2. Brief History of Greek Literature
Few literary traditions have been as influential to Western
society as Greek literature. From the works of Homer to
the musings of Aristotle, ancient Greek literature forms
the foundation of Western thought. Greek literature and
thought has continued to influence Western society, as
the conquests of Alexander the Great and the Roman
Empire spread Greek thinking throughout the Western
world. The Greek literary tradition is deep and rich, with
a profound impact felt throughout all civilization.
Preclassical Era
Greek literature traces its roots to the preclassical
period, beginning around 800 B.C. The great poets,
Homer and Hesiod, worked during this time period.
Homer’s two great works, the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,”
are the foundation of Greek literature. These two epic
poems set the tone, scope and form for Greek literature
for centuries to come.
3. Classical Era
The classical era of Greek literature was an
explosion of forms, ideas and techniques that have
formed the basis of Western literature. The classical
period is particularly noteworthy for the emergence of
Western philosophy and the invention of
drama. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the three great
philosophers of ancient Greece, lived during the classical
period. These three Greeks have had an immeasurable
impact on the development of civilization. Socrates is
notable for being the muse of Greek philosophy, the
original thinker who inspired all who followed after him.
His teachings are preserved in many of Plato’s
“Dialogues.” Plato was a student of Socrates who
went on to found the Academy of Athens, the first
institution of higher learning. Aristotle was himself a
student of Plato’s; his status is such that he is often
simply called “The Philosopher.” He composed many of
the bedrock works of Western literature, including
“Physics,” “Metaphysics,” “Politics,” and more.
4. Greek Religion
encompasses the collection of beliefs and
rituals practiced in ancient Greece in the form of
both popular public religion and cult practices.
These different groups varied enough for it to be
possible to speak of Greek religions or "cults" in
the plural, though most of them shared
similarities. Also, the Greek religion extended out
of Greece and out to other islands. Many Greek
people recognized the major gods and
goddesses: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Artemi
s, Aphrodite, Ares, Dionysus, Hephaestus,Athena,
Hermes, Demeter, Heracles, Hestia, Asclepius and
Hera
5. Hellenistic Era
By the conquest of Greece by Phillip II and later
by Alexander the Great, the influence of Greek
literature had begun to spread around the world.
Poetry was the main literary product of the
Hellenistic period, with the trio of Theocritus,
Callimachus and Apollonius leading the way. Theocritus
invented the pastoral poem, while Apollonius is
famous for his “Argonautica,” the story of Jason
and the search for the Golden Fleece. Callimachus
worked at the Library of Alexandria and is famous
for his “Aetia,” an elegy exploring the origins of
many things. Callimachus was also the model for the
Roman poet Ovid.
Greek literature has a storied history, full of
towering names and prominent works. The history of
Greek literature is in many ways the history of
Western literature as a whole. The world owes
Greece a great debt for its contribution to the
development of human civilization.
6.
7. The Greeks are recognized
as an exceptional people.
They are known in history
as the “noble Greeks”.
8. The history of Greek literature is divided
into three periods. The first period,
covering the Pre-Homeric age and the
Homeric age, extends from remote
antiquity to the age of Herodotus to the
death of Alexander the Great. The third
period, the Period of Decline, extends from
the death of Alexander the Great to the
enslavement of the Greeks by the Romans
and Extends to A.D. 1453.
9. Greek literature has the following
qualities
Permanence and Universality
Essentially Full of Artistry
Originality
Diversity of talent
Intellectual quality
10. Greek history goes back to the
Bronze Age, between 300 and
1200 B.C. in the Golden Age or
Classical Age of ancient Greece,
many of the Greek masterpieces
were constructed. This is the
time that the Parthenon was
built in Athens, and Sophocles
wrote Oedipus the King.
11. Greek Art and Literature
The Greeks produced a civilization that in
many ways has never been surpassed in the
world. Greek art is well-known throughout
the world. There are four majors forms of
Greek art:
Architecture
Painting
Sculpture
Pottery
12. Greek Drama
There were three great tragic writers:
•Aeschylus
•Sophocles
•Euripides
•Aristophanes
Political Development
Pericles
Pindar
14. Philosophy and Science
Socrates
Hippocrates
Herophilus
Euclid
Archimedes
Lysander
Alcibiades
Philip II
Alexander the Great
Erastosthenes