greek literacy Flashcards
author of the Illiad and the Odyssey said to have been blind.
The Illiad: epic poem and 24 poems long that tells the story of the Wraith of Achilles during the Trojan war
The Odyssey: epic poem that tells the return of Odysseus to his home Ithaca.
HOMER
the other master of early Greek epic poetry besides Homer, lived c 700 B.C. and wrote the Theogony, Works and Days
Theogony: a poem that tells about the birth of the gods
Works and Days: poem written to Perses; talks about farming mentions the five ages of man (Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron) and mentions Prometheus and Pandora.
HESIOD
author of well-known fables, slave from Egypt or Thrace, lived on Samos.
Aesop
poet born in the late-seventh century from Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, conflicted with tyrant Pittacus, went to Egypt then reconciled with Pittacus and returned home. His work survives only in fragments. He wrote lyrical songs about a variety of topics, such as politics, love, and hymns to the gods. Like Archilocus, threw down his shield and ran from a battle,
Alacaeus
lyric poet who lived in Sparta in the late seventh century. He was mainly known for parthenia, which are songs sung by a chorus of maidens at religious festivals.
Aleman
lyric poet of the early sixth century, born in Teos, an Ionian Greek city, moved to the tyrant, Polycrates’ court on Samos. After Polycrates’ fall, he moved to Athens. He wrote in Ionian Greek, in lyric, iambic, and elegiac poetry. These are about love and the pleasures of life.
Anacreon
Pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus, lived c 610-545, first Greek known to have written a book in prose. This book, concerning nature, is lost. He is said to have constructed the first map of the Earth
Anaximander
Pre-Socratic philosopher From Miletus, younger contemporary of Anaximander (therefore he lived in the mid-sixth century). He believed that the primary substance was air, but his writings are lost to us
Anaximenes
poet from Paros, lived in the mid-seventh century. He also wrote a poem in which he leaves behind his shield in battle, a great dishonor, in order to survive. He was the first to use the term iambic for the meter of some of his poems
Archilochus
largely legendary lyric poet of the seventh century, said to have been born on Lesbos, and to have been a pupil of Alcman. He later lived at the court of Periander in Corinth. According to legend, while on the way back from a visit to Italy, he was thrown overboard by pirates, but a dolphin, charmed by his singing, carried him to land. He is credited with inventing the dithyramb, a form of choral lyric poetry.
Arion
lyric poet from Ceos, lived in the late sixth and early to middle fifth centuries; the nephew of the poet Simonides. He wrote odes for victors at games, in a similar style to Pindar (sometimes the two wrote about the same games, such as the Olympian games of 476 and Pythians of 470), and wrote hymns and other songs. He was considered by Aristotle to be a forerunner to tragedy.
Bacchylides
Pre-Socratic philosopher of the fifth century, who believed that the universe consists of four elements: air, fire, water, and earth. He is said to have composed two poems, On Nature, and Purifications
Empedocles
philosopher from Ephesus who wrote On Nature, and said that the primary element is fire. He was later known as the ‘Weeping philosopher’.
Heracleitus
author of the History of the Persian Wars, which is 9 books long; he was born in Asia Minor. His history contains earlier events and a large amount of cultural information.
Herodotus
According to legend he was attacked by robbers while a flock of cranes was passing overhead. Before the robbers killed him, he exclaimed, “Those cranes will avenge me.” Afterwards, one of the robbers was in a crowded theater, and seeing a flock of cranes overhead, said, “There go the avengers of Ibycus.” His comment was overheard and the robbers were brought to justice.
Ibycus
