Third lecture for GNED 1202 (Texts and Ideas). It is a required general education course for all first-year students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. My version of the course is structured as a kind of Intro to Western Civilization style course.
Art and Culture - 03 - Homer and End of Bronze AgeRandy Connolly
Third module for GNED 1201 (Aesthetic Experience and Ideas). This one covers how the historical and cultural context of Homer. It begins by examining art and society of the Minoans and then the Mycenaeans. It then examines Homer, the Iliad, and the Odyssey.
This course is a required general education course for all first-year students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. My version of the course is structured as a kind of Art History and Culture course. Some of the content overlaps with my other Gen Ed course.
The document provides an overview of the three ancient Aegean cultures - the Cycladics, Minoans, and Mycenaeans. It discusses their geographic locations, time periods of prominence, and artistic achievements. The Cycladics inhabited the Cyclades Islands and produced marble figurines. The Minoan civilization was based on Crete and reached its peak around 1700-1500 BCE, evidenced by their elaborate palaces at Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia. The Minoans excelled in pottery, frescoes, and international trade. The Mycenaeans inhabited mainland Greece and were influenced by Minoan and Cycladic cultures.
The Victory of Samothrace statue dates to around the end of the 4th century BC. It was found in fragments in 1863 on the island of Samothrace and has since been carefully reconstructed, with only the wings being modern additions. The statue originally stood on a ship's prow pedestal and depicts the goddess of victory celebrating a naval victory. Coins from the same time period featuring similar depictions help date the statue and inform its restoration.
This document provides an overview of ancient Egypt, beginning with a timeline of important dates. It then summarizes the geography of Egypt and Mesopotamia, noting how the predictable flooding of the Nile river made Egypt suitable for agriculture. Egyptian society was stable for 3000 years due to natural defenses and the river. Key periods of Egyptian history are outlined, along with the development of hieroglyphic writing and the important gods like Osiris, Isis, Horus and Ra. The document analyzes the Palette of Narmer, dating to 3000 BCE, which symbolizes the unification of upper and lower Egypt under King Narmer and the beginning of the dynastic period.
1. Ancient lists of the Seven Wonders of the World were first compiled by Greek historians in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, though the structures dated back to 2700 BC.
2. The only structure that still remains is the Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2560 BC as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. It was estimated to take 20 years and 100,000 workers to construct out of 2 million stone blocks.
3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built around 600 BC by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II to please his homesick Median wife. They were a series of tiered gardens supported by arched brick vaults and
Chapter 1 cave paintings to egyptians(final)Karen Owens
This document provides an overview of prehistoric cultures from the Paleolithic era through ancient civilizations. It describes the major developments in tools, art, architecture, religion, and systems of writing that occurred from approximately 6 million BCE through 1500 BCE across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Mesoamerica. Key events mentioned include the earliest cave paintings from France dated to 15,000-10,000 BCE, the emergence of agriculture in the Neolithic era, structures like Stonehenge and Ziggurats, early legal codes like Hammurabi's, and the rise of ancient empires in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.
Ancient Egypt had a rich culture that lasted over 5000 years, influencing later cultures in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Some key aspects of their culture included hieroglyphic writing, literature dating back to the Old Kingdom, religions such as ancient Egyptian and later Coptic Christianity and Islam, and architectural marvels like the Great Pyramids and Sphinx. The Egyptians also made contributions to arts like sculpture, painting, pottery and music.
Art and Culture - 03 - Homer and End of Bronze AgeRandy Connolly
Third module for GNED 1201 (Aesthetic Experience and Ideas). This one covers how the historical and cultural context of Homer. It begins by examining art and society of the Minoans and then the Mycenaeans. It then examines Homer, the Iliad, and the Odyssey.
This course is a required general education course for all first-year students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. My version of the course is structured as a kind of Art History and Culture course. Some of the content overlaps with my other Gen Ed course.
The document provides an overview of the three ancient Aegean cultures - the Cycladics, Minoans, and Mycenaeans. It discusses their geographic locations, time periods of prominence, and artistic achievements. The Cycladics inhabited the Cyclades Islands and produced marble figurines. The Minoan civilization was based on Crete and reached its peak around 1700-1500 BCE, evidenced by their elaborate palaces at Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia. The Minoans excelled in pottery, frescoes, and international trade. The Mycenaeans inhabited mainland Greece and were influenced by Minoan and Cycladic cultures.
The Victory of Samothrace statue dates to around the end of the 4th century BC. It was found in fragments in 1863 on the island of Samothrace and has since been carefully reconstructed, with only the wings being modern additions. The statue originally stood on a ship's prow pedestal and depicts the goddess of victory celebrating a naval victory. Coins from the same time period featuring similar depictions help date the statue and inform its restoration.
