The Culture of Ancient Greece

Greek Mythology • Main Idea: The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses controlled nature and shaped their lives. – Myth = traditional stories about gods and heroes • Expressed Greeks’ religious beliefs

• Gods and goddesses controlled nature.

• The Greeks had gods and goddess for everything. They controlled the natural and human world • The 14 main gods are a family that live on Mt. Olympus. They are human-like: they look human and act human, but they are powerful gods

The Olympians • Zeus - was the most powerful of the gods. Should he have to bring order, he would hurl a thunderbolt. Zeus shared his powers and ruled with other great gods.

• Hera - was the wife of Zeus, and thus, the Queen. Hera was the goddess of marriage, children, and the home - Poseidon - was very powerful. He could raise his hand and a new island would appear! The Greeks were terrified of Poseidon. All the Greeks, but especially those who lived in coastal towns, brought special gifts to the temple for Poseidon, to keep him happy.

• Hades - was NOT the lord of death. His job was to run the Underworld, where you go when you die. He was a good ruler. Parts of the Underworld were very nice, like the Elysian Fields, where heroes dwelled after they died. Parts were not so nice. Those were for people who were not so nice during their lifetime. His pet was the three headed dog Cerberus Ares – was the god of war and the son of Zeus and Hera. He tall and handsome but cruel and vain. Ares could not bear to suffer pain. Hermes - was Zeus' son and the messenger of the gods. Hermes was noted for his pranks as well as for his speed

Dionysus – God of Wine and fun things, like parties

Apollo - Nearly everyone was fond of Apollo. He was the god of music, reason, and light. All the people of ancient Greece brought gifts to Apollo, and asked for advice in exchange. Artemis - was the daughter of Zeus and was Apollo's twin sister. Artemis was very different from her brother. Artemis was cold and pitiless. The only thing she loved besides her family were her floppy-eared dogs. Artemis was the goddess of the hunt.

Demeter – Goddess of the Harvest and things that grow

Athena - was born directly out of Zeus' brain. She did not have a mother. Zeus loved all his children, but if he had to pick a favorite, it would probably have been Athena, the goddess of wisdom. She was the patron god of Athens

Hestia - was an important goddess, but not very famous. She was the goddess of hearth and home. Every day, when the ancient Greek women gathered in the central courtyard of their homes, to do their sewing and cooking, they knew that Hestia was keeping watch over them.

Hephaestus – is the God of fire, the forge, and volcanoes. He was the son of Hera and Zeus, and husband to Aphrodite. He is the only Olympian who limps. Some say he was born with a limp. Others say Zeus, in a fit of temper, flung him off Mount Olympus when he was just a baby.

Aphrodite - Some say her parents were unknown, and that she was born of sea foam. Others, like the poet Homer, say she was a daughter of Zeus. She was the goddess of love and beauty. She was an essential element of many Greek myths. Aphrodite could be kind or merciless.

Olympics • • • •

Held every 4 years In honor of Zeus Only Greek men could participate NOTHING interfered with the games, not even war

Track for races

Temple of Zeus Wrestling

Sanctuaries - A place of religious importance and that is sacred to the gods. • Greeks believed people had a fate or destiny, meaning they believed certain events would happen no matter what. • Believed in prophecy (predictions about the future) • To find out about the future, visited an oracle, which was a person who spoke for a god/goddess. • Most famous oracle was at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Greek Poetry and Fables • Main Idea: Greek poetry and fables taught Greek values. – Epics – earliest Greek stories that were long poems about heroes

• First great epics of Greece = Iliad and the Odyssey – Written by the poet Homer – Both epics based on stories from the war between Greece and the city of Troy

• Homer’s stories taught courage and honor and the importance of being loyal to your friends. • Also to value the relationship between husband and wife.

Aesop • A Greek slave who made up famous fables which are short tales that teach lessons and end with morals.

Greek Drama • Main Idea: Greek drama still shapes entertainment today. • Drama – story told by actors who pretend to be characters in a story – Examples today – movies, plays and TV shows

• Greeks held rituals & drama festivals in hope that the gods would grant good fortune to them.

• Performed as part of Greeks’ religious festivals • Two kinds of drama – tragedy and comedy

• Tragedy – person struggles to overcome difficulties, but fails. Story usually ends sadly • Aeschylus – first to introduce having two actors with conversations between two people. Also had, costumes, props and stage decorations. • Sophocles – used three actors and painted scenery • Euripides – Took Greek drama beyond heroes and gods and used real-life situations. Showed war as cruel and women and children as victims.

• Comedy – story ends happily – Aristophanes (“Aristo-funnies”)– made fun of leading politicians and scholars. Encouraged the audience to think as well as laugh.

Greek Art and Architecture • Main Idea: Greek art and architecture expressed Greek ideas of beauty and harmony. – Wanted people to see reason, moderation, balance and harmony in their work and hoped their art would inspire people.

• Most important architecture was the temples dedicated to the gods or goddesses. – Best known temple – Parthenon in honor of Athena

• Greek buildings were supported by large columns – Three different styles of columns:

• Today the same columns are used in churches and government buildings, as well as schools.

• Sculpture – used to express Greek ideas. – Favorite subject for sculpture was the human body. – Tried to show their ideal version of perfection and beauty.