THE GREEKS:
A COMMON CULTURE? COLONISATION
OLYMPIC GAMES
Acragas (Agrigento, Sicily) : Temple of the Concorde (440 B.C.) The picture shows a coloured reconstruction.
Etienne Maurice Falconnet 1772: The death of Milo of Croton (Louvre) Milon came from the south of Italy and was considered to be the greatest athlete of the Olympic Games. From 540 B.C. he won the wrestling six times. The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens (built between 449 and 420 B.C.)
RELIGION Drachma from Persepolis (South of present day Iran) minted between 336 and 323 B.C. Heads : The head of Hercules (son of Zeus, Olympic God) Tails: Zeus with a sceptre and eagle. The coins were probably produced to pay Greek veterans (old soldiers). 75
RELIGION AND MYTHS GODS AND HEROES
What was the role of religious belief in Ancient Greece? This is the cover of a specialist magazine. Describe it....
What is the link between the base of the page (‘Europe‘) and this image? What is the link between this illustration and the title of the chapter?
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THE MYTH OF THE KIDNAP OF EUROPA Europa was the daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor. Zeus, the father of the Gods, watched her with her friends, playing by the sea. Zeus took the appearance of a young bull, as white as snow, with a strong neck and short horns. He was not threatening, he appeared passive. He impressed Agenor‘s daughter, but despite his gentle appearance she behaved sensibly. Nonetheless, after a short time, she put some flowers in his mouth which made him fall even more in love with her. Soon her suspicion disappeared and she dared to sit on the animal‘s back. All of a sudden the bull took her from dry land into the sea, taking her further and further, until they could no longer see land. Zeus and Europa arrived on the island of Crete, and there the father of the Gods revealed his true identity. They made love under a plane tree. Many years later the wife of their son Minos, became the mother of the Minotaur, a dangerous mythical half-man, half bull monster. ACTIVITIES 1.
Design a flow diagram to show logically the most important events of this story (no phrases, only groups of words). The example below has some tips on how to do this task.
2.
To finish explain or present your results orally.
Example of how to organise a flow diagram or flow chart.
C G
B
A D
F
E
I
H
The cause of
Mutual dependence
Influences
Necessary for
Vital for
Mutual influence
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GREEK BELIEFS
B A
C
D
1. The temple of Zeus (this is a reconstruction) at Olympia. It was panhellenic = it was an important religious site for ALL Greeks. Important processions and sporting games started there. 2. A large number of the religious events involved the family of the Gods. Animals were brought to be sacrificed at an altar here. 3. The most important Oracle of Greece was at Delphi. The priestess called the Pythaea, through whom the God Apollo spoke, gave information in response to questions about the future. 4. The capture of the city of Troy in Asia Minor was achieved thanks to a trick from the Ithaca King Ulysses. The Trojan horse symbolised the end of a year of war against the Greeks. 5. The immortal Prometheus was hung up from a rock in the Caucasus by the God Zeus. Every day an eagle ate a piece of his liver which regrew the following night!
E
ACTIVITY: The pictures A-E show examples of the mythology and religious life of the Greeks. Match the pictures with the descriptions. 78
THE WORLD OF THE GREEK GODS
ACTIVITIES: Document 1 is a blank family tree of the Greek gods. It should help you to understand the origins of the most important Greek Gods and their leadership. 1. Use the list of the Gods (document 2 on the following page) to fill in the blank boxes in the family tree below. 2. Explain the relationships between the Gods in your own words.
1
Lover
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Some key information: - Uranus (Sky) m. Gaia (Earth) - Cronus (Titan) m. Rhea (Titanide) - Zeus (Sky)
- Hera
- Apollo and Artemis
- Hestia
(twins)
- Demeter
- Aphrodite
m. Metis (Titanide)
m. Hephaestus
m. Hera (wife)
Eros (God of love, son of Ares and Aphrodite)
m. Leto (Titanide)
- Athena (daughter of
- Poseidon (Sea)
Zeus )
- Hades (Underworld)
- Ares (son of Zeus)
2
Apollo (Apollon): son of Zeus and Leto, god of the divine beauty of music, the sun and light -
USEFUL INFORMATION
quiver (where one stores arrows) , bow.