This document provides an overview of ancient Egypt, beginning with a timeline of important dates. It then summarizes the geography of Egypt and Mesopotamia, noting how the predictable flooding of the Nile river made Egypt suitable for agriculture. Egyptian society was stable for 3000 years due to natural defenses and the river. Key periods of Egyptian history are outlined, along with the development of hieroglyphic writing and the important gods like Osiris, Isis, Horus and Ra. The document analyzes the Palette of Narmer, dating to 3000 BCE, which symbolizes the unification of upper and lower Egypt under King Narmer and the beginning of the dynastic period.
1. Ancient lists of the Seven Wonders of the World were first compiled by Greek historians in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, though the structures dated back to 2700 BC.
2. The only structure that still remains is the Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2560 BC as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. It was estimated to take 20 years and 100,000 workers to construct out of 2 million stone blocks.
3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built around 600 BC by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II to please his homesick Median wife. They were a series of tiered gardens supported by arched brick vaults and
Chapter 1 cave paintings to egyptians(final)Karen Owens
This document provides an overview of prehistoric cultures from the Paleolithic era through ancient civilizations. It describes the major developments in tools, art, architecture, religion, and systems of writing that occurred from approximately 6 million BCE through 1500 BCE across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Mesoamerica. Key events mentioned include the earliest cave paintings from France dated to 15,000-10,000 BCE, the emergence of agriculture in the Neolithic era, structures like Stonehenge and Ziggurats, early legal codes like Hammurabi's, and the rise of ancient empires in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.
Ancient Egypt had a rich culture that lasted over 5000 years, influencing later cultures in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Some key aspects of their culture included hieroglyphic writing, literature dating back to the Old Kingdom, religions such as ancient Egyptian and later Coptic Christianity and Islam, and architectural marvels like the Great Pyramids and Sphinx. The Egyptians also made contributions to arts like sculpture, painting, pottery and music.
The document provides information on several aspects of ancient Greek civilization, including:
- The Mycenaeans were a powerful and militant people who absorbed the earlier Minoan civilization around 1600-1200 BCE.
- Greek mythology developed from ancient fertility cults and was later written down as epic poems like the Iliad and Odyssey.
- Mycenaean fortified citadels and city-states like Mycenae emerged in the Bronze Age. The Greeks later developed advanced architecture, art, drama, and philosophy.
The document provides information on the differences between ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It discusses differences in art styles, with Greeks favoring perfection and Romans realism. It also contrasts how the Greeks established colonies while the Romans built an empire through conquest. The Greeks created independent city-states while the Romans united a large territory under a central government. The Greeks spoke Greek and the Romans spoke Latin.
The document summarizes each of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It describes the Great Pyramid of Giza as the largest pyramid built with over 2 million stones. It details the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, said to be built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to please his homesick wife from the mountains, using advanced irrigation. It discusses the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, rebuilt several times and known for its towering columns. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, built by Phidias, was considered the most impressive artistic work in Greece. The Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters tall in the harbor. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the first, guided ships
The document discusses various innovations from ancient Egypt, including cosmetics like eye makeup still used today, papyrus which was used as a writing material, and the calendar system tied to agriculture. Other inventions discussed are the plow for farming, early locks and keys for security, and dental hygiene tools like toothpicks and early forms of toothpaste and toothbrushes. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to develop many technologies still used in modern times.
The document provides an overview of prehistoric cultures from the Paleolithic era to the Neolithic era. It discusses early cave paintings from 15,000-10,000 BCE found in France and their possible purposes. It also describes the transition to farming and domestication during the Neolithic, with rock paintings from Algeria depicting herding. Various artifacts are mentioned like figurines, pottery, and architecture from cultures across Europe, Africa, and Asia during this time period.
A Presentation on Egyptian Civilization and its history from Late Neolithic era to the decline of Egypt in 30 BC.
This Presentation looks at History of Egypt, Social structure, Architecture, Daily life of average Egyptian, Pharaohs and their roles in governance, religion and gods of Ancient Egypt, Language and Literature, Egyptian Art and representation, and Legacy of Egyptian civilization.
Ancient Egyptians created elaborate art and architecture over 5,000 years ago that depicted both royal figures and daily life. They constructed massive pyramids and sculptures like the Great Sphinx using precisely cut stones. One of the most famous pharaohs was King Tutankhamen, known as the Boy King, whose lavishly decorated tomb in the Valley of the Kings was discovered intact. Egyptian artistry and hieroglyphic writing system influenced cultures worldwide and have helped historians understand Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
Ancient Egypt had a thriving civilization along the Nile River from around 3000-2500 BC. The Egyptians built massive pyramids, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, to serve as tombs for pharaohs. Everyday life was organized around religion, with gods like Ra and rituals like mummification of the dead. The absolute monarchy was ruled by pharaohs considered divine beings, while hieroglyphics and art provided insights into Egyptian culture, mythology, and way of life.
The document provides an overview of ancient Egyptian art and culture. It describes how ancient Egyptians created paintings and sculptures to decorate tombs and pyramids in order to provide help for the soul in the afterlife. Key art forms discussed include sculptures of pharaohs and gods, gold masks placed on mummies, and wall paintings in tombs that depicted daily life. Architecture such as pyramids and temples are also summarized.
