The Culture of Ancient Greece

The Culture of Ancient Greece Coach McCrotty

Greek Mythology • Myths—are traditional stories about gods and heroes • Expressed the Greek’s religious beliefs • Believed gods and goddesses affected people’s lives and shaped events • Built impressive buildings to impress the gods as their religious temples

Greek Gods and Goddesses • Greeks believed they controlled nature. • Zeus—controlled the sky and threw lightning bolts • Demeter—made the crops grow • Poseidon—ruler of the sea and earthquakes

Greek Gods and Goddesses • Mount Olympus—highest mountain in Greece and where the 12 most important gods lived • Zeus—chief god • Athena—goddess of wisdom and craft • Apollo—god of sun and poetry • Ares—god of war • Aphrodite—goddess of love • Poseidon—god of the sea and earthquakes

Greeks Gods and Goddesses • Gods had special powers • Looked like human beings and acted like them • Greeks sought the favor of the gods • Rituals—a set of actions carried out in a fixed way • Prayer • Gifts • festivals

Greek Oracles • Prophecy—a prediction about the future. • Greeks believed that gods gave prophecies to warn them about the future in time to change it • Oracle—a sacred shrine where a priest or priestess spoke for a god or goddess

Greek Oracles • Delphi—Temple of Apollo was the most famous oracle. • Greeks would send messengers and a priestess would answer the questions • A priest would translate them

Greek Poetry and Fables • Poetry and Fables are the oldest in the Western world • Epics—long poems told about heroic deeds. • Homer—wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey during the 700 B.C.’s

Illiad • Prince of Troy kidnaps the wife of the king of Sparta • Greeks attack Sparta • Battle lasted for 10 years • Trojan Horse

Odyssey • Story of Odysseus • Describes the journey home from the Trojan War • Battles witches, storms, and giants and took Odysseus 10 years to get home

Who was Aseop • Aesop—Greek slave in circa 550 B.C. • Wrote famous fables • The Tortoise and the Hare • Sour Grapes • A wolf in Sheep’s Clothing • Fable—short tale that teaches a lesson • Point out human flaws as well as strengths • Animals talk like people • Ends with a message or a moral

Greek Drama • Drama—is a story told by actors who pretend to be characters in the story • Tragedy—a person who struggles to overcome difficulties but fails and as a result, has an unhappy end • Comedy—a story filled with humor and has a happy ending.

Greek Stories • Dealt with 3 big questions: • What is the nature of good and evil? • What rights should people have? • What role do gods play in our lives? • Four best know writers • Aeschylus • Sophocles • Euripides • Aristophanes

Greek Writers • Sophocles—is a dramatist who used painted scenery and three actors to tell a story • Euripides—dramatist who questioned traditional thinking about war • Aristophanes—wrote plays that poked fun at politicians and encouraged the audience to think

Greek Art and Architecture • Greeks wanted to inspire people to base their lives on reason, moderation, balance, and harmony • Made pottery • Architecture—is the art of designing and building structures. • The most important architecture was the temple dedicated to the god or goddess • Best known example is Parthenton

Greek Art and Architecture • Large columns supported many Greek buildings • First carved from wood • Then marble • Columns are common features of churches and government buildings • The White House and Capitol were modeled after the Greeks • Temples were decorated with sculptures

The Culture of Ancient Greece