Unit 3 Buzzwords
Temple of Nike
"Nike" = victory - Athenian temple honoring the Persian War victory at the Battle of Marathon - has Ionic columns
Philosopher Kings
- Children who believe in virtue & Plato's ideals of a perfect polis, as outlined in The Republic - Plato believed that only highly trained people with unusual character could rule the polis effectively
Ptolemy
- Former governor of a region under Alexander the Great -> Egyptian monarch by 305 BCE (Ptolemaic Kingdom) - Encouraged Hellenization of Egypt
Seleucus
- Founded the Seleucid Kingdom: Made himself emperor of the Persian Empire region after Alexander's death - his descendants are known as the Seleucids
Overview of Alexander's kingdom after his death
- It collapsed very quickly - "To the strongest" -> his former generals fought with each other for control - Split into 3 separate kingdoms: Ptolemaic, Seleucid, & Antigonid
Seleucid Kingdom
- Most of the former Persian Empire (but didn't include India post-303 BCE) - encouraged Hellenization in the east + encouraged Greeks to colonize the region - slowly broke apart into multiple kingdoms. Eg: By 2nd c. BCE it was a fraction of its original size
Ptolemaic Kingdom
- Ruled Egypt until Rome took over in 30 BCE - Made Egypt as "Greek as Athens" - Alexandria = capital of Egypt - impt Greek cultural hub that was famous for monuments (Lighthouse (Pharos, 20 mi away, used reflectors), Museum ("Temple of muses," first government-founded Western research institute, pre-universities), & library (700,000 books by 1 c. BCE, librarians = scholars, fire burned many of the books) - Where Cleopatra comes from
Syllogism
- Scheme of logic/mode of reasoning invented by Aristotle. Eg: "If A yields B & B yields C, then A by itself yields C"
The Apology
- The speech that Socrates gives when he is put on trial for corrupting the young - Socrates said that it'd be be an apology, but not once in the speech does he actually apologize. Instead, he is very confrontational &, as ar result, is sentenced to death - If he had apologized for some of his actions (however minor)/"sucked up" a little bit, then he would have gotten away free of charge, but he refused to do this - His friends encouraged him to flee Athens b/c usually the Athenians didn't actually chase sentenced people who ran away from Athens - Killed himself instead because he refused to compromise with the polis (he refused to stop questioning people, but he also couldn't live outside of Athens)
Aetolian League
- made up of Central Greece poleis - governed by an assembly + council
Achaean League
- made up of Northern Peloponnesus poleis - governed by an assembly + council
Theory of Forms Or Ideas
- philosophic - believes virtue & objects only exist in perfect forms - physical reality vs. realm of ideas (chair vs. the idea of a chair, distinguishes between concepts and reality)
New Optimistic Spirit of Inquiry
- the Classical Period gave way to the New Optimistic Spirit of Inquiry in Greece (see Myron The Discus Thrower statue) during the Hellenistic Age - philosophy was that the human mind can uncover hidden truths - decreased emphasis on religion & increased emphasis on science (more "What can be learned?") - Eg: statues b/c hellenistic period shows more realism
Greece after Alexander's death
- tried to regain its independence by forming mutual defense leagues (Achaean & Aetolian) - these leagues were limited in their power/use because Sparta & Athens didn't join - Earliest examples of federalism because 1 polis was no longer dominating the league
Main art periods in Greek art
1) Archaic Age (700-500 BCE) 2) Classical Age (500-338 BCE) 3) Hellenistic Age (338-146 BCE)
What were Alexander's main accomplishments & what is he remembered for?
