Chapter 2 Flashcards
What are creation stories?
Reflect an understanding of how the world works. Sets ethical, social, and religious patterns for society. Explains reasoning behind existence, suffering, and order
What are Homer and Hesoid shorthands for?
Poets using Hexamic metre (verse with 6 main accents), that contain formulaic elements-reccurrent character descriptions and recurring building blocks.
What did Hesoid’s Theogony influence in Greeks?
Formed the backbone of how Greeks thought about Gods (not the absolute authority), but was not considered sacred
Which civilization was present during the Late Bronze age?
Mycanae
What are some features of the Mycenae settlement?
Complex social and economic networks, armies, slavery. Most important bronze age settlement in Greece. Fortified settlement that was home of the King (Wanax). Also functioned as a site for sacred ceremonies and administration
What was found on the tablets that were discovered by archaeologists?
Linear B script (Early form of Greek). Administrative docs, production and distribution of Goods, names of some Gods
How was society stratified in Mycenae?
Farmers and herders paid taxes. Devoting your life to the King allowed for a new life. Army was lead by the “Leader of the People”
How did slavery work in the Mycenae?
Unfree labour, weren’t granted the same rights as free people.
When did Bronze age settlements disappear and why?
1200 BCE. Due to either natural disaster, invasion, or migration.
What is a feature of the Iron Age?
More isolated communities. Hesoid’s Works and Days was composed at the end of this period (Before 750 BCE)
What were some features of the region of Ascra in the Iron age?
Multiple authorieis in each area. Lost central authorities. Wealthy landowners who can gather people have to fend for themselves in small populations. Constant bickering.
Why did Hesoid have a pessimistic view of his society?
Because the Kings decided disputes not based on merit, but based on the gifts they’d received (kings are gift eating)
What happened during the Archaic period (750-490 BCE)?
Resurgence of culture, population growth, technology, and government. Towns developed into robust communities. Kings gained power through competition, set up a more individual based government
What are tyrants?
One ruler who ruled over a territory with the consent of a large group of lower SES people.
What was the name of the collective identity that the Greeks developed?
Demos
What happened in Olympia?
First Olympic games. Gathering of all Greek speaking people, performances about the Gods were done.
What is characteristic of Panhellenism?
All Greeks uniting in Greek event. Sense of ethnic identity, colonisation intesified. Sense of identity was maintained by sanctuaries and festivals. Oral performances of Homer and Hesiod developed shared understanding of Gods and Goddesses. Gradual homogenization of belief and worship
When did the alternative creation stories come about?
Mostly from the Archaic and early Classical
What did Thales identify to be the origin of the universe and what did Helophitus identify?
Thales: Water
Helophitus: Fire
What are the Orphic stories?
Tales attributed to the fictional character Orpheus. Included Gods not found in Hesoid such as Phanes, Protogonus, Chronus, Zeus and Earth.
What are the Hymns in Hesoid’s Theogony?
Songs in praise of the Muses which provide inspiration to poets. He also has a hymn to Hecate which presents her as protective.
Why is it important that Hecate be a protective Goddess in Hesoid?
Because the Divine are unreliable. Gods can choose to be truthful or to lie. Hecate moderates the pessimism towards the GOds and helps men obtain food and success