The two most important trends of the early archaic period were the spread of Greek culture and the new governmental model of tyranny. Both had profound effects upon Greek history
Sumerian art originated in Mesopotamia between 4500-2270 BCE. The Sumerians developed many innovations including the first mass-produced pottery, metalworking, and writing. Their art progressed from early pottery to free-standing sculpture and bronze statuettes by 3000 BCE. Important works include the Stele of the Vultures, a stone relief from 2500 BCE depicting a king's military victories. Sumerian architecture used brick and early forms like ziggurats, with buttressed walls becoming a distinctive feature. Low relief sculpture decorated buildings and furniture, and stelae became common memorial monuments.
The document summarizes various aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization such as their writing system, cuisine, holidays, geography, architecture, traditional dress, and history. Hieroglyphic writing was used to record information about religion and government. Bread was a staple food and Egyptians used garlic and onions frequently in cooking. Major structures from ancient Egypt include the pyramids and Sphinx. Egypt had a long continuous history as the earliest unified state dating back to around 3000 BC.
The document provides background information on ancient Greek and Egyptian art and civilization. It discusses how the Greeks valued intellectual pursuits and discovery, which influenced their artistic focus on realistic human representation. Greek art advanced beyond Egyptian conventions of stylized figures. It also overview key aspects of Egyptian civilization and art, noting their focus on religion and the afterlife, which influenced their monumental tomb and pyramid construction and preservation of the dead through mummification.
Ancient Egypt was dominated by the worship of gods like Amon, the sun god and creator. Pharaohs like Tutankhamun were believed to have a divine right to rule that was granted by the gods. Egyptians also had a strong cult of the dead and belief in the afterlife, as evidenced by practices like mummification and the construction of pyramids and the Book of the Dead to guide souls in the afterlife. Akhenaten later challenged traditional Egyptian polytheism by establishing a monotheistic cult that worshipped the sun god Aten as the sole deity.
This document provides a summary of black history in Europe from prehistoric times to modern era. It describes how Homo erectus and Neanderthals inhabited Europe hundreds of thousands of years ago. Around 45,000 BC, modern humans known as Grimaldi people crossed into Europe from Africa as the ice sheets retreated. They inhabited all of Europe. Skeletal remains show Grimaldi people had Negroid features. Cro-Magnon humans also migrated from Africa into Europe around 35,000 years ago. Many ancient civilizations arose in Europe with origins tracing back to North Africa and the Middle East, including Minoan, Etruscan, and Greek civilizations. Later invasions by pale-skinned groups from
Ancient Greeks had a limited understanding of Africa based on vague geography knowledge. They referred to all black Africans as Ethiopians. Early depictions in art narrowly defined Africans by their black skin. Over time, exposure through trade, settlements, and military encounters expanded Greek knowledge and depictions of Africans in art, literature, plays, and mythology. By the Hellenistic period, Africans were integrated into Greek society and depicted in various occupations, though some were also slaves. Scholars debate the level of racial prejudice ancient Greeks held towards black Africans.
HISTORY OF DESIGN COMPILED BY ADEEBA AFREEN Adeeba Afreen
The document provides information on ancient Egyptian civilization from 3500 BC to 300 BC. It details that Egyptians developed an advanced civilization along the Nile River, with major achievements in architecture, art, mathematics, and more. They built large pyramids, temples and obelisks from stone as tombs for pharaohs and tributes to gods. Egyptian art was characterized by order and symmetry with figures depicted in sizes according to social hierarchy. Furniture included wooden chairs, stools and beds decorated with carvings and symbolic motifs.
The document provides an overview of classical Greek architecture, beginning with its origins in wood construction. It discusses how architecture transitioned to stone, still reflecting wooden designs, and how orders like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian styles emerged. Floor plans of temples are examined, from simple naos structures to grandest dipteral designs. Elements of columns and entablatures are defined. Optical illusions in the Parthenon are noted. The lasting influence of Greek architecture is summarized.
El documento presenta un vocabulario temático en griego. En pocas palabras, proporciona una lista de términos relacionados con un tema específico en el idioma griego.
The document provides information on several aspects of ancient Greek civilization, including:
- The Mycenaeans were a powerful and militant people who absorbed the earlier Minoan civilization around 1600-1200 BCE.
- Greek mythology developed from ancient fertility cults and was later written down as epic poems like the Iliad and Odyssey.
- Mycenaean fortified citadels and city-states like Mycenae emerged in the Bronze Age. The Greeks later developed advanced architecture, art, drama, and philosophy.
The document provides information on the differences between ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It discusses differences in art styles, with Greeks favoring perfection and Romans realism. It also contrasts how the Greeks established colonies while the Romans built an empire through conquest. The Greeks created independent city-states while the Romans united a large territory under a central government. The Greeks spoke Greek and the Romans spoke Latin.
