The big Greek No-No’s

1. The big Greek No-No’s What Sophocles and Antigone Have to Teach

2. Greek Religion Gods humans Gods were all-powerful and were frequently involved in life on Earth. Humans were to do the will of the gods and not to ask questions!

3. Greek Drama & Religion • The Greeks believed that drama was intended for instruction as well as entertainment. • Through plays, Greek audiences were to learn traditional Greek values and beliefs. • They were also to be schooled in what could happen to one if he or she decided to disobey or disregard the rules of Greek society.

4. Big Greek Belief #1 • Because the Greeks were polytheistic, they had different gods/goddesses assigned to different aspects of the Earth and human life. • These gods/goddesses not only had supernatural power, they also had human emotions. • What could possibly go wrong when supernatural beings also experienced emotions like jealousy, envy, greed, love, passion, or hate? • This belief leads to the Big Greek No-No #1.

5. Big Greek No-No #1 • DO NOT HACK OFF THE BEINGS THAT HAVE THE POWER TO ZAP YOU!

6. Big Greek Belief #2 • Greek people were taught that their lives were ruled by FATE (meaning the gods had already decided what was going to happen to them prior to their birth). • Because it was the GODS who decided a mortal’s fate, then one must be satisfied with the fate one got. • No one was to attempt to change his or her fate.

7. Big Greek No-No #2 • IF ONE TRIES TO CHANGE ONE’S FATE, HE/SHE IS SPITTING IN THE GODS’ FACES AND WILL RISK BEING ZAPPED!

8. Big Greek Belief #3 • With the idea of fate, comes the concept of HUBRIS. • In Greek, “hubris” means “excessive pride”. • One of the worst flaws a human could have was hubris because it challenged the authority of the gods.

9. Big Greek No-No #3 • IF THE GODS GOT THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE’S PRIDE WAS EQUAL TO THAT OF THEIRS, THAT GREEK WOULD BE ZAPPED AND SHOWN HOW LITTLE HE OR SHE HAD TO BE PRIDEFUL ABOUT!

10. Big Greek Belief #4 • Family was very important to Greek society. • Societal structure was often based on “Who’s your daddy?” • Greek children were taught to respect and obey their parents in light of respecting and obeying the gods. • Because of the expected closeness of Greek family, conflict was expected to be handled peacefully, never with violence.

11. Big Greek No-No #4 • ANYONE WHO SHED THE BLOOD OF A KINSMAN RISKED BEING VISITED BY THE FURIES AND ZAPPED.

12. Big Greek Belief #5 • Along with the idea that families were very important while they were alive, they were also important when they died. • The Greeks had a burial ritual that included the covering over of dirt and the sprinkling of wine. • If a Greek wasn’t buried properly , then the soul couldn’t go to the Underworld. It would roam about for all eternity caught between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

13. Big Greek No-No #5 • DO NOT LEAVE THE DEAD UNBURIED OR WITHOUT THE PROPER BURIAL CEREMONIES. • THE GODS WOULD SEE THIS AS DISOBEDIENCE AND WOULD ZAP YOU!

14. Big Greek Belief #6 • The laws of the gods always rule over the laws made by man. • If there was an issue where the gods’ law said one thing and the civil law (the law of man) said another, then the Greek was to choose to do as the gods decreed.

15. Big Greek No-No #6 • DO NOT CHOOSE TO OBEY MAN’S LAWS; THE LAW OF THE GODS IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. • IF ONE CHOOSES TO OBEY MAN INSTEAD, ONE WOULD RISK BEING. . . WELL, YOU KNOW.