The Classical Past: Greece Why do we remember the glory that was Greece? This resource illustrates and investigates the countless ways that the art, literature, language, and traditions of ancient Greece have inspired and guided the development of Western culture. Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12 Collection: Ancient Art Culture/Region: Greece Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts Activity Type: Art in Depth The Classical Past: Greece can be paired with The Classical Past: Rome to help students compare and contrast the two civilizations. These resources were developed with parallel themes: Greece Rome Who were the Greeks? Who were the Romans? A Celebration of Ideas Public Life an Portraiture Life in Ancient Greece Life in Ancient Rome Gods, Goddesses and Homer Gods, Temples, & Deities The First Plays Literature, Comedy & Spectacle The Hellenistic World The Roman Empire & Beyond WHO WERE THE ANCIENT GREEKS? Linked by Language Being Greek wasn’t determined by borders. Greek colonies dotted the Mediterranean from Syracuse to Asia Minor and from Thrace to North Africa. Nor did Greeks citizens belong to a single political state—Greece was made up of fiercely independent city-states and loosely connected colonies. Language was what set them apart. To be Greek meant to speak Greek. Greek mythology and legends often recall the cultures of the late Bronze Age (1600-1100 BC) such as that of the Mycenaeans, whose warriors inspired the stories about the Trojan War. The people now known as the ancient Greeks emerged following a dark age of cultural decline that ended about 900 BC, just as the brilliant Hellenic civilization began to develop. Over the next eight centuries, the Greeks created a legacy that has inspired Western culture throughout the following millennia. We do not imitate but are models for others. (Perikles) Greek art, like Greek literature, political thought, science, and philosophy, lies at the heart of the western tradition. Though the Greeks freely drew from other cultures, they have provided models that many others have followed for much of the past 2500 years. CENTERS OF GREEK CULTURE Although there were eventually over 1,000 Greek city-states, a few rose to prominence and became centers of Greek culture. Sparta Sparta, a city-state governed by an oligarchy (rule by a few), dominated the valley of the Eurotas River in the Peloponnese (an area in the peninsula of Southern Greece just below Corinth) after about 600 BC. Although their society was stern and militaristic, Spartans also produced widely-admired lyric poetry and lovely pottery, such as this aryballos (small container) from the 6th century BC. Aryballos (Oil Bottle), Greek (Spartan, also called Laconian), 6th century BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 80.170 Athens Named for the goddess Athena, Athens was the birthplace of democracy. Athena, adorned with olive leaves, appears on the front) of this Athenian coin (470–450 BC). An owl, associated with Athena’s wisdom, appears on its back. Corinth Strategically placed on the narrow isthmus that connects the Peloponnese with the rest of Greece, Corinth built a wealthy, far-reaching shipping network. Its exports included beautiful Corinthian pottery such as this aryballos. Aryballos, Greek (Protocorinthian), mid-7th century BC, terracotta, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 60.22 Thebes According to mythology a Phoenician named Cadmus founded Thebes, the major city of Boeotia in central Greece, by planting dragon’s teeth in the ground. This Theban coin from the early 4th century BC depicts a type of shield known as a Boeotian shield, named for the region. Coin (Stater), Greek (Thebes), early 4th century BC, metal alloy, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 63.13.5 A CELEBRATION OF IDEAS Greek city-states varied greatly in their essential character, their forms of government, and even in the dialect of Greek that they spoke. Many different aspects of Western culture, from architectural styles to scientific concepts, grew out of this mix of ideas and customs. One of the most important threads in this rich heritage was the emphasis given to human achievements. Greeks, particularly in Athens, celebrated the concept of the individual and the importance of freedom. The symposium, a drinking party that included poetry and music, provided an excellent forum for exploring these new ideas and artistic creations. Surviving guest lists of symposia include the names of politicians and poets, soldiers and scoundrels—as well as the three great philosophers of ancient Greece: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The scene that appears around the top of this rhyton (drinking vessel) shows men enjoying a symposium (see detail below). Red-figured Ram’s Head Rhyton (Drinking Cup), Greek (Attic), attributed to attributed Triptolemos (Painter), attributed to Charinos, Greek (Potter), ca. 480 BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 79.100 During a symposium, wine was