The 12 (13) Gods of Olympus (Roman names in brackets)
♀ Artemis (Diana): daughter of Zeus by Leto, twin sister of Apollo, goddess of hunting and nature - hind or doe (female deer), quiver, bow . Hephaestus (Vulcan): son of Zeus from Hera, God of fire and blacksmiths - tongs (an iron tool for
Zeus (Jupiter): the youngest son of Rhea and Cronus, the most important God, father of the gripping, holding or pulling) Gods, God of Olympus, God of the Sky with power over the forces of nature (lightning) - eagle,
sceptre, lightning bolt.
The Underworld (Hell)
♀ Hera (Juno): his sister and his wife, goddess of Olympia, protector of women and wives, married couples and the family - sceptre, diadem (crown). Poseidon (Neptune): his brother, God of the Sea -
trident, fish.
♀ Demeter (Ceres): his sister, Goddess of the Earth, farming (wheat and fertility) - basket of flowers, torch, crown of ears of wheat. ♀ Hestia (Vesta): older sister of Zeus, Goddess of fire, of the home and of family harmony -
donkey.
Hermes (Mercury): his son, winger messenger God, protector of trade and travel - winged hat,
Hades (Pluto): brother of Zeus, master of the underworlds with the river Styx considered as the frontier between the kingdom of the dead and the living. ♀ Persephone (Proserpine): daughter of Zeus and Demeter, Queen of the underworld. The underworld only belonged indirectly to the Olympians. Persephone spent half the year with Hades.
Later member of the divine family of Gods:
Dionysus (Bacchus): another son of Zeus, God of ♀ Athena (Minerva): daughter of Zeus and Metis, fertility, pleasures and wine - crown of vine leaves, vine plant, ivy. Goddess of purity, protector of heroes, towns He was made a God later taking the place of and cities, farming, art and science - olive tree, Hestia. She left Olympia. She never took part in spear and helmet. disputes and plots with her brothers and sisters, Ares (Mars): son of Zeus and Hera, God of war nieces and nephews like her sister Demeter who, and violence - sword, helmet, shield. later stayed on Earth. ♀ Aphrodite (Venus): adopted daughter of Zeus and Dione, wife of Hephaestus, goddess of beauty and love - shellfish, mirror.
winged boots.
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WHO‘S
WHO IN THE WORLD OF THE
GREEK GODS?
God 1
God 2
NAME:
NAME:
ROLE:
ROLE:
SYMBOLS:
SYMBOLS:
God 3 NAME:
ACTIVITY
ROLE:
Use the list of Gods on the previous page to complete boxes 1-5. SYMBOLS:
God 4
God 5
NAME:
NAME
ROLE:
ROLE:
SYMBOLS:
SYMBOLS:
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What did the Greeks believe? There is no simple answer to this question. People’s daily lives had deep roots in religion. For ancient Greece, we have nothing like the Bible, a unique book which explains the basis of Christian beliefs. Instead a large number of Gods and Heroes determined the thoughts and action of the Greeks. The Gods were immortal and superhuman. They were responsible for everything on Earth, so had a very real importance in daily life. Good or bad luck, a successful or failed harvest, or the outcome of a war, for example, were all determined by the Gods, so it was believed. Even so, they did not only serve as good examples because violence, betrayal and a thirst for revenge figured in many stories. The same applies for the Heroes, half-God, half-human. However, despite their superhuman powers, they were seen as vulnerable like Achilles for example. To ask for advice, Kings (for example Alexander the Great) and indeed all members of society would turn to the famous Oracle of Delphi, in the temple of Apollo. Here through the Pythia, a priestess the future could be known. In this way one could learn the wishes and desires of the Gods. All these very influential stories of the Gods and Goddesses, and the Heroes are called Myths. Taking the form of legends and poems, the myths explained the origins of a people.
