CLST 102 - Greek Civilization Final Exam Review PDF

CLST 102 Greek Civilization Final Exam Review Session TAs: Emily Croft, Tessy Waugh, Pungavi Linghan, Joshua Holmes A. Court Greek Literature The Greek Alphabet ○ 800-750 BCE development of Greek alphabet from Phoenician ○ 403 BCE: Official alphabet of Athens ado...

CLST 102 Greek Civilization Final Exam Review Session TAs: Emily Croft, Tessy Waugh, Pungavi Linghan, Joshua Holmes A. Court Greek Literature The Greek Alphabet ○ 800-750 BCE development of Greek alphabet from Phoenician ○ 403 BCE: Official alphabet of Athens adopted from Miletos Cup of Nestor, from Pithekoussai, c 725 BC - Early example of Greek text, joking reference to Nestor of the Iliad Books became more common in Classical period after hundreds of years of oral tradition Alexandria ○ During Hellenic Period, the rulers (Ptolemies) worked to make it the cultural centre of Greek world ○ Museum (centre of learning and research), Library held texts Scholars of Museum specialized in textual criticism, trying to establish the original texts of the works of Greek literature and produce 'standard editions' of works of ancient authors ○ The Museum with closely linked Library Papyri ○ Oxyrhynchus excavations in 19th century ○ Lyric Poetry: only short fragmentary passages. Sappho and Alkaios, both aristocrats of island of Lesbos produced lyric poetry Sappho is most famous female poet of ancient Greece (OG Lesbian) Epic Poetry After Homer: the Epic Cycle Epics: expansion on the Iliad and Odyssey by other authors Spectacular characters with supernatural powers and monsters Amazing events, making it very entertaining Monsters: used as a tool to conceptualize the various aspects of the human experience and explore these concepts ○ Ekhidna - mother of the monsters Philosophy was another way to reflect on the human experience Hydra Chimera  Thales!! ! Quiz Who thought the primary building block of the universe was water? Philosophy Philosophia : Philosophy, meaning ‘love of knowledge” Thales of Miletos (c.580 BCE) ○ Primary principle of matter: water ○ The divine: Nature as a complete, self-ordering system with no divine intervention. “All things are full of gods” based on the idea of water as original principle being present in everything and thus ‘divine’ Anaximander of Miletos ○ Primary principle: ‘Boundless’ (apeiron). It is infinite, indefinite and has no origin ○ Astronomy: Earth floating in space unsupported, celestial bodies describe full circles around the Earth (rings filled with fire, with holes we can see when it passes over) ○ Traditions says he drew a map of the world: way of measuring and explaining natural world Anaximenes of Miletos ○ Primary principle: Air All the elements are air at different stages of density Philosophy Starting in the late 6th and early 5th centuries, Xenophanes and Herakleitos went a step farther than the previous philosophers - trying to understand how human knowledge is produced and its limits Xenophanes of Kolophon ○ We can’t know anything about the gods with certainty, but imagining them in one's own image is childish. They are different and superior to humans Has an issue with Homer and Hesiod attributing immoral behaviour of man to the gods Can’t be certain about what you haven’t seen, so opinion is allotted to all ○ The divine being perfect would not need to change and thus would not move Herakleitos of Ephesos ○ No single element is the principle. Instead there are interchange of opposites that balance each other. Fire symbolises change Philosophy Herakleitos of Ephesos con’t Herakleitos of Ephesos con’t ○ Principle that regulates the cosmos is a rational Logos (‘word’) ○ Principle that regulates the cosmos is a rational Logos (‘word’) that can that can be understood with rational thinking and inquiry. Natural be understood with rational thinking and inquiry. Natural phenomenaphenomena = evidence of = evidence a larger of aorder rational larger rational order ○○ Evidence Evidence for rational for rational order = order opposing= opposing principles, principles, because of the because unity of the unity of opposites,ofthe opposites, constantlythe constantly changing naturechanging nature of the cosmos, andof theincosmos, strife the and strife human worldinandtheinhuman world and in the cosmos the cosmos Unity Unity of opposites: of opposites: means principles means principles exist in to exist in connection connection each to