1. Great military leader 2. Extended Greek knowledge of the known world (trade routes + journeyed to India) 3. Promoted East-West contact & sensitivity (culturally & intellectually) 4. Cultural unification (esp. w/ Persia) 5. Broader vision for unification (founded at least 20 eastern cities)
(Battle of) Gaugemela
331 BCE - Alexander the Great's army defeated Darius III's army - fought in the heart of the Persian Empire - 40,000 Persians were killed - Darius III was murdered by his own angry officers - in winning this battle, Alexander the Great achieved his father's dream of conquering Persia
(Battle of) Issus
333 BCE in Syria Persian King Darius III led the Persian army, but was soundly defeated by Alexander the Great's army Darius III was almost captured
(Battle of) Granicus River
334 BCE Persians had no answer to the Greek phalanx & lost badly w/ tons of casulaties
Alexander the Great general campaign timeline
338 BCE - Battle of Chaeronea 337 BCE (Hellnestic Age) - League of Corinth Established by Philip II 336 BCE - Philip II assassinated (on eve of Persian campaign) 333 BCE - Battle of Issus 331 BCE - Battle of Gaugamela
Battle of Chaeronea*NB
338 BCE. When Philip II's Macedonian army soundly defeats Athens + Thebes' combined army (the Macedonians took advantage of Greece's exhaustion from fighting for roughly 200yrs) -> all of Greece falls under Macedonian control -> marks the end of the Classical Age
Battle of Leuctra
371 BCE: Thebes defeats Spartans because the Thebans outnumbered the Spartans. Erodes the Spartan Mystique because the Spartans used to be invincible (even if didn't win battle, at least psychologically won -> not anymore). Shows that Greece has entered into a new time period.
Aristotle
384-322 BCE - Plato's student who attended The Academy for 20 years - famous philosopher of logic & classifier of information - logic innovator: Invented the syllogism - information classifier: wrote Politics (a book that examined the constitutions of over 150 poleis) - Alexander the Great's tutor - Opened the Lyceum (a school in Athens) - A Peripatetic philosopher --- He walked/strolled around the room while he taught
Period of Conflict post Pel. War
404-338 BCE was a period of continuous battles in the region (no peace). Key "players": Athens, Sparta, Thebes (& Persia) due to cultural issues: 1) drive for hegemony & 2) very competitive Key battles: Battle of Leuctra (371) & Battle of Chaeronea (338 - marked the end fo this period)
Plato
427-347 BCE - Socrates's student - Tells us about Socrates - We don't actually have anything left from Socrates - Created the Theory of Forms or Ideas - Wrote The Republic, which outlined his ideal polis - Founded The Academy
Socrates
469-399 BCE - A philosopher who only studied humans & human affairs + ethics & self-understanding/self-knowledge (really sought self-knowledge*NB) - did not study cosmology, while most others did - did not study rhetoric, as the Sophists did, because he was not a Sophist!!! - The slogan at Delphi's door reads: "Know thyself" - Socrates - Didn't pretend to possess any wisdom. In fact, he thought that he knew nothing despite the fact that Delphi designated him as "the wisest" - Never provided answers, only asked people questions until they saw inconsistencies in their own views - Swore by the following phrase: "The unexamined life is not worth living" - Used the method of cross-examination through questioning, which is now known as the Socratic Method - in 399 BCE, he was charged with corrupting the young because, acc. to the accusations, he was 1. a sophist, 2. dangerous, and 3. anti-democratic because he thought that being conscious was more important than the law - went to trial - we have the speech, "The Apology," that he gave at trial
Euripedes
484-406 BCE. The most popular of the 3 tragic playwrights (we have 19 survivng Euripedes plays out of the 100s that he wrote). Wrote "The Media" & often wrote about passionate people who commit rash acts
Sophists
5th c. BCE - Socrates was NOT one, but was accused of being one - Increased emphasis on rhetoric (speech & debate) -> schools run by Sophists (teachers of wisdom) were opened to teach rhetoric for cash - these schools were controversial: Is training people about manipulation good or bad?
