9. Classical Period I: Atheanian Culture and the Intellectual Revolution Flashcards
What was Atheanian leadership?
! Internal politics
! Status quo vs further ‘democratization’
! Cooperation vs competition with Sparta
! Themistocles (populist democrat, anti-Spartan)
! Ostracized c. 471 BCE
! Cimon (conservative aristocrat, pro-Spartan)
! Son of Miltiades
! Ostracized 461 BCE
! Pericles (Alcmaeonid clan)
! Led radical democratic party
! Strategos 461-429 BCE
What was the democratic government based on?
! Based on:
! Pay for public service
! Lottery for offices
! Direct participation
What does demokratica mean?
demos (the people) + kratos (power)
What some examples of democracy in action?
Effective participation ! Equality in voting ! Informed citizens ! Control of agenda ! Citizenship Law of 451 BCE ! Importance of public speaking ! Rhetor (pl. rhetores)
Why did the percilies building program begin?
Beginning 450 BCE
! Restore buildings destroyed by Persians
! Display Athenian power and cultural achieveme
Who was the Atheanian acropolis honoring?why was it built?what is a key feature?
Parthenon – to Athena ! Reused base of destroyed temple ! Convenience and cost ! Reminder of Greek power ! Extra tall platform for temple ! Chryselephantine statue of Athena ! Sculptor - Phidias ! Lots of decoration ! Glorify Athens and Athena
What did classical sculptures emphasis? What was it supposed to accomplish ?
Emphasis on Athenian hegemony ! Renewed sense of Panhellenism ! Technial innovation from late Archaic ! New interests in lifelike images ! Greek ideals shown through art
How did the greek structures look? (Colours)
False understanding of appearance of Greek world ! Pentelic marble in Athens = too bright ! Intentionally toned down ! Colour to emphasize details ! Blue and red, some golds, greens, etc.
Who was considered the greek intellectual?what were their views? What did they discuss?
Athens as center of arts and intellect
! Upper classes – time for learning
! Intellectual freedom
! Tolerance of religious views and debate
Who were Sophists?
What type of eduction is given here?How were they viewed
Informal education
! Quality and quantity by what you could pay
! Sophists
! Professional lecturers
! Teach skills of rhetoric (reasoning, argument, speaking)
! Explore questions of the world
! Nomos (law, custom) and phusis (nature)
! Challenge older beliefs and traditions
! Mixed view of sophists
Who is socrates? What did he think? Who inspires him?
c. 470-399 BCE ! No one clearly formulated philosophy ! Asked a lot of questions ! Socratic Method ! Social and moral critic of Athens ! Tried for “corrupting youth” ! Sentenced to death ! Inspired later key figures ! Plato ! Aristotle
When was Plato alive? What did he create? How did it work?
428/7-348/7 BCE ! Academy (c. 387-83 BCE) ! Academic club ! No set doctrine ! Plato and colleagues posed problems to be studied and solved ! Geometric laws, Pythagorean idealism
What was Socrates question about a just or unjust man?
Socrates
! Meaning of justice
! Who is happier? A just or unjust man?
Who would be the ideal king according to philosophers?
Ideal ruler = philosopher king ! Philosophers: ! Aim to determine the ideal polis ! Have no interest in power or ruling ! Have access to ‘ideas’ ! = can be trusted to rule well, morally and intellectually
Who was Aristotle? Where did he study? What did he do?
384-322 BCE ! Educated in Athens ! Studied at Academy ! 342 BCE – tutor to Alexander ! 335 BCE – founded Lyceum in Athens ! Ideas based in empirical evidence ! Theories to explain observations ! Did not see the perfection and order that Plato did
How was drama introduced?
Oral tradition and performance ! Entertainments at symposia ! Recitation in school ! Annual festivals ! City (Great) Dionysia = best documented
What kinds or plays were there? How many actors? Who else was involved?
Tragic or comedic playwright
! Three actor rule
! Masks
! Chorus
How was the winning play selected?
How many plays were included?
Compete with a tetralogy – trilogy (3 plays) and a satyr play ! Trilogy per day, last day for all 3 satyr plays ! Jury of ten – chosen by lot ! Vote ! Five votes read ! Luck ! Best: Chorus, Actor, Playwright ! Choregos = technical winner
Who were the 4 major playwrights? What were they? How many times did they win?
Aeschylus (c. 525/4-456/5 BCE) ! ’Father of Tragedy’ ! Plays reperformed after his death ! 7 out of c. 80 ! Sophocles (c. 497/6-406/5 BCE) ! First place on first try ! Never lower than second place ! 7 out of c. 200 ! Euripides (c. 480-406 BCE) ! First competed in 455 BCE ! No wins until 441 BCE ! Only won 5 times ! 19 out of c. 92 plays ! Too daring for Athenian audience? ! Aristophanes (c. 446-386 BCE) ! “Father of Comedy” ! Old Comedy/Aristophanic Comedy ! 11 out of 40
Talk about actors at this time.
5th c. BCE – semi-professional actors ! Increase in importance of competitions ! More professional opportunities ! Leading actors well respected ! International involvement ! Increased prestige c. 4th c. BCE ! Many perks
What are greek tragedy origins? What did they show?
Origins in choral odes ! Plots based on myth ! Oral traditions of epic ! Voice for contemporary life ! Mythic past as a metaphor
What was different about the satyr play? What type of humor did it used? Who is credited orginally? Setting?
! Comic writing by tragedian ! Limited info. on style ! Pratinas credited for origin (c. 534-500 BCE) ! Only complete example – Euripides’ Cyclops ! Chorus of satyrs ! Led by Silenus ! Burlesque, crude humour ! Rural setting
What did comedy’s discuss? Some examples
Last dramatic form to be officially recognized ! Accepted in City Dionysia 487/6 BCE ! All 5th c. BCE examples by Aristophanes ! = Old Comedy (Aristophanic Comedy) ! Highly topical ! Expect audience to get the references ! Contemporary satire ! E.g., Knights – Cleon ! Lysistrata – Peloponnesian War
Who would the audience consist of?
E.g., Theater of Dionysus, Athens ! 15,000-20,000 ! Attendance = right and privilege ! Seating regulations ! Prohedria = front rows ! Officials, dignitaries, festival jury ! Unruly comedy audience ! Rhabdouchoi (‘rod holders’)
