Early Greece and the discovery of reality and humanity

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Early Greeceand the discovery of realityand
humanity
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Very little is left of ancient cultures such as
Greece

• However, we value the Greeks because they
  invented many of the ideas and techniques that
  are the basis for modern Western civilization,
  such as philosophy, history, realistic art,
  lyric poetry, and science.

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Some pots remain.These are Geometric and
Protogeometric Amphora (funeral urns ceremonial
food and wine is dropped in top to feed the
spirit below)
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Greek Gods and Goddesses

• Zeus father of gods, god of justice
• Ares god of war
• Aphrodite goddess of beauty and love
• Athena goddess of wisdom
• Poseidon god of the sea
• Apollo god of intellect, music, medicine

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We have some stories left, too, that tell us
about the Greeks attitudes to religion.

• Zeus, looking down upon man from Mount Olympus in
  Homers Odyssey How foolish men are! How
  unjustly they blame the gods! It is their lot to
  suffer, but because of their own folly they bring
  upon themselves sufferings over and above what is
  fated for them. And then they blame the gods.

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The influence of Egyptian sculpture (left, 2575
BCE) on the early Greek Kore from Delos (right,
650 BCE)
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Greek korai sculptures over time, from left
(older) to right (more recent)
Kouros from Anavysos 530 BCE
Kouros from Attica 600 BCE
The Calf-Bearer 550 BCE
Peplos Kore 530 BCW
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The Kritios Boy, Acropolis, Athens 490BCE
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The philosopher Protagoras sums up the attitude
of Greek intellectual thought when he writes

• Man is the measure of all things, of the
  existence of those that exist, and of the
  nonexistence of those that do not.

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Herodotus (484-420 BCE)

• The first historian, Father of History
• Wrote the History of the Persian Wars First
  writer in Western tradition to devote himself to
  historical writing rather than Epic poetry (like
  Homer)
• His history is based on observation, analysis,
  and credible sources
• Posits the concept of hubris
• In Book VII of the history, the Persian emperor
  Xerxess uncle, Artabanus, warns Xerxes before
  the invasion You know, my lord, that amongst
  living creatures it is the great ones that Zeus
  smites with his thunder, out of envy of their
  pride. It is Gods way to bring the lofty low.
  For He tolerates pride in none but Himself.

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Sappho (b. 612 BCE), the great Greek lyric poet

• Percussion, salt and honey,
• A quivering in the thighs
• He shakes me all over again,
• Eros who cannot be thrown,
• Who stalks on all fours
• Like a beast.