The document summarizes each of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It describes the Great Pyramid of Giza as the largest pyramid built with over 2 million stones. It details the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, said to be built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to please his homesick wife from the mountains, using advanced irrigation. It discusses the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, rebuilt several times and known for its towering columns. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, built by Phidias, was considered the most impressive artistic work in Greece. The Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters tall in the harbor. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the first, guided ships
The document discusses various innovations from ancient Egypt, including cosmetics like eye makeup still used today, papyrus which was used as a writing material, and the calendar system tied to agriculture. Other inventions discussed are the plow for farming, early locks and keys for security, and dental hygiene tools like toothpicks and early forms of toothpaste and toothbrushes. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to develop many technologies still used in modern times.
The document provides an overview of prehistoric cultures from the Paleolithic era to the Neolithic era. It discusses early cave paintings from 15,000-10,000 BCE found in France and their possible purposes. It also describes the transition to farming and domestication during the Neolithic, with rock paintings from Algeria depicting herding. Various artifacts are mentioned like figurines, pottery, and architecture from cultures across Europe, Africa, and Asia during this time period.
A Presentation on Egyptian Civilization and its history from Late Neolithic era to the decline of Egypt in 30 BC.
This Presentation looks at History of Egypt, Social structure, Architecture, Daily life of average Egyptian, Pharaohs and their roles in governance, religion and gods of Ancient Egypt, Language and Literature, Egyptian Art and representation, and Legacy of Egyptian civilization.
Ancient Egyptians created elaborate art and architecture over 5,000 years ago that depicted both royal figures and daily life. They constructed massive pyramids and sculptures like the Great Sphinx using precisely cut stones. One of the most famous pharaohs was King Tutankhamen, known as the Boy King, whose lavishly decorated tomb in the Valley of the Kings was discovered intact. Egyptian artistry and hieroglyphic writing system influenced cultures worldwide and have helped historians understand Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
Ancient Egypt had a thriving civilization along the Nile River from around 3000-2500 BC. The Egyptians built massive pyramids, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, to serve as tombs for pharaohs. Everyday life was organized around religion, with gods like Ra and rituals like mummification of the dead. The absolute monarchy was ruled by pharaohs considered divine beings, while hieroglyphics and art provided insights into Egyptian culture, mythology, and way of life.
The document provides an overview of ancient Egyptian art and culture. It describes how ancient Egyptians created paintings and sculptures to decorate tombs and pyramids in order to provide help for the soul in the afterlife. Key art forms discussed include sculptures of pharaohs and gods, gold masks placed on mummies, and wall paintings in tombs that depicted daily life. Architecture such as pyramids and temples are also summarized.
The two most important trends of the early archaic period were the spread of Greek culture and the new governmental model of tyranny. Both had profound effects upon Greek history
Sumerian art originated in Mesopotamia between 4500-2270 BCE. The Sumerians developed many innovations including the first mass-produced pottery, metalworking, and writing. Their art progressed from early pottery to free-standing sculpture and bronze statuettes by 3000 BCE. Important works include the Stele of the Vultures, a stone relief from 2500 BCE depicting a king's military victories. Sumerian architecture used brick and early forms like ziggurats, with buttressed walls becoming a distinctive feature. Low relief sculpture decorated buildings and furniture, and stelae became common memorial monuments.
The document summarizes various aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization such as their writing system, cuisine, holidays, geography, architecture, traditional dress, and history. Hieroglyphic writing was used to record information about religion and government. Bread was a staple food and Egyptians used garlic and onions frequently in cooking. Major structures from ancient Egypt include the pyramids and Sphinx. Egypt had a long continuous history as the earliest unified state dating back to around 3000 BC.
The document provides background information on ancient Greek and Egyptian art and civilization. It discusses how the Greeks valued intellectual pursuits and discovery, which influenced their artistic focus on realistic human representation. Greek art advanced beyond Egyptian conventions of stylized figures. It also overview key aspects of Egyptian civilization and art, noting their focus on religion and the afterlife, which influenced their monumental tomb and pyramid construction and preservation of the dead through mummification.
Ancient Egypt was dominated by the worship of gods like Amon, the sun god and creator. Pharaohs like Tutankhamun were believed to have a divine right to rule that was granted by the gods. Egyptians also had a strong cult of the dead and belief in the afterlife, as evidenced by practices like mummification and the construction of pyramids and the Book of the Dead to guide souls in the afterlife. Akhenaten later challenged traditional Egyptian polytheism by establishing a monotheistic cult that worshipped the sun god Aten as the sole deity.