each other, and changeother, to becomeand opposites change to become opposites ○○“You“You cannotcannot step intostep into river the same the same twice’ river twice’ OneOne interpretation: The river interpretation: Theis always river ischanging always changing TheThe mostmost likely likely interpretation: the river both interpretation: the river flowsboth and is the and is the same flows same and in this it stays the same - it’s necessary that it flows for it to be a and in this it stays the same - it’s necessary that it flows for it to be stable thing a stable thing Philosophy Herakleitos of Ephesos con’t Herakleitos of Ephesos con’t ○ Principle that regulates the cosmos is a rational Logos (‘word’) ○ Principle that regulates the cosmos is a rational Logos (‘word’) that can that can be understood with rational thinking and inquiry. Natural be understood with rational thinking and inquiry. Natural phenomenaphenomena = evidence of = evidence a larger of aorder rational larger rational order ○○ Evidence Evidence for rational for rational order = order opposing= opposing principles, principles, because of the because unity of the unity of opposites,ofthe opposites, constantlythe constantly changing naturechanging nature of the cosmos, andof theincosmos, strife the and strife human worldinandtheinhuman world and in the cosmos the cosmos Unity Unity of opposites: of opposites: means principles means principles exist in to exist in connection connection each to each other, and changeother, to becomeand opposites change to become opposites ○○“You“You cannotcannot step intostep into river the same the same twice’ river twice’ OneOne interpretation: The river interpretation: Theis always river ischanging always changing TheThe mostmost likely likely interpretation: the river both interpretation: the river flowsboth and is the and is the same flows same and in this it stays the same - it’s necessary that it flows for it to be a and in this it stays the same - it’s necessary that it flows for it to be stable thing a stable thing Philosophy Parmenides of Eleia ○ Logic is only tool to know the world, observation is unreliable ○ ‘What Is’ Logic shows that ‘What Is’ is the only thing that exists and is complete and unchanging - ‘What Is Not’ cannot exist Interpretation: reality is a unity, meaning that change in reality is impossible, and the world as perceived by senses is unreal BUT if no change, there’s no movement or time Likely he meant there is one single and unchanging reality that can be understood with reason But he’s not denying that some things existed in one specific place and time which are things we know through our senses and they are multiple and changing. They represent an imperfect form of reality (not an illusion)  His Para doxes o Impossi n the bility of M otion!!! Quiz What was Zeno known for? Examples? Philosophy Zeno (associate of Parmenides) ○ Known for his paradoxes on impossibility of motion Paradox= contrary to popular belief ○ Achilles and the tortoise: if tortoise has a head start, Achilles will never catch up (logic dictates this is right, even though not realistic) ○ Arrow paradox: if time is a series of moments, in each of those moments the arrow isn’t actually moving, so arrow won’t move! ○ Purpose of his paradoxes= challenge the critics of Parmenides ○ New method of reasoning: if the argument of the critic is logical and the consequence is absurd the original assumption must be wrong  Philosophy Empedokles of Akragas ○ Everything produced by the mixing and separation of four elements and moved by the opposing forces of Strife and Love, which makes them separate and unite ○ The interaction of the forces is what makes a functioning cosmos. If one dominates another, the cosmos is destroyed. Phase of alteration between which force is more dominant Philosophy Demokritos of Abdera ○ Atomist theory: matter is made of invisible particles atomoi (sg. atomos) =indivisible ○ Atoms move and cluster and separate to for physical objects For them to move, there has to be void (space) Pythagoras of Samos ○ Earlier accounts have him as religious leader. Believed in reincarnation ○ Led a community who had to follow strict rules around moral and dietary restrictions ○ ‘Pythagoreans’ applied themselves to math, numbers among the first principles ○ LOVED math, divine numbers. (Pythagorean theorem) ○ (A Pythagorean tried to escape through a field- unfortunately it contained broad