mixed with water in vessels called kraters. This krater shows Eos, the rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn, pursuing the hero Cephalos. Red-Figured Kalyx-Krater (Mixing Bowl), Greek (Attic), Attributed to the Nikias Painter, 5th century BC, terracotta, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 81.70 Each participant at the symposium drank from his own cup, like this kylix that features eyes and a nose on the outside (at right) and the head of the gorgon (snake-headed monster) Medusa surrounded by concentric circles on the inside (image below). When drinking from this cup, it would appear as though the drinker was wearing a mask. Black-figured Eye-Cup (Kylix), Greek (Attic), signed by the Potter Nikosthenes, 6th century BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 62.1.11 Both the eyes and gorgoneia (images of gorgons) were thought to ward off evil (detail of cup interior). Black-figured Eye-Cup (Kylix), Greek (Attic), signed by the Potter Nikosthenes, 6th century BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 62.1.11 LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE Trade The rocky soil and mountainous terrain of mainland Greece made farming difficult, so many Greeks relied on trade and the sea. They made beautiful pottery and became master shipbuilders and traders, sailing the Mediterranean and exchanging olives, olive oil, wine, and pottery for grain and other commodities. This amphora shows two young men carrying an amphora, a large terracotta storage vessel used for transporting wine and olive oil. Black-figured Amphora, Greek (Attic), attributed to the Painter of the Hypobibazon Class, ca. 500 BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 62.1.5 Dress Greeks dressed in simple clothing, like the chitons worn by the women on this Red-figured Pelike (ceramic container). A cloak, such as chlamys or a himation, could be added for warmth. Red-figured Pelike, Greek (Attic), attributed to Eucharides Painter, ca. 480 BC, terracotta, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, 62.1.13 Athletics Greek athletic competitions celebrated the human form, the quest for excellence, and readiness for warfare. From the time of the first Olympic Games (776 BC), which were held in honor of Zeus, Greek male citizens competed in footraces. Later, discus throwing, wrestling, boxing, and chariot racing, like the race shown on this lekythos (narrow ceramic container), were added to the games. Black-Figure Lekythos, Greek (Attic), ca. 510-500 BC, terracotta, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 60.21 Athletes applied perfumed oils, poured from small containers called aryballoi (the plural form of aryballos), to their bodies and then cleaned off dirt and sweat by scraping their skin with an instrument called a strigil. Warfare Conflicts between Greek city-states were frequent and fought by citizens who served as soldiers. Greek forces also turned back two massive Persian invasions in 490 BC and 480 BC. This bronze helmet dates from the era of the Peloponnesian War, a terrible internal conflict between Athens and Sparta that disrupted the entire Greek world from 431 to 404 BC. This South Italian variant of a Corinthian helmet was surmounted by crests of horsehair or feathers attached to the three bronze prongs projecting from Apulo-Corinthian Helmet, Greek (Southern the top. The Corinthian helmet was popular Italian), 5th century BC, Bronze, Arthur and throughout the Greek world because it was easily Margaret Glasgow Fund, 2004.3 made from a single sheet of hammered bronze and hid almost the entire face of its wearer, presenting the enemy with a frightening sight. GODS, GODDESSES & HOMER In addition to language, ancient Greeks shared a polytheistic religion (belief in many gods) and a cultural heritage expressed first through oral poetry and later through literature. Religious observances were made daily at household altars and local temples. Here, on the left, Apollo, son of Zeus and god of music and poetry, pours an offering of wine onto a low altar. His twin sister Artemis, goddess of the hunt, appears on the other side of the vessel, shown at right. Homeric Epics Much of our knowledge of Greek religion comes from ancient poems and epic cycles, such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. These oral compositions, which became standardized in form around the 8th century BC, have served as the foundation for Western literature. Although the Iliad tells the story of only the last days of the Trojan War, Greeks knew the entire story from other poems and stories. A scene on this amphora (left) shows Hermes leading Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to the famous beauty contest known as the “Judgment of Paris.” Each goddess offered a bribe to Paris, the Trojan prince. Aphrodite won by offering him Helen, the most beautiful woman on Earth. Unfortunately, Helen was already married to the King of Sparta. When Paris claimed his prize and sailed for Troy, ships full of Greek warriors followed.