Philosophia
= "Lover of wisdom" - Ancient Greek philosophers were more similar to scientists
Jason
A Greek hero who sailed aboard a boat called "The Argo" with other heroes, known as "The Argonauts"
Erectheion
A Quirky ionic-columned temple located across from the acropolis dedicated to Athena and Poseidon (its rare that Gods share a temple) due to a contest to name Athens/become the patron of Athens that took place between these two Gods: Athena tapped the ground with spear & offered olive tree (= trade) + Poseidon smashed his trident & offered salt water (= powerful navy) Vanity drove Ancient Gods to vie for prayers & to be patrons - had the Porch of Caryatids & the Caryatids figures/sculptures (which are now located in the British Museum)
The Orestia
A Trojan War story about Agamemnon, Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, & Orestes. The only surviving trilogy from antiquity written by Aeschylus. Background: Agememnon wants to sail to Troy with the Greek Army before the Trojan War officially started, but there was no wind. So the Gods told him to sacrifice his daughter in order to have wind, so he kills his daughter, Iphigenia, and has wind to sail to Troy Plot: Agememnon returns from the Trojan War 10 years after sacrificing his daughter -> Clytemnestra, his wife, is furious for 2 reasons - b/c her husband killed their child & he brought home a new girlfriend (who actually prophesied that Agamemnon would be killed by Clytemnestra) -> Clyt. kills Agamemnon while he is in the bathtub & also kills his girlfriend -> (play #2:) Orestes (Clyt.'s & Ag.'s son) murders Clyt. for killing his dad & her new boyfriend -> (play #3:) Orestes seeks forgiveness & eventually receives it from the Gods Message: Cursed family that devours itself, undervaluing & pretending to overvalue family ties, private vs. public lives
The Republic
A book written by Plato that lays out the concept of an ideal polis: 5,000 citizens, all citizens should adhere to certain virtues of truth, moderation, & courage, and that there were three roles in the polis: soldier, worker, or ruler (Philosopher king).
The Great Dionysia
A festival/contest in which plays were performed in honor of Dionysus/in a religious context started by the tyrant Pisistratus & occurred 10hrs/3 days/year. All plays were performed there.
Parmenio
A general in charge of Alexander the Great's army (which was made up of cavalry & phalanxes) who also served under Philip II
Skene
A painted thin wooden wall (scenery, all plays in the competition had the same palace setting & therefore scenery) that had a door for actors to change and enter/exit the stage.
Altar
A place to make sacrifices to the Gods (esp. Dionysus) located in the center of the orchestra - showed that Greek played had religious context. Sometimes included in the plot
Lysistrata
Comedy written by Aristophanes. Plot: Greek women go on sex strike because they are anti-Peloponnesian War (form a "fem-ocracy") Shows Greek ability to poke fun at themselves
The Medea
A very accessible and interesting play written by Euripedes. Plot: Jason & the Argonauts sail across the Mediterranean to fetch the Golden Fleece (a magic ramskin) in Colchis (which is located in the Black Sea region) -> meets Medea -> Medea falls in love with Jason and betrays her father by helping him to steal the golden fleece -> she flees with him back to Greece (a sea chase occurs in which she chops her brother into little pieces and throws them into the water to slow down her father's attacking ships) -> have kids together -> Jason dumps her for a local princess -> she murders their children to get back at her husband Significance: A Helper Maiden story because Medea refuses to be dumped (she instead is the angry/scary helper maiden)
Bucephalus*NB
Alexander the Great's horse, who he got at age 12 - answer to test question #1 according to Mr. PC (& Mr. PC's first goldfish was named Bucephalus) - a black stallion who was very ill-tempered, vicious, & unmanageable - 12yr old Alexander III was the only one who could tame the horse by figuring out that Bucephalus was afraid of his own shadow and mounting him by facing the horse directly into the sun (away from his shadow) - Alexander rode Bucephalus until 327 BCE, when Bucephalus died of wounds sustained on the campaign - Alexander III named multiple cities (incl. one in Asian Minor) after Bucephalus to commemorate him
Theatron
All Greek theaters were open-air. Seating place for the audience was the theatron ("the watching place")
Lord Elgin & the Elgin Marbles
All of the sculptures and many of the friezes of the Parthenon were taken in the 19th century by Lord Elgin, who put them in the British Museum - this essentially "stolen" art is called the Elgin marbles (Greeks are furious about this to this day)
Pisistratus
An Athenian tyrant that started the Great Dionysia.