REFLECTION TIME Lysias You are the most important trading rival of Leander and you live at Milet. Thanks to your profession you possess several boats. There is an important demand for slaves from Egypt, because there is a shortage of them here. You should be able to fill this gap and satisfy this demand, but your boats will have to sail to Egypt and quickly as possible because the competition is fierce.
Callicrates You are a young peasant and you live close to Athens. Recently you have fallen in love with the daughter of another peasant, who is quite well off. To impress her father, you would like to have better harvests which in turn would allow you to buy more slaves. Unfortunately recent years have been dry giving bad harvests.
Helen You are the wife of the rich merchant Leander of Piraeus. He is not often at home because he trades in Egypt. Your life is very comfortable but also boring. For two years you have wanted a child.
Nikodem You are a skilled craftsman producing helmets for the Corinthian War. Your products are known for their unique and superior quality and appearance. However, for several years a period of peace has meant that demand for helmets has been constantly low. In desperation you have already consulted the Oracle at Delphi. The response is puzzling:-
“In a war in a lake, a large empire will be destroyed. The victors will become very rich“.
In each of these cases, explain how the Gods could help you. 82
OLYMPIC GAMES
IN
ANCIENT TIMES
Does the Olympic ideal live on today? ACTIVITIES Olympia is a sacred place devoted to Zeus in the region of Elide, in the North West of the Peloponnese peninsula. The Olympic Games started in 776 B.C. Originally the only event was a simple race (a sprint the length of the stadium - 192.27 metres) 2
In 700 B.C. the Pentathlon appeared: five events were included - a race, long jump, the discus, the javelin and wrestling. During the games, philosophers and poets would be present. It was therefore as much a cultural as a sporting spectacle. A few traditions survive to today. In earliest times the winner of the race would light a sacred flame on Zeus‘ altar. Until 1976 it was attempted to have a truce (a pause in a war) during the games. In that way the safety of the athletes and the spectators, even if they were enemies would be guaranteed. At the time, athletes and trainers had to swear the Olympic Oath in front of the statue of Zeus, promising loyalty and sportsmanship. At the end of the 4th Century, more and more athletes were becoming professional. After a long decline, the Byzantine/Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the games. It was not until 1896 that they were reborn. Since that year they have taken place regularly every 4 years. However we now differentiate between the summer and winter games. More than 200 countries worldwide take part in the Olympics.
1. Look at Document 1, part of a book cover entitled “Asterix at the Olympic Games“. What objects refer to the Ancient Olympic Games? 2. Document 2 gives you some initial information about the Olympic Games. Complete the table below. Which of the original traditions continue today? 3. Personal Research. Did the Olympic Rings exist during ancient times? Describe and draw them. There are a precise number of rings and a clear combination of colours. Why? 1
Olympic Traditions
83
Explanations
Modern Changes
The Olympic Sanctuary and the main sports facilities. Model and plan.
Sacred
To River
84
ACTIVITIES 1. Link the short descriptions below (A-O) to the model of Olympia on page 84. 3. Finally find three different categories to classify the different buildings. You will find that the layout and the colours of the plan will help you!
Sacred Grove of Zeus (Altis):
G. The Prytaneion
The sacred grove or precinct of Zeus made up the centre of Olympia. Here was found the temples, altars, statues and the treasures of the city-states.
The shelter for the Olympic Flame.
H. The Treasuries of the City-States A. The Temple of Zeus The temple, finished in around 456 B.C. was one of the largest religious buildings in the
A few city-states built treasury buildings where they kept objects of value, most of which were sacrifices but also some money.
whole of Greece. Earthquakes and floods have almost completely destroyed it. Inside was the famous statue of Zeus made by Pheidias. It was the seventh wonder of the Ancient World.