beans, and he did not make it.) Early Philosophy Open to personal inquiry, used to question common opinions and norms Use of logical reasoning to explain the natural world and the primary principle without supernatural causes None of the early philosophers are from mainland Greece (except for Demokritos, sort of) ○ All from port cities at sidelines of Greek society - means then have contact with other cultures and can experiment with different ideas of running societies  Gorgias !!! Quiz Which sophist spoke “pretty” emphatically about Peithos? Bonus: What does peithos translate to? -Πειθώ- Public Speaking Had to be a good public speaker to function in Athenian society, can turn it into an art Rhetoric (professional public speaking) ○ Maybe started in Syracuse because of the amount of public trials after the tyrants Teisias and Korax from Syracuse wrote textbook on art of speaking Sophists and debate on persuasion (Peithos) ○ Sophists trying to persuade people to their thought, whereas enemies of democracy want an expert to come up with a good plan and others follow it ○ Gorgias from Leontinoi ‘Praise of Helen’ about irresistible force of persuasion (Peithos), she had no choice  Hippoda mos!!! Quiz Who invented city-blocks? *Hint: He also designed Piraeus. Athenian Technical Manuals Sophokles: Tragedy Iktonos: building of the Parthenon Hippodamos of Miletos: town planning and civil engineering ○ Invented dividing city into blocks ○ Also wrote on the best form of constitution even though not involved in politics Polykleitos: symmetry of the human body (Canon) ○ Had statue of body called Canon and wrote book of same name explaining perfect human proportions Like the camera brand! The Study of Logic: Language and Meaning Sophists: looking at relationship between a word and its meaning and the problem of negative statements ○ Eg. Plato: “For the statement involves the bold assumption that non-being exists, for otherwise falsehood could not come into existence” Protagoras of Abdera ○ One of most famous sophists ○ Knowledge is relative to the knower (‘Man is the measure of all things’), with implications in the field of ethics (specifically moral relativism) ○ Cannot know anything about the gods Right and Wrong in Human Actions Nomos - custom, law, culture Phusis - nature People follow their nomos (not bad or good, just what it is) Not clear if Sophists were pushing for moral relativism (your morals changing based on your nomoi, and so aren’t necessarily bad, just different) ○ They definitely believed there needed to be a more positive definition of moral virtues ○ Sokrates influential in the debate Difficult to draw a reliable and coherent picture of Sokrates' view on Goodness (arete). However it is clear that he sought to find through dialogue with others precise definitions of moral virtues regardless of the circumstances The Beginnings of Historical Inquiry Purpose of history to understand similar events that are in the present and the future Historia = research, inquiry Logographoi = prose writes, compilers of genealogical, ethnographic and geographical material, also including mythical traditions ○ Most famous is Hekataios Description of Earth (in prose) Genealogies (in prose) - collecting heroic myths into pseudo-historical account  Herodot us!!! Quiz Who was dubbed “The Father of History?” Herodotus ‘Father of History’ “The Histories” Searching for the cause of events of recent past (eg. Persian wars), using inquiry and research to verify the accounts of the events ○ Includes possible false, distorted or conflicting accounts, but makes position clear ○ Divine intervention is accepted, but rarely considered the cause of events Very interested in human geography, and the customs of foreign people ○ Relativistic approach to cultural difference  Thucydides Wrote on the Peloponnesian War and summarised Greek history from the origin of civilizations Method: ○ Question evidence from past and select the most reliable ○ Interview as many witnesses as possible and compare their narratives ○ Don’t rely on personal opinion Believed his work to be an important tool because it can be used to understand the present and future Ex-General New Standards for Historians Focus on verifiable facts Pay attention to the chronology More focus on military and political history - not the favoured myths, customs and geography of the earlier logographoi Gods aren’t a factor - human actions caused events