This document provides a summary of black history in Europe from prehistoric times to modern era. It describes how Homo erectus and Neanderthals inhabited Europe hundreds of thousands of years ago. Around 45,000 BC, modern humans known as Grimaldi people crossed into Europe from Africa as the ice sheets retreated. They inhabited all of Europe. Skeletal remains show Grimaldi people had Negroid features. Cro-Magnon humans also migrated from Africa into Europe around 35,000 years ago. Many ancient civilizations arose in Europe with origins tracing back to North Africa and the Middle East, including Minoan, Etruscan, and Greek civilizations. Later invasions by pale-skinned groups from
Ancient Greeks had a limited understanding of Africa based on vague geography knowledge. They referred to all black Africans as Ethiopians. Early depictions in art narrowly defined Africans by their black skin. Over time, exposure through trade, settlements, and military encounters expanded Greek knowledge and depictions of Africans in art, literature, plays, and mythology. By the Hellenistic period, Africans were integrated into Greek society and depicted in various occupations, though some were also slaves. Scholars debate the level of racial prejudice ancient Greeks held towards black Africans.
HISTORY OF DESIGN COMPILED BY ADEEBA AFREEN Adeeba Afreen
The document provides information on ancient Egyptian civilization from 3500 BC to 300 BC. It details that Egyptians developed an advanced civilization along the Nile River, with major achievements in architecture, art, mathematics, and more. They built large pyramids, temples and obelisks from stone as tombs for pharaohs and tributes to gods. Egyptian art was characterized by order and symmetry with figures depicted in sizes according to social hierarchy. Furniture included wooden chairs, stools and beds decorated with carvings and symbolic motifs.
The document provides an overview of classical Greek architecture, beginning with its origins in wood construction. It discusses how architecture transitioned to stone, still reflecting wooden designs, and how orders like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian styles emerged. Floor plans of temples are examined, from simple naos structures to grandest dipteral designs. Elements of columns and entablatures are defined. Optical illusions in the Parthenon are noted. The lasting influence of Greek architecture is summarized.
El documento presenta un vocabulario temático en griego. En pocas palabras, proporciona una lista de términos relacionados con un tema específico en el idioma griego.
1. The geography of Greece, with its mountains and coastline, contributed to the development of independent city-states and a sense of liberty among the Greeks. It also pushed the growth of maritime trade and colonization.
2. Athens developed as a center of democracy in the 5th century BCE under Cleisthenes and Pericles. All male citizens could participate directly in the assembly and jury courts.
3. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire and much of Asia from 336-323 BCE through his innovative military tactics. His conquests spread Greek culture and political models across his vast empire.
The document discusses Homo erectus, including:
1) Homo erectus erectus, also known as "Java Man", was discovered in Java in 1891 and is considered the earliest evidence of Homo erectus in Asia.
2) Homo erectus inhabited Java around 1 million years ago and is considered the first tool-making hominin species.
3) Remains of Homo erectus have been found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, indicating they had a wide geographic range during the Middle Pleistocene era.
Fossil Hominins: From Ardipithecus to HomoPaulVMcDowell
The document summarizes key trends in hominin evolution from Ardipithecus to Homo sapiens. It describes major fossil finds representing stages from 4-5 million years ago to the present. Major transitions include the emergence of bipedalism, increasing brain size, adaptation of hands and forelimbs for tool use, and development of stone tool technologies from Oldowan to Acheulean and Mousterian industries.
Art and Culture - 02 - Bronze Age OverviewRandy Connolly
Second module for GNED 1201 (Aesthetic Experience and Ideas). This one covers the early Bronze Age historical and cultural context, from the beginnings of urban culture in Mesopotamia up to the Assyrians.
This course is a required general education course for all first-year students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. My version of the course is structured as a kind of Art History and Culture course. Some of the content overlaps with my other Gen Ed course.
The document provides information on the Mycenaean civilization that flourished in ancient Greece between 1600-1100 BC. Some key details include:
- Major Mycenaean cities included Mycenae, Tiryns, Pylos, Athens, Thebes, and Iolkos.
- The Mycenaeans built large fortified palaces centered around a great hall called a megaron. Their architecture included cyclopean stone walls and corbel vaulting techniques.
- They developed a writing system called Linear B and traded goods widely throughout the Mediterranean, leaving behind pottery as evidence. Their advanced culture was influenced by earlier Minoan Crete.
El Zoroastrismo es una antigua religión persa fundada por Zoroastro que luchó contra la religión politeísta y enseñó sobre Ahura Mazda, el Creador de la Vida y la Materia. Sus textos sagrados son el Avesta y sus símbolos incluyen el fuego y el Farohar.
The document summarizes the Dark Ages in Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 496 AD. Key events include barbarian attacks, the rise of feudalism and the Catholic Church, the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne, and increasing conflict with Islamic expansion. Society was organized around a strict feudal system with the Catholic Church holding significant power and control over education, science, and philosophy. The foundations were being laid for major conflicts like the Crusades between Christianity and Islam.
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of bronze, proto-writing, and other early features of urban civilization.
The Bronze Age is the second principal period of the three-age Stone-Bronze-Iron system, as proposed in modern times by Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, for classifying and studying ancient societies.