I. The Studio of Pheidias Where the statue of Zeus was made. The discovery of tools and moulds proves that Pheidias worked here.
K. Leonidaion Where the athletes stayed.
B. The Pelopion King Pelops gave his name to the Peloponnese. To the east of Zeus‘s temple, sculptures told the story of his exploits.
L. Palaestra Where the wrestlers and boxers trained. M. Gymnasium
C. Zeus‘s Altar (8 metres tall)
Where the athletes trained.
At the high point of the Games, participating cities brought animals here to be sacrificed...
N. Swimming Pool
D. The Temple of Hera The oldest building of Olympia, originally only made of wood. There was an ivory table here on which the olive wreaths or crowns for the winners were placed.
O. Stadium Originally this was found in the Altis. Later it was moved towards the outside at the junction of various routes. There was only a race the length of the stadium.
E. Temple of Gaia, mother of the Gods
F. Administrative Building
85
OLYMPIA—THE SPORTING EVENTS THE TIMETABLE
OF THE
GAMES
Day 1 For the opening ceremony, all the priests, judges, athletes and trainers assembled in the Altis. In front of the statue of Zeus they swore the Olympic oath to respect the rules. In the afternoon the games started. Day 2 The morning started with the equestrian (horse) events. In the afternoon the pentathlon got under way in this strict order: the discus, the long jump, the javelin, the sprint and then the wrestling. In the evening a sacrifice would be made to Pelops. Day 3 The high point of the cult of the games: one hundred bulls decorated in flowers were led to the altar and then sacrificed to Zeus. In the afternoon running events - 1 ‘stade‘ , 2 ‘ stades‘ and 24 ‘stades‘ (about 4600 metres). In the evening there was the main dinner. Day 4 The wrestlers were the centre of interest on this day. They took part in the wrestling, fist-fight, the Pankration (see box on right) and in an armed race. The final point of the events. Day 5 The day of the award ceremony. In turn all the winners were called up to receive a sacred olive branch. A new sacrifice would follow and then a lively party.
86
The Pankration was a special, brutal mix of wrestling and a fist-fight (bare-knuckle boxing) where everything was allowed apart from biting, scratching and gouging the eyes of your opponent.
ACTIVITIES 1. Look carefully at the documents on the previous pages and identify the sports shown. 2. Draw a table with four columns: from left to right “five days of events“, “types of sporting events“, “ceremonies“, “festivals and parties“. Now use the information in the section `The Timetable of the Games` to fill this in. 3. Use the internet to prepare a presentation on one of the following sports: the pentathlon, boxing, the Pankration, or horse races. 4. Describe the Olympic posters of 1920 and 1968. What are the similarities and differences to ancient times? 5. Design your own poster for the Olympic Games. You may choose either the Ancient or the modern games.
Rule 1: The Olympic Games take part in the name of Zeus. Rule 2: Only Greek men with citizen‘s rights can take part. Rule 3: Married women do not even have the right to watch. Rule 4: Single women and slaves can watch Rule 5: Athletes and participants have the right to a free and safe journey to Olympia. During the games a total peace must be maintained. Rule 6: The Games are organised every 4 years. Rule 7: During the events all clothes are banned: only naked athletes are allowed to take part. In the combat sports leather straps are allowed around the hands. Rule 8: All participants must swear to respect the rules and not to cheat. Rule 9: To lose brings shame to your city: coming second or third is useless. Rule 10: On the other hand, winning means eternal glory! On one‘s return, there are generous financial rewards, exemption from tax, and perhaps even a statue in the main square.
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ACTIVITY On his return from the Olympics of 520 B.C., Pantalos, the Corinthian wrestler, tells his friend Aneus all that he experienced. In his enthusiasm he makes several mistakes. Find the errors and tick or highlight them! Oh Aneus! At the last Olympics in 525 B.C., just like all the games before that, all the athletes met in the temple of Zeus, after which the Olympic Flame was lit on the altar.