Architecture
Archaeological Order: Temples are classified based on what their columns look like - Doric, Ionic, & Corinthian columns reflect an evolution, to some extent.
Frieze on the Parthenon that depicts centaurs being defeated by Greeks
Centaur = 1/2 man & 1/2 horse - always unruly, "less civilized" creatures in Greek myths (groped people and often drunk) -> symbolized anyone bad, incl. the Persians during the classical age, when the Parthenon was built (using DL $) - portrayed very often on the Parthenon, even though Athena has nothing to do with the Centaur (and it is her temple) because Greeks were interested in what would happen if humans were more animal-like (interesting fact: Today, our society seems to be more interested in what would happen if humans were more robot-like) - art on the Parthenon tells the story of the Persian War
Aeschylus
Considered the "Father of Tragedy" - The most revered of the three main tragic playwrights (and he wrote the longest time ago, so his tragedies were most similar to tragedoi. Greek tragedies were usually set in myth). Fought at the Battle of Marathon. The only surviving trilogy (3-set) play from antiquity - the Orestia - was written by Aeschylus
Orchestra
Dancing place - 20 meters wide, circular. Behind the orchestra, there was a low-rising wooden stage on which the actors performed. In the center of the orchestra, there was an altar
Philipics
Demosthenes's speeches that warned Athens that Philip needed to be stopped, but the Athenians didn't believe him that Philip II was "on the rise"/gaining in power
Hegemony
Drive for domination and supremacy, as shown between Athens, Sparta, & Thebes during Greece's 66yr period of conflict
Presentation of the Peplos
Festival where Athenians presentaed a new robe/peplos to Athena in the Partheon - the Athenians selected a few children to present it and knit it thorughout the year - art from pediment (lots of clothing, larger than human size, wet-style drapery 9shows off elaborate folds/can see the bodies, can see the paint stripes from the painter's color testing - a very human moment)
League of Corinth
Formed in 337 BCE Notably not signed in Athens similar to Delian League: 1) come together in peace, 2) pool military resources, 3) attack Persia together, 4) Macedonia was the head of the league/retained hegemony over the city-states. League members thought that after Philips' mysterious murder, they would be freed from Macedonian hegemony... but Alexander became exponentially greater than his father!
Antigonus (the One-Eyed)
Former governor of a region under Alexander the Great -> founder of Antigonid Kingdom.
Pathos
Goal of Hellenistic art is to make the viewer feel something (evoke pity or sympathy in the viewer), which, according to Mr. PC, is the ultimate goal of art - we derive the word "pathetic" from "pathos"
Demosthenes
Greatest orator of the Athenians who gave the Philipics
Dionysus
Greek god of grapes, wine, (& theater). Tragedoi honored him perhaps b/c wine -> changes your personality/don't "act" like yourself. The Great Dionysia honored him.
3 Actor Rule
Greek theater (the theatre itself had great acoustics) was vastly different than today (it ws a mix between opera and sport) & had many arbitrary rules, such as the 3 Actor Rule: only 3 main actors per play because plays were always performed in competitions. each actor played multiple parts (but no one could die on stage because they needed all of the actors!)