The document provides background information on the Mycenaean civilization that existed during the late Bronze Age in Greece, including details about the Trojan War. It summarizes the plot of the 2004 film Troy, noting that Helen of Sparta left her husband Menelaus for Paris of Troy, sparking the Trojan War. It then lists the 10 main characters in the film and provides a brief description of the significant scene involving the Trojan Horse. Finally, it introduces the Mycenaean civilization and provides a basic timeline of ancient Greece.
This document provides an overview of early human societies from prehistory to around 2500 BCE. It discusses the evolution of early hominids in Africa like Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and the emergence of Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens developed language and bigger brains, allowing them to migrate throughout Africa and Eurasia. The document then covers the Paleolithic period, where humans lived as hunter-gatherers, and the Neolithic period, where the agricultural revolution occurred and led to more permanent settlements and the rise of social hierarchies.
El documento describe los diferentes tipos de templos griegos según la posición y número de columnas, incluyendo: tholos (circular con dos hileras de columnas), in antis (dos columnas en la parte delantera), in doppio antis (columnas entre prolongaciones de los muros delantero y trasero), próstilo (columnas sólo en un pórtico), y anfipróstilo (columnas en las fachadas delantera y trasera).
This document summarizes aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization such as how the rise and fall of Egypt was tied to flooding of the Nile River, how pharaohs ruled as kings, hieroglyphics developed as a written script read from right to left, and how pyramids contained mummies, bodies of favorites, and treasures of the rulers like weapons, clothes, and gold.
Humans, scientifically known as Homo Sapiens, emerged around 12,000 years ago in Africa and are the only surviving species of the Homo genus. As hunter-gatherers, early humans lacked modern behaviors like abstract thinking until around 50,000 years ago when signs of prehistoric art began to emerge. Modern humans are highly intelligent social animals capable of complex language, logic, science, and technology that sets them apart from other species.
The Bronze Age lasted from around 2300 BC to 700 BC. During this time, bronze was widely used to make tools, weapons, and other implements as it was harder than previously used stone. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Cities without natural resources to obtain bronze were forced to trade with those that did have resources. The development of bronze tools and weapons advanced societies politically, economically, socially, and culturally. One influential Bronze Age invention was the chariot, a light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses that was used for transportation, hunting, and as a powerful military weapon.
Project 1 stone age_bronze age_iron ageMartin Brown
1. The document discusses the development of megalithic tombs and wedge tombs in Ireland during the Neolithic period. It describes the different types of megalithic tombs including court tombs, portal dolmens, passage tombs, and wedge tombs.
2. It provides details on the wedge-shaped gallery grave located at Lough Gur, including that it dates to around 2500 BC and has two chambers - a main chamber and portico. Artifacts found inside included human bones and animal remains.
3. The document outlines some of the decorative motifs found on megalithic art in passage tombs, including circles, spirals, arcs, lozenges, and parallel lines.
El documento resume la evolución de la escultura griega desde el período arcaico hasta el período helenístico. En el período arcaico, las esculturas como la Kore del Peplo y los Kouroi muestran rigidez y falta de naturalidad. En el período clásico, escultores como Fidias y Polícleto buscaron la belleza, armonía y equilibrio en obras como el Doríforo. En el período helenístico, Praxíteles transmitió movimiento en obras como la Venus de Cn
The document summarizes the emergence and evolution of early human species from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens. It describes key findings such as the transition from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens around 500,000 years ago. Neanderthals appeared in Europe and western Asia around 300,000 years ago. Modern humans emerged in Africa around 160,000 years ago and spread throughout the Old World, eventually replacing Neanderthals. Upper Paleolithic cultures from 40,000 years ago produced new toolmaking techniques like blade production and pressure flaking.
The document provides information about Cycladic art from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea. It describes distinct features of Cycladic art including small, simple female idols used for funerary purposes that ranged from 1 to 5 feet tall and had minimal facial features. A few male statues depicted musicians. The document also provides details about Minoan and Mycenaean art, including characteristics of Palace architecture and wall paintings at Knossos, distinctive features of Minoan pottery and figurines, and burial practices like beehive tombs and shaft graves.
The Minoan civilization flourished on the island of Crete between approximately 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE. They developed an advanced, centralized society with large palaces that administered outlying towns and villages. Minoan art, architecture, and technology were highly advanced for the Bronze Age. The Minoan civilization declined rapidly around 1500 BCE, possibly due to the eruption of the Thera volcano and an invasion by the Mycenaeans.
- Greek civilization is known through monuments, Roman copies, and literary sources which sometimes conflict.
- It started as tribal groups like the Dorians and Ionians and remained divided into city-states (polis) though united for festivals.
- Rivalry between states stimulated growth of ideas.
The document provides an overview of ancient Greek civilization from approximately 3000-332 BCE. It discusses the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures, including art, architecture, and mythology. It also describes the rise of the Greek city-states and their unification against the Persians in the 5th century BCE. Key figures mentioned include Homer, whose epics defined Greek mythology, and landmarks such as the Parthenon and Temple of Zeus.
