Greece - CH 2 Flashcards
Humanism
human action, intellect, achievement, Art focuses on the action of human beings, Aesthetics: symmetry, Protagoras said “Man is the measure of all things”, Individual defines reality, sophists (wise ones)=teachers, skeptics
Democracy
derives from greek word which people (demos) hold power (kratos), Athenian citizens held the authority to make laws and approve state policy. Highly exclusive to vote: landowning males over 18
Homer’s Iliad
written by homer, last days of the Trojan War. Hero Achilles refuses to join the battle against troy with Achaean comrades. So Achilles friend Patroclus routes the tojans but he was killed by hector (leader of Trojan forces) then Achilles goes to war. He kills hector and srips him and drags his nude body before the walls of troy. Priam (hectors father-king of troy) says he must have a proper burial and makes achilles realize he lost his humanity.
Odyssey
written by Homer, tells of the many adventures of the hero Odysseus. Homer wrote the poem in the 8th century BC. Odysseus began his journey after the end of the Trojan War. He and his men had been fighting for 10 years. With the end of the war they could finally head home. They set out for their home of Ithaca. However, Zeus was angry with the Greeks and a huge storm pushed Odysseus and his men off course. They had many adventures while trying to find their way home. After twenty years, Odysseus finally returned home. He disguised himself at first. There were many men at his house trying to convince his wife Penelope to marry them. They were sure that Odysseus was dead. Odysseus wife had set up a contest. Any man that could shoot an arrow through 12 axe heads would win her hand in marriage. Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, was the only one to make the shot. He then killed all of the men and revealed himself to his wife.
Orkesis, Skenos
Orkesis (orchestra)
Skenos (scene, costumes), Wore character masks for male only.
Aeschylus
Greek tradegey writer, Oldest living western tragedy, Trilogy of Orestes: history of the family of Agamemnon (led the greeks to troy) and murdered at the hands of his wife upon his return from tory is avenged by their son, orestes. guild led to furies because he kissed his mother. Protagonist is justice. Introduced a second character & gave chorus principle role, Dialogue, Sonorous (deep/impose) language
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
written by Sophocles. Tiresias, a blind prophet tells Oedipus’ parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta that their son will one day kill his dad and marry his mom. Laius orders the death of Oedipus.Horrified, Laius ordered that his baby son should be exposed in the woods with a pin through his feet to keep him from crawling away. And a shepherd did this. But the baby was rescued and taken to the king and queen of Corinth, who wanted a son and couldn’t have one, and he adopted him. The queen of Corinth called the baby Oedipus, which means swollen foot, on account of the pin through his feet. But she didn’t tell Oedipus that he was adopted. When Oedipus grew up, he also listened to the oracle at Delphi, and the oracle told him that he would kill his father and marry his mother. He was horrified, and ran away from Corinth that night, trying to escape his fate. He bumps into King Laius on the road. A fight ensues, and Oedipus kills the king (not realizing that, a) he was a king, and, b) he was Oedipus’ father). Oedipus travels to Thebes. In order to get into the city, he must solve a riddle (or he’ll die). What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening? (man). He solves the riddle, and becomes the king of Thebes, then marries the newly widowed Queen, Jocasta (his mother). When Oedipus answered the riddle correctly, the Sphinx was so upset that she killed herself. Oedipus went on into Thebes. When he got there, the Thebans were very upset because somebody had killed their king, Laius. But they were happy to hear that Oedipus had figured out the riddle of the Sphinx. So they made Oedipus their new king. As part of becoming the new king, Oedipus married the queen, Jocasta. Many years went by. Oedipus and Jocasta had four children, two boys and two girls, and they got old. One day a plague came to Thebes. All over Thebes, people were dying of the plague. King Oedipus sent a messenger to the oracle at Delphi to find out why the gods had sent this terrible plague. The oracle told the messenger that Thebes had a bad man in it, and they had to find him and get rid of him or the plague would go on killing people. Oedipus, is the bad man, because he has killed his father (the man at the crossroads) and married his mother, just as the oracle said he would. When he finds out that even though he tried hard to escape his fate it has found him anyway, he is very upset. He pokes out his own eyes with a stick. When Jocasta hears the news, she hangs herself until she is dead. Finally, Oedipus leaves Thebes with his children, so that the gods will take the plague away, and wanders off toward Athens. = story applies patricide, murder, incest, suicide
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata
Greek comedy writer, Irony, satire, Lysistrata: military conflict between Athens and Sparta, the leading character (wife of an Athenian solder) launches a “strike” that will deprive all husbands of sexual satisfaction until they agree to refrain from war. (all women decide to have no sex until they agree to stop war) pelapanesian war
Sappho
*Shorter poetry accompanied by song
*Lived on the greek island of lesbos
*Expressed love for her female friends.
Archaic vs. Classical vs. Hellenistic
1st style, Vase painting, 2 dimensional, red figure technique: style of Greek vase painting that was invented in Athens drawn red figures and a painted black background, Naturalism: Egyptians portrayed people facing front even though their face is showing the side, Greece was more realistic. Scenes from mythology, literature, everyday life
2nd style, Increased naturalism, Dynamism (illusion of movement, alive), Idealization: what you believe is perfect
3rd style, Emotionally charged, Expressionistic, Communicated human condition
Kouros + Koré
Kouros = male youth
Koré = women
Doric order, Ionic order, Corinthian order
Parthenon
Temple dedicated to Athena
Lapith Overcoming a Centaur
Riace Warrior
Poseidon (Zeus?)
Arm length are exaggerated, concept of idealization (what makes it look better), imposing idea of perfection.
Myron’s Discobolus
Aphrodite of Milos
Venus de Milo, Hellenistic Style, marble, Louvre, Paris, Left arm: held apple (rep. temptation) Right arm: holding her toga
Laocoön and His Two Sons
Vatican, Rome, Laocoon (Trojan priest of Apollo) & two sons succumb to strangling attack of sea serpents sent by gods friendly to the Greek to punish laocoon for his effort to warn the Trojans of the Greek ruse (wooden horse filled w/ Achaean soldiers that would destroy troy, bringing an end to the Trojan war)
Diogenes and Cynicism
virtue is the only way to live a phylisoplical life, simple life, rejection of wealth