Naturally, in line with old traditions, only Greek men with all the rights of citizens and slaves that were particularly sporty were allowed to take part. Married women did not even have the right to watch.
I was amazed at the physical strength of some of the athletes. It was well understood that all the athletes had to arrive with a well-trained body - if not, they were not respecting the
games.
Afterwards the events started. The strong men made their way towards the sports fields
dressed in their blue training kit.
The Pentathlon was particularly interesting: the athletes had to do various events including running, wrestling, javelin, discus and boxing.
On the second day, the chariot races were as wild as ever. A Mycenaean chariot driver drove his horses to a historic victory. Later the owner of the horses, a rich trader, received the winner‘s wreath and the poor Mycenaean was quickly forgotten about.
On the third day there were religious processions and sacrifices. The procession went towards the tomb of King Pelops who, in times past, ruled all of Thessalonia.
After the large festive meal, we were ashamed by a number of athletes who were so drunk that the Games had to be stopped for 24 hours. What a disgrace for the sacred Olympic
festival!
At the time of the final races, the ones in arms were the centre of attention. The athletes had to run with their armour and weapons all the way to Marathon, in memory of the historic Greek victory against the Persians. In that way the `Marathon‘ race was born.
After several, hard contests in the Pankration competition I still received the olive branch. One of my opponents, a huge man from Delos, discretely gouged my eyes, which is officially
allowed this year.
After the defeat of my opponent, his anger could really be felt. It could easily have provoked a political conflict but, happily, peace is obligatory during the games.
So the games came to an end. On the last day, the time for the Awards finally arrived. The losers were immediately sacrificed to the gods Cronus and Gaia. Regarding the winners, they received rose crowns and orange-tree flowers but also valuable presents.
88
GREEK COLONISATION WHY did the Greeks found colonies? (Cause) WHERE ? (Location) What were the RESULTS of colonisation? (Consequences) COMPARE past and present. RECOGNISE the characteristics of Greek civilisation, beyond Greece itself
Model of Marseilles in Greek times
Marseilles is the oldest town in France. According to ancient writers, the Phocaeans sailed the length of the coast and discovered the present Old Port. The daughter of a Ligurian Prince offered a cup to one of the sailors, showing her love for him. Consequently the Phocaeans decided to found a town, MASSALIA, in 599 B.C. In reality, a city was created as a result of a collective decision which chose a nobleman as the founder, as well as the colonists. After consulting the Oracle of Delphi, about a hundred men (men only) set out on small warships. First overcoming storms and pirates, and eventually fighting against native people, the sacred flame, symbol of the home, was brought from the Metropolis and marked Marseilles‘ colonisation. 89
ACTIVITIES 1
In your opinion, what are the reasons today that push thousands of people to leave their native land? The factors that explain the departure of the Greeks in the 7th and 6th Centuries B.C. are often the same. Write them in the table below.
2
Using the text on the previous page, would you say that the origins of Marseilles are legendary or real? How does colonisation work? Colour religious aspects in blue, the role of men in the colonisation process in green and the dangers faced by the colonists in red.
3
Identify the site at each of the numbers on the model of Marseilles in the Greek times on the preceding page, and then explain how this town was a Greek colony.
COLONISATION METROPOLIS = MOTHER CITY Social Causes
Natural Causes
Political Causes
90
Economic Causes
Greek Colonisation
ACTIVITIES 1.
Write in the names of the different seas.
2. Fill in the key. 3. Write in the names of the main metropolis cities that created colonies and the names of some colonies of your choice. 4. The links between a colony and its metropolis were essentially religious, but the main result of Greek colonisation was the development of trade in the heart of the Mediterranean. All the goods of the colonies went to the same place. Where? Why? 5. What conclusions can you make about the Greek economy? 91
COLONY
PRESENT
METROPOLIS
NAME
STATE/NATION
ACTIVITIES 1. Using an atlas, the internet or other sources, choose 4 Greek colonies. Mark them on the map on the previous page and then complete the table above. 2. Match the goods from the list below with the correct descriptions on the following page. Add the manufactured or crafts products in red and the farming ‘produce’ in green.
