Introduction

Question 1

What is the Definition of Classical?

Answer 1

• From Latin classicus

- Belonging to the first class of citizens.

Question 2

“Classical Age” of Greece

Answer 2

• Myth of the Athenian Golden Age (5th C)
• Athens, the whole city is a school for Greece (good role model)
• Golden age picked up again by Pliny the Ender (ranked artists)
• Roman general made public statements about Greek art
• Romans respected Greek culture

Question 3

Is there a Classical Greece without Polis?

Answer 3

Greeks that lived in Polis were civilized, others weren’t

Question 4

Ethnos

Answer 4

• Territory without a central government,
• Settlement and formal political union, but the inhabitants felt connected and part of a larger unit because of their relationships (common cults and customs)
• Within the ethnos there can contain poleis (small)

*To Greeks the city is the centre of order and civilization

Without Polis - Cyclopes, uncivilized

Question 5

The Sacred City

Answer 5

• Frequently called ‘sacred’ in literature because its founding and construction are considered sacred acts inspired or guided by the divine powers
• Place that makes possible and protect orderly and civilized human life, which belongs to the domain of the gods.
• The gods are frequently involved in the foundation of cities and the human founders attain a heroic status.
• The destruction of a city is an exceptional and extreme act, that is contrary to the natural order of things.
• Example, the walls of Troy were built by Poseidon
• So living in cities makes people civilized

Question 6

Polis

Answer 6

Several meanings:
Stronghold, fortress, sometimes Akropolis

Settlement, town (in Homer)

City State

City + Territory

Question 7

City vs. Polis

Answer 7

Poleis are not made of stone: city and polis
Ancient criteria to tell a polis from any other human settlement:

Political institution (counsel, assembly, etc.)

Foundation myth (founding hero, traditions, stories about the city, etc.)

Other cultural features

-Homer talks about division and organization of the polis space

Question 8

Greek Polis

Answer 8

Asty - urban space (religious, political functions)

Chora - countryside

Question 9

Ideology of Polis (Values and Ideas)

Answer 9

Koinon - community

Meson - shared place, for decision making

Nomos - system of rules that protects the community

Politeia - group of citizens

Polites - citizens who “owns” a share of the polis (land)

Question 10

Polis and direct participation

Answer 10

Assembly
Council
Community
Nomos (laws)

Question 11

Polis and Architecture

Answer 11

Public buildings (assembly places)

City wall (symbolic role)

Private buildings

Religious buildings (were the most impressive)