Kore
Greek word for "Young lady/woman" -> Archaic statue of young woman that highlighted perfect human form. Nickname for Persephone in myth - always in long dress (Peplos). eg-Homer praises ankles in story - stiff posture - Archaic smile - painted (restorations are very ugly) - very unrealistic - located at the Getty Villa
Kouros
Greek word for "Young men" -> Archaic statue of young men that highlighted perfect human form - human form-> nudity -> not very realistic - lacked individuality -> stiff, unnatural poses - realism not valued - smirk on face = Archaic Smile (often, smile doesn't go with the substance of the photo, as shown with "The Calf-Bearer" figure) - influenced by Egyptian art - one foot slightly positioned in front of the other - hands by side in fists - "stylized": lacked individuality & had rigid posture
Inside of Parthenon
Huge Athena (holding a shield & nike in her hand b/c Parthenon = trophy of the Persian War) + huge reflective pool in front of her that is surrounded by centaurs - huge Athena was sculpted by Phidias - there is a replica of the Parthenon & its interior in Nashville
Macedonian Hegemony
Philip achieved his dream of unifying most of Greece by force & creating a common peace (by force) with each other
Alexander the Great
King of Macedonia after his father King Philip II who conquered Egypt, Persia, & parts of India Born 356 BCE on the same day that the Macedonian army won a great battle & his father's horse placed second at the Olympics - these good tidings were interpreted by prophets that Alexander would be invincible (reaffirming Alexander's god-like qualities). Believed that he was a descendent of the mythic Greek demigod Heracles, the great warrior in Greek mythology + most of the stories about Alexander are anecdotal (proving him to be a legend). Anecdotes as historical evidence are not necessarily true, but they celebrate the memory of the person who they are about. His horse was Bucephalus. Created the largest empire the world had every seen in a very short amount of time. Must credit Philip II for some of his success b/c he created the army that was fiercely loyal to its general since the general provided their livelihood -> bond between Alexander III & his troops was particularly strong b/c he fought alongside his men (Last Western general to lead his army from the front & fight with his men). Qualities: 1) ambitious 2) cultured & sophisticated - had a deep passion for Greek learning (Aristotle, his tutor (!!!), gave him The Iliad, which he kept underneath his pillow) 3) drive for conquest (The Iliad is about Achiles, a great warrior, conquering Troy) 4) violent & v. Macedonian - also kept a dagger under his pillow (shows that he was willing to accomplish his goals by violence) ^ his greatness is not only dependent on violence 5) Arrogant (wrote letter to Darius III, the king of Persia at the time, that was v. obnoxious) 6) Clever (Gordian Knot story) 7) Courageous (exceptionally so, in fact) 8) An extremely gifted general (the greatest general the world had ever seen up to that point) 9) Had a growth mindset ("It is those who endure toil and who dare dangers that achieve glorious deeds" - Alexander III) Assumed control over the Macedonian throne after his father was murdered in 336 BCE -> 334 BCE assembled army of 35,000 men & marched into Asia Minor in a bold campaign -> Battle of Granicus River in NW Asia Minor -> 333 BCE Battle of Issus (proved himself to be a great warrior + general) -> 332 BCE freed Egypt from Persian rule -> 331 BCE Battle of Gaugemela (conquered Persia) -> 326 BCE marched army east into India all the way to Hydapse River but had to turn back due to his army's exhaustion (years of war & homesickness) -> 6/10/323 BCE Alexander the Great died on his way home from India (probably due to malaria, not in battle) at age 33 in Persia. His last (& very consequential) whispered words were that his empire should be left "To the strongest"
Federalism
Local governments giving up their powers to a federation
Doric
Plain base, thicker at bottom, heaviest, capital (top) is simple - doric columns on the "jewel" of Athens -> the Parthenon!