along with the unforeseeable tyche (fortune) Humans follow similar patterns of behaviour in similar circumstances ○ History becomes a resource for the future Athenian Festivals With Drama Competitions Great Dionysia ○ Tragedy, Satyr Play, Comedy, Dithyramb ○ Established in 6th century by Peisistratos ○ Supervised by arkhon eponymous, who would receive submissions and choose 3 tragic and 5 comic productions allocating each to a khoregos (like a sponsor) ○ Tragic Poets: submit 3 tragedies and a satyr play ○ Comic Poets: submit 1 comedy Rural Dionysia ○ Held in the demes Lenaia ○ Both comedy and tragedy Prizes ○ Would be judged by a panel of 10, one judge from each tribe ○ Dramatist would get a crown and prize money ○ Khoregos would be able to erect a monument Performances ‘Deus ex Machina’, meaning ‘god from the machine’: crane system used to lower in statues of the gods Sliding platform used to bring in and out characters that were not able to walk (such as dead bodies) Maximum of three actors (all male) who would have both masks and costumes The chorus commented on the events happening to the characters Music and Dance are integral parts of the performance, making it more similar to modern day opera  !!! o k les So ph Quiz Who wrote “Antigone”? *Bonus Point: How did Antigone break the law?  Tragedy Tragoidia : Tragedy. Comes from “song of goats” Originally Chorus of 12, then 15 Max of 3 actors playing all of the parts Mainly mythological themes Used to examine the human experience, great ethical issue and dilemmas of 5th century Athens. Aiskhylos (Aeschylus) ○ The Oresteia (Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, Eumenides), only surviving trilogy ○ The Persians, a tragedy on the Persian war Sophokles ○ Introduced the third actor ○ Oedipous Tyrannos and Antigone Euripides ○ Medeia The Oresteia Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter (Iphigenia) cause his wife to seek revenge, resulting in his death Orestes and Elektra avenge their father by killing their mother. Pursued by furies, then Orestes is tried in Athens by Athena on Areopagus (foundation myth) Ideas on justice: traditional (revenge) vs modern (court rulings) forbids blood retribution Antigone Antigone breaks the law to bury her brother who is seen as a traitor Similar to the Oresteia, looking at traditional family duties vs the civic community Oedipus Concepts of guilt, flaws and instabilities associated with the human experience Inevitability of fate Medeia Helps Jason on his quest with the golden fleece, and follows him back to Greece, but since she is a foreigner he abandons her to marry a local princess Takes revenge by murdering the children she had with Jason Satyr Play Three tragedies of the day would be performed, and then a Satyr play (to lighten the mood) ○ The Chorus was made up of satyrs Cyclops by Euripides is the only complete surviving example Had a happy ending and satyrs provided comic relief throughout the events explored on stage  Aristoph anes!!! Quiz Which playwright is prominently associated with Early Comedy? Comedy Komoidia = comedy. Means the song of the komos (the drunk group of people after symposium) City Dionysia: first comedy 486 BCE Lenaia: first comedy 445 BCE Old Comedy ○ Aristophanes ○ Structure: Prologue (entry of actors), Parodos (entry of chorus), Agon (debate), Parabasis (chorus gives advice), Episodes (scenes and sketches) and Exodos (exit) ○ Bizarre ‘great idea’ from a character to solve a problem, which has setbacks but is eventually successful. Elements of fantasy, absurdity ○ Obscene language, reference to contemporary politics, addressing the audience Middle Comedy ○ Practically unknown New Comedy ○ Menander, most important New Comedy poet - one of his works survives completely, Dyskolos, fragments of others ○ Chorus had no active role in the plot ○ Sit-com style: Comedy of Errors Greek Art Tekhne: word for art, but generally anything that requires skill, experience, and application Development of Athenian pottery ○ Protogeometric ○ Geometric ○ Black figure ○ Red figure Sculpture ○ Kouros - young man. Style is likely an Egyptian influence ○ Kore - young woman (Think Persephone!) The Parthenon Project ○ Pheidias as supervisor ○ Iktinos and Kallikrates as architects ○ Originally meant to be a temple dedicated to Athena ○ Location of the giant ivory and gold statue of Athena Promachos Efkharisto!!! Good luck tomorrow and have a great winter break!!!