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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

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The Culture of Ancient Greece

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  1. The Culture of Ancient Greece Coach McCrotty

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

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