Corinthian
Most elaborate pedestal base, capital looks like leaves/potted plants, slender
Aristophanes
Most famous Greek comic playwright who (as always in tragedies), wrote abot real/current events of the time using political & social satire. His comedies are very bawdy, but funny & clever. - Wrote Lysistrata - Wrote "The Clouds" (a play that makes fun of Sopphists and says that they teach stheir students how to make the weaker argument the strongest) - joke: Sophists have their "heads in the clouds" - main character: Socrates as a sophist because, even though he wasn't one, public opinion was that he was one
Aftermath/Effects of Peloponnesian War
Pel. War ended in 405 BCE (when the Athenian navy was completely destroyed in a battle and its empire was dismantled) and Athens agreed to unconditional surrender in 404 BCE (Spartans demanded that Athens must completely relinquish its empire -> Athen's walls were torn down with music playing because the Athenians hoped that the end of the Pel. War would lead to peace... this did not happen)
Sophocles
Most successful of the 3 main tragic playwrights: Won 1st place at the Great Dionysia 18 times (more than anyone else) & never got worse than second place. Wrote the Theban Cycle (a series of 3 separate plays, so not a trilogy) about Oedipus
Caryatids
Mythic female figures that are made to be columns on the Porch of the Caryatids (= "maidens") on the Erectheion - uses wet-style drapery - contrapposto pose
Chorus
Narrators of 10-15 men who performed in the orchestra. Sang & danced most of the lines (text of play had dance instructions -> chorus is portrayed on pottery posing in military moves) All Greek tragedies had a chorus
Battle of Issus
October, 333 BCE, along the Pinarus River in Turkey (Northeast Mediterranean coast) Alexander the Great advanced blindly South looking for the Persian army, but Darius was pursuing him from the North - this is a bad situation for Alexander because Darius could disrupt all of Alexander's communication, supply line, and reinforcements - but once Alexander found out, he wasn't phased. Instead, he prepared his men for battle & turned them around - Alexander didn't know this & he left his sick and injured at Issus - Darius's army seizes & captures the injured Macedonians left at Issus & cut off their right hands to prevent them from fighting + paraded them around the Persian army to prove that the Greeks could be defeated - Persian strategy: hit the Macedonian phalanx units from the side (fast knockout punch) & therefore massed all of their cavalry to the right. Darius rode in a chariot that was surrounded by an elite infantry unit of about 2,000 people. Their plan was obvious to Alexander, however, so Alexander put Parmenio in charge on the right side (which is the most honorable position for a general in battle, and Alexander gave it to Parmenio!) - Greeks's strategy: To break up the cavalry, so Alexander massed most of his croups on the opposite side. Parmenio, stationed on the right, was supposed to hold defense for as long as possible - Persians's strength: Archers & greater numbers (6:1, around 1/2 million men) - Persians's weakness: The units facing Alexander were inexperienced (recently trained) & their infantry had never been able to defeat the Greek phalanxes in the past. - Greece's strength: Had more seasoned warriors & superior phalanxes - Alexander was confident and arrogant - A very loud battle - What happened: - Persian arrows, archers didn't move - Alexander's side of the army as forced to charge forward - Alexander's army charged across the river - the Persian archers scattered into their own infantry - This caused confusion, making the Persians easy pickings for Alexander's army - Alexander easily won his side of the battle - Parmenio was holding his side of the army - Alexander himself charged at Darius - The Persians were confused - The Persians flee & are quickly defeated - Alexander captured the Persian royal family, who were camped in tents behind the army (this shows the total chaos of the battle because usually the armies wouldn't be able to even get to the opposite army's royal family) - Results: - 40,000 Persians were captured - 71,000 Persians were killed - Since Alexander treated Darius's mother well, King Darius made him an offer of money, land (a large portion of Persia), marriage into the Persian royal family (Darius's daughter... who he later does marry). Alexander refuses the offer after Parmenio says: "If I were Alexander, I would accept the offer." Alexander replies, "So would I, if I were Parmenio." After this offer is made, the Persians and the Macedonians/Greeks fight again at the Battle of Gaugamela, where Alexander wins & takes all of the Persian empire. - "Alexander Mosaic" depicts the battle of Issus. It is hellenistic: unrestrained & emotional
Parthenon
Parthenon was built with Delian League funds in midst of the classical period -> has classical art - made of marble - Pediment = the triangle at the top of the Parthenon - Frieze = the art/"caps" atop the doric columns/pillars of the Parthenon - Parthenon = Athena's temple = "Maiden's temple" (she is often called "Athena Parthenos" = Athena youth/maiden)
Ionic
Pedestal base, capital has scroll/cinammon-bun decorations, columns = slender & consistent
Hellenophile
Philip II became a Hellenophile (became Greek-crazy) through his time spent in Greece
Medea (character)
Princess of Colchis, her father is the king of Colchis and owns the Golden Fleece. A witch, she has magical powers.