The Olmecs were the earliest civilization in Mexico, emerging over 3000 years ago. They built large ceremonial centers and pyramids, displaying great wealth and power. Artifacts found indicate the Olmecs engaged in extensive trade networks across Mesoamerica. They were also innovative, developing concepts like the zero, writing systems, and the Mesoamerican calendar. However, the reasons for the Olmecs' decline around 400 BCE remain unknown.
The document discusses the early civilizations that influenced ancient Greece, including the Minoans of Crete and the Mycenaeans. The Minoans established an advanced civilization on Crete centered around their palace at Knossos. They engaged in extensive trade by sea. The Mycenaeans later dominated the Aegean region and engaged in the Trojan War as depicted in Homer's epics. After the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, Greek city-states began to rise and develop different forms of government in isolated areas separated by mountains and sea.
The document provides information about ancient Greece, including:
- The history of Greece can be traced back to Stone Age hunters and early farmers like the Minoans and Mycenaeans. Greece later experienced invasions and wars during the Dark Ages.
- Important sites in Greece include the Acropolis in Athens, home to structures like the Parthenon. Greek culture and religion centered around temples built in classical styles.
- The Greeks held athletic competitions like the Olympics to honor the gods. Arts and philosophy also flourished in Greek civilization.
- The document discusses key figures and periods in ancient Greek history like the Greco-Persian Wars, Alexander the Great, and important philosophers, scientists
Art and Culture - Module 05 - Hellenism and RomeRandy Connolly
Fifth module for GNED 1201 (Aesthetic Experience and Ideas). This one covers the art and culture of first the Hellenistic world, then that of Republican and Imperial Rome. Presentation focuses on the Second Century Crisis and cultural and aesthetic responses to it.
This course is a required general education course for all first-year students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. My version of the course is structured as a kind of Art History and Culture course. Some of the content overlaps with my other Gen Ed course.
Art History: PreHistory through Greek potterysandinagay
I wanted my students to learn a little art history. So we started from the beginning and went to the Greek pottery. Then I had them create vases depicting one of the five Greek styles of pottery. The week before I discussed cave paintings/art. So this is really the 2nd part to the art history.
The Minoan civilization flourished on the island of Crete between 2700-1400 BC and was named after King Minos. It was a sea-trading culture whose success was based on commerce rather than military conquest. They had contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia and adapted foreign ideas. The Minoans built an elaborate palace complex at Knossos decorated with colorful frescoes providing insight into their society. Around 1400 BC, the Minoan civilization vanished possibly due to a natural disaster. The Mycenaeans then dominated the Aegean from 1400-1200 BC and were involved in the historic Trojan War around 1250 BC, as described in Homer's epic poems the Iliad and O
The document summarizes Etruscan art and culture from 1000-100 BCE in Italy. The Etruscans occupied Tuscany between Florence and Rome, living in independent city-states. They excelled at metalworking and introduced urban planning concepts to the Romans. Etruscan tombs and sarcophagi provide insight into their beliefs about the afterlife, often depicting the deceased at banquets. Their art was influenced by Greece but had distinct styles like the use of terracotta sculpture. By the 1st century BCE, Roman domination caused a decline in Etruscan civilization and artistic production.
The Greek timeline document outlines the major periods in ancient Greek history from 8000 BCE to 776 BCE. It describes the earliest evidence of burials in Greece from 7250 BCE and the development of settlements, fortifications, and the earliest "Megaron House" between 7000-3400 BCE. Several important Bronze Age civilizations like the Minoans and Mycenaeans arose between 3000-1100 BCE, with sites like Knossos and Mycenae featuring palaces and frescoes. Linear B writing developed around 1450 BCE. The Trojan War and Dark Ages followed between 1250-750 BCE.
Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian literature were among the earliest in the world. Egyptian literature dates back to pharaonic Egypt and was written in hieroglyphs on stone monuments and papyrus. The most extensive work is the Book of the Dead. Mesopotamian literature originated with the Sumerians in cuneiform script on clay tablets. Major works include the Epic of Gilgamesh about a king who seeks immortality, and flood stories resembling the biblical account. Both cultures produced religious texts, histories, letters, and stories that provide insight into their ancient civilizations.
The document discusses three ancient Aegean cultures - the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean cultures. It provides details on the Cycladic culture centered on the Cyclades Islands, known for its marble figurines. It then discusses the Minoan culture based in Crete, the largest of the Aegean islands, which was dominated by its palace centers and extensive trade networks. Finally, it discusses the Mycenaean culture of mainland Greece, which was influenced by the Minoans.
Historical Development of children and adolescent.pptxLuna Mera
This document summarizes the historical development of children and adolescent literature from the Classical World period between 850 BCE to 476 CE. It describes this early period as one where stories were transmitted orally and literature was shared commonly between children and adults. Famous works from this era included Greek myths, epics by Homer including The Iliad and The Odyssey, and fables from Aesop. The document then outlines subsequent periods including the Classical Greek period, Classical Roman period, and Patriotic period, noting important works and authors that emerged during each time.
