus and up into Greece Three regions: Greece (Hellas) Crete (Minoan civilization) The Islands (Cycladic) Bronze Age is divided into three major periods: Early Bronze Age Middle Bronze Age Late Bronze Age Different terminology for different period & geography: 3000-2000 BC Early Bronze Age Early Minoan Early Cycladic Early Helladic 2000-1600 BC Middle Bronze Age Middle Minoan Middle Cycladic Middle Helladic 1600-1100 BC Late Bronze Age Late Minoan Late Cycladic Late Helladic; also the Mycenaean Age Bronze Age cont. *Remains of the palace at *Reconstruction of Knossos Knossus Cnossus/Knossus was the capital of Minoa, a thalassocracy (sea power) Minoan and Minoan power extended over the islands of the Aegean and mainland Civilization of Greece No walls in Cnossus → confident in security due to ships and sea Minoan Civilization cont. Palace at Knossus → basis for the legend of labyrinth and the slaying of Minotaur by Theseus. Minos & Pesiphae → Androgenus (killed by Athenians) & Ariadne Pesiphae & snow-white bull (sent by Poseidon) → Minotaur Daedalus → architect of the labyrinth *Bull head from Minoa Theseus → Athenian Prince (son of Aegeus – Aegean Sea) *Minotaur bust in National Archeological Museum of Athens  *Dolphin Fresco from Knossus Minoan Civilization cont. Allies and subjects paid tribute *Marine style vase, Sophisticated art and Late Minoan → architecture, painting and artifacts → a highly *Minoan Snake goddess developed sense of religion, importance of bull in ritual, dominant role of a snake goddess, sacred signifigance. Worship to a fertility mother-goddess → central in Minoan religion. ← *Bull-leaping fresco from Knossus  Fall of Minoa & Atlantis 1400 BC (ca) → decrease of Minoan dominance. WHY? → Several theories: Mainland Greeks overthrew Knossus and usurp Minoan thalassocracy? Earthquake destroyed the island of Thera, today’s Santorini, led to Tsunami and Minoan civilization never recovered? Story of Atlantis (Real?) Part of Thera sank due to volcanic eruption and might lead to Atlantis Recorded by Plato in Critias and Timaeus, ca. 330 BC Technologically advanced, yet morally fallen empire Desired world hegemony and invasion vs. old Athenians, opposed on high moral grounds Contemporary literature → utopic, peaceful, a great island culture vanished into the sea Conflict between Atlantis (Minoa) and Attica (Athens) for control of the sea Earthquake and flood caused disappearance of Atlantis *Map of Atlantis by Athanasius Kircher, from Mundus Subrerraneus, 1669. Map is oriented with south at the top.  The Word “Greece/Greek” (modern) vs. “Hellas” (ancient) Hellas → Hellen (legendary figure, father of Greek people, when?) (ex. Philhellen, Hellenic) The Middle Bronze Age / Middle Helladic Period (2000-1600 BC) began on the mainland of Greece with the northern Mycenaean and (possibly!) eastern invasion called Indo Europeans Indo Europeans → First to spoke Greek language, created (Helladic) Age the Mycenaean civilization, climaxed in the Late Helladic Period (1600-1100 BC) Interaction with Minoans → after the volcanic eruption, Greeks dominated over Crete. Similarity in paintings, palaces, pottery *Lion Gate The Mycenaean (Helladic) Age cont. Archeological findings: In parallel to Homeric epithet “rich in gold” Cyclopean walls (enormous size indicates construction by Cyclopes) → surround palace and aristocratic homes. Claim: No human being ever settled on these lands! Entrance to city → lions / lionesses might indicate religious significance or symbol of the royal family Dominated over the mainland and the islands, including Crete → became a naval force! (trade → money → cultural influence) * Cyclopean walls The Mycenaean (Helladic) Age cont. Shaft graves → treasure of golden masks placed in the faces of corpses, exquisite