Lecture Notes on Ancient Greece by Professor Paul Christen
Social Norms and Nudity
Public Nudity: Ancient Greeks did not walk around naked all the time.
Socially acceptable to be nude mainly when working out in a gym (Greek word: gim naaz means "the nude place").
Fit bodies symbolized moral character.
Accuracy of the Movie "300"
General Accuracy: The film is based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller; while embellishments exist, some elements reflect historical accuracy.
Persian Ambassador's request for earth and water and Spartans' reaction was real.
Spartan boys were indeed sent into the wilderness to terrorize the helots they enslaved.
The film glorifies Spartans without addressing the oppression of the helots.
Alexander the Great
Early Life: Fought in major battles from age 16; had been wounded many times by age 32.
Death: Died from malaria after heavy drinking; lifestyle choices contributed to his early demise.
Statue of Athena
Statue Description: A gigantic bronze statue of Athena (Athena Promachos) existed on the Acropolis around 440 BCE.
The Acropolis housed major religious sanctuaries.
Greek temples were often brightly painted, contrary to modern belief that they were all pure white.
Greek Sexual Norms
Marriage and Relationships: Greeks were predominantly married, but extramarital relationships were common.
Same-sex relationships were socially accepted, especially between older men and younger boys.
Poetry by Sappho reflects same-sex relationships among women.
Homer and His Works
Importance of Homer: Homer, a prominent Greek poet around 700 BCE, wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
The Iliad addresses themes of mortality and purpose in life.
The Odyssey explores the journey of a hero returning home from war.
Library of Alexandria
Significance: The Library was part of the cultural center established by Greeks in Alexandria, Egypt; thought to be destroyed over time rather than in a single event.
Contained valuable works that contributed to knowledge.
Funerary Customs
Coin in the Mouth: A coin was placed in the mouths of the deceased to pay the ferryman for crossing the river into the underworld.
Philosophers of Ancient Greece
Diogenes and Aristotle: Diogenes is noted for his radical simplicity; Aristotle's wide-ranging studies included ethics and politics.
Athenian Democracy
Electoral System: Athenian democracy involved a lottery system for selecting leaders.
Direct democracy allowed citizens to participate in legislative decisions, but excluded women, slaves, and immigrants.
Large juries (minimum 501 members) were used for fair judgment.
Ancient Olympics
Events: The Olympics included limited events like running, horse racing, and the pentathlon.
Winners were crowned with branches from sacred olive trees.
The games served as a major cultural and religious festival.
Greek Inventions
Alphabet: The Greek alphabet, including vowels, was derived from the Phoenician alphabet, greatly improving literacy.
Entertainment in Ancient Greece
Theater: Tragedies and comedies were performed during festivals; plays were significant cultural events.
Famous playwrights included Sophocles and Aristophanes.
Greek Religion
Polytheism: Greeks worshipped many gods, with Zeus as a primary figure; heroes were also integral to their religion.
Early Greek Civilizations
Arrival and Development: Greeks settled in their homeland around 2200 BCE during the Bronze Age, leading to the emergence of democracy by around 500 BCE.
Greek Empire
Geographical Distribution: Greeks established communities across the Mediterranean but never unified under a single empire.
Golden Age of Athens
Time Frame: The golden age of Athens spanned from around 480 to 300 BCE, marked by advances in democracy, arts, and philosophy.
Diet of Ancient Greeks
Food Sources: Basic diet consisted of olives, grapes (wine), and grains (barley or wheat); limited meat consumption.
Understanding of Astronomy
Scientific Inquiry: Some ancient Greeks calculated the earth's circumference, showing advanced understanding of astronomy.
Ostracism
Political Tool: Athenian practice where citizens could vote to exile someone for 10 years to maintain stability.
Greek Columns
Architectural Styles: Three main types of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, which influenced modern architecture.