Propylaea
Propylaea was built by the tyrant Pisistratus & improved by Pericles
Tragedoi
Religious hymns sung by chorus in ancient Greece to honor Dionysus. Western drama comes from this (in the 5th & 4th centuries BCE, some of the West's greatest literary works, mostly tragedies, were produced
Philip II
Ruled Macedonia, a region North of Greece. Before the Battle of Chaeronea, Macedonia had been unimportant, but Philip II had observed the Greeks burn out (due to constant 200yr fighting). Took control of all of Greece after the Battle of Chaeronea + brought his 18yr old son Alexander to this battle. 382 BCE: Spent three years as a hostage in the city-state of Thebes as a child -> learnt to admire Greek culture + Theban military tactics -> observes & then borrows these military tactics w/ great results in his future battles (eg-Theban oblique phalanx, which won him the Battle of Luctra) Main Points: - lived from 382-336 BCE - Creator of first professional year round army - Adopted Theban military tactics & created the dreaded Macedonian Phalanx - Son was Alexander II (the Great) - Unified Greece under the League of Corinth after the Battle of Chaeronea - Murdered in 336 BCE either by Persia (who didn't want him to invade) or his wife Olympias (who wanted her son Alexander to succeed him) His military innovations: 1. Oblique Phalanx -> Macedonian Phalanx 2. Created a full time/year round army - first ever professional army in Europe - skilled/lethal in battle + loyal to him b/c had a long term personal relationship with him 3. New weapons (used 12-18ft long 2-handed pikes instead of Greek short spears)
Gordian Knot story
Setting: Gordium, Asia Minor - ox cart had been tied for a long time to a pole near a temple of Zeus (btw: all Greek temples were built in the same directional alignment) & whoever could untie the knot would be made the master of all of Asia by Zeus. 333 BCE - After laying flowers at Achiles's tomb in Troy, Alexander II arrived in Gordium & solved the ancient riddle quicky by cutting through the knot with his sword -> shows that Alexander came up with unusual solutions (often inovling violence)
Oblique Phalanx (Theban)
Staggered hoplite formation - took advantage of spartan over-commitment to a single line b/c it caused confusion b/c Spartans relied on perfect form/structure
Helper Maiden
Standard stock plot sequence in Greek dramas: Hero arrives in town -> Helper maiden (a young woman) falls in love with hero -> She helps him overcome major obstacles & betrays her family in doing so -> She leaves with him -> Hero dumps her. Prime/main example of helper maiden = Ariadne (to Theseus).
Peripatetic
Strolling
Pinarus River
The location along which the Battle of Issus took place
Antigonid Kingdom
The region made up of parts of Asia & Greece, but the eastern kingdom was eventually lost so descendants of Antigonus really only ruled Macedonia.
The Academy
The school created by Plato that lasted for over 1,000 years. Plato himself taught science and philosophy there.
