“Religious festivals were occasions of public display” a quote from ancient historian Xenophon, exemplifies the how gods and festivals play an important and crucial role in the lifestyle and the overall society of Sparta. Religion in Sparta was a way of bringing the community together and uniting the gods with the everyday social and political institutions of the Spartan state. Major festivals celebrated by the Spartans included those common to other Greek city states, along with festivals unique to the Spartans. These main festivals were Gymnopaedia, Karneia and Hyakinthia which were celebrated in honour various gods for various reasons. This will be explored through primary and secondary sources revealing the information behind the annual commemorations.
In Atala the Native Americans worshiped more than one god, and they are very closely related to the Greek gods. They believed that these gods could take on any form and any gender. The Greeks did this to test their hospitality. They both have myths that explain how everything came to be like the gods, and how humans came, and fire, and all things imaginable. For years these myths were passed down orally until somebody decided to write them.
It is similar because of the extensive contacts and trade between Pre-Classical Greece and Mesopotamia. This impact of similar cultural values, are manifested in their mythology. There aren’t many documents of official trades between Greece and Mesopotamia, only a few depictions in cuneiform[1]; however, archaeologists know that the Ionian Greeks that had taken control of Western Anatolia had established a trade route with Mesopotamia leading through Lydia and Persia called “The Royal Road”, built by Darius in 5th century BCE. [2] Archaeologists also know that not just Ionians but the whole Greek empire had adapted the Babylonian sexigesmal system and were exchanging knowledge of philosophy for knowledge of mathematics. [3] The Greeks and the Mesopotamians had often met in Egypt and Anatolia and worked together with the Persians[4].
Ancient Greek architecture is a product of the Hellenic and the Hellenistic people. Ancient Greek architecture is best known for its temples, most of which are found in the region as ruins. Ancient Greek architecture is distinguished by its highly formalized characteristics, both of structure and decoration, particularly in the temples. Most often these temples are raised on the high grounds so that the beauty of the well illuminated structure can be enjoyed from a good distance away in all angles. Although limestone was available the building material primarily used was stone, especially high quality marble.
The mixed are those myths that explain the very nature of the world, and what the gods have to do with the way the world works. Polytheism was wide spread in the ancient world. The Egyptians had a highly developed belief system that was based on multiple gods. The ancient Greeks also had an intricate system of myths based on multiple deities. The Greek gods often took on human forms and, in many cases, directly interfered with human activities.
INFLUENCE OF GREEK AND EGYPIAN CULTURES: ART, ARCHITECTURE, RELIGION * Pompeii and Herculaneum were both Greek settlements * Herculaneum – the name itself is influenced by Greek’s Hercules * Greek influences can therefore be seen in their art, architecture and especially religion * Influences from Egypt came through trade * One of the greatest influences was through religion Art * Themes found in wall paintings include Greek mythology and gods * Paintings were often Greek originals * Statues copied Greek designs * Floor mosaics showed Egyptian influences e.g. the House of Faun has a mosaic of flora and fauna along the Nile River Architecture * Early buildings in Pompeii and Herculaneum were designed with Greek constructions * Features e.g. Greek peristyle garden were taken from a Greek design * Greek columns – Doric, Ionic, Corinthian were used in temples & other buildings * The Triangular Forum with its Doric Temple was of pure Greek origin * The theatres owe their designs to Greek originals * Remains of furniture appear to be based on Greek prototypes * Herculaeum has good examples of cupboards with a Greek design * The palaestra of Pompeii and Herculaneum are in the Hellenistic architectural tradition * A style of Greek architecture popular after the time of Alexander the Great Religion * The Greek gods and goddesses – Apollo, Hercules, Minerva, Dionysus, Hermes, Demeter were all worshiped at Pompeii and Herculaneum * Temples were built for this purpose * Dionysian themes were popular artistic decoration * The Egyptian goddess, Isis, was worshipped at Pompeii and Herculaneum by merchants, women, children, slaves, freedmen and soldiers along with officials * Some houses had garden shrines to Isis and statuettes of pharaohs and other Egyptian deities
Greek music includes the lyre, pipes, and singing, and around 500 BC gradually developed branches like Greek plays (which always involved music) and Greek philosophy, which tried to figure out how music and numbers related to each other. Architecture includes houses, religious buildings like temples and tombs, and public building like city walls, theaters, stadia, and stoas. Sculpture includes small figurines and life-size statues, but also relief sculptures which were on the sides of buildings, and also tombstones. We have very little Greek painting from the Classical period; most of what we have is from the Bronze Age. The paintings were painted on walls, as decoration for rooms, like murals or wallpaper.
Essay What role did drama have within Greek society? Drama in Ancient Greece was considered a high priority for all members of Grecian society and its influence over the public as a whole was of great import. Hence what was shown in the theatre held strong bearings over the cultural beliefs of the time. The relevance of drama to the Greeks was found in its ability to show life on stage and address issues applicable to the audience. Using theatre as a medium, a playwright could passively address any potential political, religious and moral problems faced by the playgoers.
Two natural resources of Minoan Crete include a large supply of stone such as gypsum, limestone and marble, as well as an abundant supply of clay available for many different forms of pottery that were used in Minoan society, including bowels, pithois and writing tablets. A wealth of information can be gained from the Minoan Frescoes. Paint was directly applied to wet lime plaster to ensure maximum vibrancy in colour and to prevent the paint from flaking. Earthy colours are also commonly used in many frescoes, with red, browns and oranges all being extensively used, this characteristic is observed in the “saffron Gether Fresco” which has used deep reds and oranges. Other characteristics in Minoan frescoes include nature, religious practices
The original civilizations that developed so long ago are the civilizations that have shaped our world today; one of the most recognizable of the early civilizations is the Greeks. When one thinks of the ancient Greeks, it is possible that the first thoughts that would come to his or her mind would be the tall pillars often found in Greek architecture, the Spartans defeating the Athenians in the great Peloponnesian War, or perhaps the Olympics just come to mind – but there are many components that helped mold such an intricate civilization. Just like any civilization, Greece had to go through very difficult times; they had to establish trade and develop the proper way to run their country. There were also ingredients such as their art and