3.
Iron, Tin, Perfume, Wood, Gold, Olive Oil, Copper, Slaves, Wine, Horses, Linen, Silver, Wheat, Papyrus.
With the help of your teacher, try to work out where each of these goods came from : then write the names of these goods in the correct place on the map.
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: precious metal, white and shiny (in the modern Olympic Games awarded for coming nearly first) :pleasant-smelling substance.
: liquid used for seasoning and cooking: the by-products from the pressing are used for lighting. It is preserved, often mixed with herbs, in jars, and stored in a corridor close to the cellar. : they are
: a tree
real, unlike the one in wood,
is made of it, with the
Ulysses’ clever plan for the
exception of the leaves.
siege of Troy.
: particularly appreciated by
: a reddish -brown metal. Its symbol is Cu.
: precious metal, shiny
the Romans to accompany meals. The best
yellow, does not react with air,
comes from the slopes of Vesuvius. (To be
water or acids. In its original form,
consumed in moderation!!)
it is found as dust or nuggets. :a
:a traditional cereal crop from
whitish-grey metal, symbol Sn. It is
the Mediterranean region, often grown
used for making objects for everyday
alongside the olive tree and the vine. It
use or for works of art.
is the basis of flour and therefore of bread.
: Spartacus was their leader against Rome. They lost in 71 B.C.
: a sheet made by overlapping two fine strips of the stem of this plant, one horizontal, the other vertical,
:a plant grown for its stem, from which the fibres are extracted
dried and sanded down, used by the Ancient Egyptians for the preparation of their manuscripts.
for cloth, and for its seeds which are used in medicine or in paint.
: a strong metal, used very little in its pure form, atomic number 26 and has the symbol Fe. 93
1 Temple of Athena, Paestum or Poseidonia, 6th Century B.C., Doric and Ionic style
A Coaster (follows the coast),
with some local influences
20 metres by 5 metres,
2
could hold a maximum of 150 amphorae (a large pot containing on average 19 to 20 litres), It carried a wide range of goods; e.g.. Wheat, barley, wine, olive oil, honey etc right around the Mediterranean basin. A relatively simple boat with a single sail. It therefore depended on wind, because it was too heavy to be rowed by oars. Sailed close to the coasts to avoid storms. In Massalia, there were hundreds. Greek cargo ships could transport between 5000 and 10,000 amphorae but the Roman Corbita would
3
do much better in terms of quality and quality.
Shiny black Greek Amphora. Classic period 5-4th century B.C.
4
From Greece or Greater Greece.
5
Stater - silver Greek coin from between 530 and 510 B.C. Metapontum Italy Terracotta mask, from between 525 and 500 B.C. Found in Southern Italy. 94
7
6
Syracuse Theatre, 138m diameter. 6th Century B.C. A plate from Naucratis
In 472 the first performance of the Aeschylus’s play ‘the Persians’, happened here. Capacity: An audience of 15,000.
8
Piece of a bronze inscription, from between 490 and 480 B.C., Monte Casale. An official grant of citizenship, in Doric writing.
9
Refer to all the documents. What sort of evidence is it?
A painted terracotta amphora from
Which of them have a link with trade? The others prove that colonisation did not only
about 540 B.C. Found in the south of Italy but made in the Chalcidian
have commercial results. What were the other
style (Chalcis; town on the island of
consequences?
Euboea)
How is each of these documents useful for the historian?
GLOSSARY
A colony : a new city founded by the Greeks on areas away from Greece. A metropolis: from the Greek mêter = mother and polis = city: the city where the founding colonists came from. Export : to sell abroad. Import : to buy from abroad. Amphora : a terracotta vase, oval shaped, with two handles and a long neck, used to store and transport liquids and food. 95