Oedipus
Tragedy by Sophocles: Oedipus = main character & has an elaborate family tree - born to the King (Laius) & Queen (Jocasta) of Thebes. Aristotle's example of the perfect tragedy. Plot: Laius hears from a prophet that his son will murder him/overthrow him & marry his mother -> pierces Oedipus's (name = "Swollen foot") ankles & leaves him in the mountains to die -> Oedipus is found by a shepard & brought to neighboring Corinth -> Oedipus is raised by the King & Queen of Corinth, but is ever told his past -> Oedipus becomes curious about his past and goes to Delphi to find out -> Delphi tells him his prophecy -> Thinking that he will escape the prophecy, Oedipus goes to Thebes -> Kills Laius in a road rage incident just outside of the city -> Oedipus "meets" Jocasta -> Sphinx (monster) is terrorizing/haunting Thebes -> Jocasta asks Oedipus to solve the riddle to kill the Sphinx (Q: 4 legs-3 legs-2 legs @ morning-noon-night, A: Human) -> Oedipus solves the riddle & the Sphinx jumps off a cliff and dies -> Oedipus marries Jocasta -> Jocasta & Oedipus have children (who are really his siblings, ew!) -> when he realizes that his wife is his mother, he stabs out his eyes because he realizes that by thinking that he could outwit the prophecy he was "blind" -> Jocasta hangs herself (behind the skene in the play). Although it is not common for there to be a clear moral in Greek theater (Greek theater wasn't "preachy," couldn't be eg-Zeus was neither a "good" guy nor a "bad" guy) Message: Oedipus violates unwritten laws (cosmic laws) - Shows the downfall of someone who thought he could outsmart fate/thought he knew the most, but he actually knew the least Best play of the Theban Cycle is the Antigone about Oedipus's daughter/sister
Women in Greek theater
Women were not allowed to partake in theater (not allowed to act) & they may or may not have been allowed to watch/attend the theater (historians do not know for sure, but some of the jokes made in comedies are seemingly meant for women)
Contrapposto
new stance that arises in the classical age - very natural ("s= curve) - Italian word - a shift in weight, and innovation of the classical period
Praxiteles
painter Hermes & Dionysus painting: - expressionless - Gods! because "perfect human form" - religious beings were used often - not clothed - youthful, but not a kourus - mysterious: Hermes loks distracted, while baby Dionysus is reaching for grapes 9we know that Hermes is holding grapes to tease Dionysus) - playful, less serious, classi of Praxitelesalso painter of crouching aphrodite - using godesses to explorre perfecthuman form (contrapposto)
Hellenistic Art
post-338 Battle of Chyronea, "over-wiggly" -> classical & exaggerated - contrapposto - old market woman vs. Myron ] not portraying "frozen perfection" anymore - instead, portrays life as it really is - s-curve not trying to portray sensuality, still contrapposto, but caused by weariness & age instead - often portrays suffering seated boxer: has cuts on his face, open mouth b/c he is panting, not achieving anything exceptional (an athlete at a low point), age is notable (too old to box, tragic b/c not good anymore), fun fact: boxing comes from the olympics - "dying Gaul": "gaul" = frenchman, has stab wounds + blood, bpost pel-war gives Greeks new perspective (see world as it really is) - Laocoon: Shows story from Trojan war of father & his kids getting devoured by snakes -> shows agony -> emotions are depicted -> we feel pity - also has deeper-than-you-would-think, playful art (as shown with "Boy Strangles Goose sculpture) - "Aphrodite the slipper slapper": cupid is Aphropdite's son, sater = "very frisky" 2 reads: on the surface: Aphrodite is pushing the sater away deeper: she is inviting the sater (she is technically also the "goddess of prostitutes", according to Mr. PC, and in ancient Greece holding one's slipper was how one identified a prostitute Aligns with Greek philosophy of the time that said that our senses are not sure vehicles of knowledge (our senses are flawed)
Myron, Discus Thrower
quintessential example of classical age art - less stylized, models are posed - increased fixation on idealized prime human form - about to achieve something great ("frozen perfection") because the Persian Wars expressed an optimistic world view - no facial expression (classical age belief that reason should control one's emotions, according to philosophy at the time), so no "archaic smile"
Ganymede
young man abducted by Zeus to be a cup-bearer (servant) for the Gods The statue itself, which was from the Archaic period, is rigid, awkward and unrealistic - fear the Gods! Explains human suffering