jewelry, decorated weapons Tholos tombs → belief in afterlife, typical Mycenaean, built like huge beehives into the sides of the hills below the palace complex * Mask of Agamemnon  Clay tablets found on the mainland Baked hard in the conflagrations that destroyed Mycenaean fortresses Religion and Linear B Tablets Discovered in 1952 by Michael Ventris and deciphered with John Chadwick Religion → Sky god (like Zeus) and similar to Homer’s Olympians Names in tablets: Zeus and Hera (listed as pair), Poseidon, Hermes, Athena, Artemis, Dionysus… Frequent use of word potnia (mistress or lady) → theory: Mycenaeans worshipped fertility/mother deity similar to Minonans and might merge with Olympians. Gods receive offerings (animals, olive oil, wheat, wine, honey) suggesting ritual sacrifice and ceremonial banquets  End of the Mycenaean Age and Homer Around the beginning of the 10th century BC → beginning of the troublesome period of transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Age of Iron WHY? → Theories but no certainty! Internal conflict? Dorian invasion from north and east? Invasion of the “sea peoples” (Egyptian inscription in the 12th cen. BC)? Dark Ages (ca. 1100- ca. 800 BC) Homer’s (?)(the “blind poet!”) Iliad and Odyssey in 8th cen. BC → Kept alive by oral tradition by earlier generations and transmitted by bards End of the Dark Ages Who is Homer? From Asia Minor (Smyrna) or one of the islands? Anatolian or Greek poet? (Iliad and Odyssey seem to have Greek perspective and first written in Greek language) Semi-legendary figure!! (was he a real person/poet?)(one or multiple?) *Homer, British Museum  Did Trojan War really happen? Let’s watch: 1. TedEx, Did ancient Troy really exist? - Einav Zamir Dembin 2. Britannica, Discover the truth about the Trojan War and the city of Troy 3. USC School of Cinematic Arts, RESEARCH: Rebuilding the Ancient City of Troy *Achilleus dragging Hector’s body, by Franz Matsch Historical Timeline Socrates Plato Aristotle Trojan War? Greek Dark Ages (ca. 1100 – ca. 800 BC) Classical Age / Mycenaean/Helladic Golden Age WHY? Age (ca. 1600 – ca. Archaic Period (ca. (ca. 500 – ca. Roman Not a lot of records 1100 BC) 800 – ca. 500 BC) 300 BC) Empire about this period 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 Philip of Homer Macedonia Illiad, Odysses Alphabet borrowed from Alexander the Great Phonecia Oracle of Delphi (prophecy) Olympic Games Archaic Age Composed of independent cities (polis) over Greek mainland, islands, Crete, western Anatolia BUT The cultural, industrial, technological influence spread over Europe via trade and a form of colonization! Rise of Athens (existence of aristocracy, democracy and diplomacy) and Sparta (military camp, prevention of any uprising) Battles between Greeks and Persians (Heredotus, the First Historian) *wikicommons Ex. Spartans!  Golden Age of Athens *wikicommons *Parthenon Treasure kept in Telos Founded a maritime union (tax, treasure, centrality) Parthenon (central Bank) Peace with other city states BUT Athens’ success led to rivalry in other cities, ex. Spartans 413 BC → Peloponnesian War attack on Athens Macedonian Kingdom * Aristotle, Museo Nazionale Romano, Italy Distant relatives to Greeks and regarded as semi-barbarians by the Greeks Peloponnesian War weakened the Greek cities Aristotle went to Macedonia to tutor King Philip’s son, Alexander *Philip II, Copenhagen, wikicommons  After the death of Philip II, Alexander began to rule and fought against Persians, defeated Darius Never turned back and led to the creation of Hellenistic culture (combination of Greek) and eastern cultures (of Persia, India, Asia) After premature death of Alexander, his empire began to crumble *Mosaic, Pompei, wikicommons *Dairus *Alexander Alexander the Great *wikicommons