The Ancient Greeks developed their civilization over three periods between 650 BC to 145 BC. During this time, they made lasting contributions in arts, philosophy, science, mathematics, politics and athletics. Some of their most influential philosophers included Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, while Homer's epic poems the Iliad and Odyssey are still read today. The Greeks also held the first Olympic games in 776 BC and developed democratic government in Athens during the 5th century BC.

1. Ancient Greek
Civilization

3. Structure of Greek Society

4. •Archaic (650-490 BC)
•Epic and lyric poetry (Homer)
•Pythagoras & mathematics
•Human figures as decoration
•Classical (480-323 BC)
•Plato and Aristotle
•Theater – comedy and tragedy
•Hellenistic (323-145 BC)
•Works that revisit classical Greece
•Alexander the Great’s empire
•Other philosophies (skepticism,
epicureanism, stoicism)
The Ancient Greeks
Three periods (about 500 years total)

5. c 461-429 BCE: Golden Age of Athens
Age of Great Greek Tragedians:
Aeschylus (c 525-456 BCE)
Sophocles (c 496-406 BCE)
Euripides (c 480-406 BCE)
c 432 BCE: The Parthenon completed in Athens
c 431-404 BCE: Greek Peloponnesian Wars
c 410 BCE: Sophocles writes Electra
c 399 BCE: Execution of Socrates in Athens
Classical Period Timeline

6. Greek Achievements
• The Arts
• Athletics
• Philosophy
• Math
• Politics
• Science
The Big Idea : Ancient Greeks made lasting contributions in the
Arts, philosophy, and science.
Socrates
Aristotle
Plato

7. Math in Ancient Greece
• Achievements in
mathematics,
especially geometry
• Euclid (YOO-kluhd)
was one of these
people, and many
geometry rules we
study today come from
his studies.
With math,
the Greeks
were able
to measure
the size of
Earth.
The study of flat shapes and lines is called Euclidean geometry.
“Man is the Measure of All Things.” - Protogoras

8. Epic Poetry
• Homer — Greek poet, famous for his
epic poems (lengthy narrative poems
about heroic deeds & events)
• Known for the two greatest epic
poems that have survived:
• The Iliad—story of the Greek
war against Troy, fought to bring
Helen back to Greece
• The Odyssey—the story of
Odysseus, a soldier traveling
back home to Greece

9. The First Olympic games, 776 BCE
According to Greek mythology, the Olympic games
began in 776 BCE, as a treaty between three city-
states. They agreed not to make war during the time
of the games.
The winner of the games was given a wreath made
out of an olive branch from Zeus sacred forest.
Olive Branch
Olympic Running Chariot Racing

10. The Olympics were held every
four years during July or August.
The first Olympics lasted only
one day with one contest, the
running of one Stadion (about
200 yards).
There were 10 events:
running, the pentathlon, jumping, discus, javelin,
wrestling, boxing, the pancration (combination
boxing-wrestling), chariot racing, and horse racing.
All Greeks who were free citizens and had not
committed murder or heresy had the right to
take part in the Olympic Games. Women could
not participate or even watch the games.
However, they could own the race horses.
By 5 BCE, the games lasted five days.
Boxing

11. There are many gods in Greek mythology. The
Greeks believed that the gods lived on Mount
Olympus.
The Greek Pantheon of Gods
Summit of Mt
Olympus
The Olympian
Gods
Mount Olympus
Athens

12. Demeter –
Goddess of
Harvest
Aphrodite-
Goddess of
Beauty,love
Dionysus – God of
Wine
Artemis-
Goddess
of the Hunt
Ares –
God of War
Hephaestus –
God of Fire
Zeus –
King of
Gods
Hera-
Goddess
of
Marriage
Apollo –
God of
Prophecy,
Music
Athena-
Goddess
of
Wisdom
Hermes-
Messeng
er God
Poseidon
God of
the Sea

13. Ancient Greek
Pottery

14. Amphora: a tall ancient Greek jar with two
handles and a narrow neck
Terracotta amphora
(black on red)
Terracotta amphora
(red on black)

15. Greek Sculpture

16. Discobolus
Discus
Thrower
(Discobolus)
by Myron

17. Greek Architecture

18. The Parthenon
The Parthenon was
built by Pericles
for Athena, the
protector of Athens.
The Parthenon
has 46 columns
Once a year, the people of Athens held a
festival in honor of Athena.
Inside the Parthenon stood a statue of Athena.

19. The Three Great Athenian Tragedians
Aeschylus Euripides
Sophocles

20. Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)
• Wrote more than 120 tragedies—only a
handful survive
• Major plays include Oedipus the King,
Antigone, Electra (in two of these
works, the heroic figure is a woman)
• Developed his characters more fully
than Aeschylus
• Focused on realistic characterization;
shows characters with psychological
depth
• His characters often stand apart from
others, refusing to compromise
• Added a third actor and increased the
chorus to 15 members
• Concerned with the importance of free
will and moral choice (characters often
embody moral ideals)

21. Different Versions of Electra

22. The Greeks