- Early civilizations arose along river valleys in Mesopotamia and Egypt as early as 3000 BC, developing writing, laws, money, and complex social hierarchies. Many collapsed around 1200 BC.
- Subsequent civilizations included the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, and various Egyptian dynasties. The Phoenicians developed the first alphabet.
- Greek civilization flourished beginning in the 8th century BC. Athens and Sparta rose as powerful city-states, engaging in wars with Persia. Athenian culture and philosophy flourished with figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
- The Romans adopted many aspects of Greek culture while
Greece's mountainous geography led to the development of independent city-states. The Minoan civilization established the first complex society on Crete in the Bronze Age. The Mycenaeans created the first Greek state, consisting of powerful monarchies living within walled cities. They had a warrior culture and traded widely. Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and Odyssey, emerged from the subsequent Dark Age and taught Greek values like courage and honor.
Discussion of Burial Traditions in the Middle Kingdom. The spread of the believe in the After Life to everyone in Egypt. Pyramid text which are instructions on how to bet into the After Life in the Old Kingdom were written on Pyramid Walls in the Middle Kingdom they become Coffin Text because they are written on insides of coffins.
The Mycenaean civilization flourished in ancient Greece from around 1600 BC to 1200 BC. They established fortified palaces and elaborate tombs, and traded extensively throughout the Mediterranean. The Mycenaeans were influenced by the Minoan civilization of Crete in their art, architecture, and religion. By the late Bronze Age, Mycenaean cities like Mycenae and Tiryns featured massive fortification walls, megaron-style palaces, and shaft graves containing rich treasures. The Mycenaean civilization mysteriously collapsed around 1200 BC, possibly due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and invasions.
Similar to Introduction to Western Humanities - 3 - Homer and the Bronze Age (20)
Celebrating the Release of Computing Careers and DisciplinesRandy Connolly
Talk given at CANNEXUS 2020 on the release of our Computing Careers and Disciplines booklet, which has gone on to be downloaded over 200000 times since its release.
Public Computing Intellectuals in the Age of AI CrisisRandy Connolly
This talk advocates for a conceptual archetype (the Public Computer Intellectual) as a way of practically imagining the expanded possibilities of academic practice in the computing disciplines, one that provides both self-critique and an outward-facing orientation towards the public good.
Lightning Talk given at the start of the celebration evening for the ten-year anniversary of our Bachelor of Computer Information Systems at Mount Royal University.
Facing Backwards While Stumbling Forwards: The Future of Teaching Web Develop...Randy Connolly
Talk given at SIGCSE'19. Web development continues to grow as an essential skill and knowledge area for employed computer science graduates. Yet within the ACM CS2013 curriculum recommendation and within computing education research in general, web development has been shrinking or even disappearing all together. This paper uses an informal systematic literature review methodology to answer three research questions: what approaches are being advocated in existing web development education research, what are current trends in industry practice, and how should web development be taught in light of these current trends. Results showed a significant mismatch between the type of web development typically taught in higher education settings in comparison to web development in industry practice. Consequences for the pedagogy of web development courses, computer science curriculum in general, and for computing education research are also discussed.
Mid-semester presentation for my Computers & Society course at Mount Royal University. Has some technical detail about how the internet works, web protocols, data centres, and typical security threats.
The document provides a summary of modern web development topics covered in 3 sentences or less:
Modern Web Development topics covered include the infrastructure of the internet, client-server communication models, the need for server-side programs, web architecture patterns, JavaScript's central role, front-end frameworks, cloud computing models, microservices architecture, and containers. Web development has become more complex with client-side logic, front-end frameworks, and the rise of cloud, microservices, and containers, which allow for more modular and scalable application development. Future trends discussed include progressive web apps, microservices architecture, and containers as a lightweight deployment mechanism for microservices.
Helping Prospective Students Understand the Computing DisciplinesRandy Connolly
Presentation at Cannexus 2018 in Ottawa in which we discussed the results of our three-year research project on student understandings of the computing disciplines and described the 32-page full-color booklet for advisers and prospective students.
This document discusses the process of constructing a textbook on web development. It covers planning the textbook's topics and structure, writing the content over 7 months while splitting chapters with a co-author, undergoing review processes, redrawing over 120 diagrams in a new style, and producing a second edition with additional content such as JavaScript and CSS3. Key challenges included navigating copyright issues, outsourcing production, and ensuring diversity in illustrations. The document provides insight into the lengthy efforts required to research, write, and produce a college textbook.
Talk given at University of Applied Sciences at Krems , Austria for Master Forum 2017. Provides a rich overview of contemporary web development suitable for managers and business people.
Disrupting the Discourse of the "Digital Disruption of _____"Randy Connolly
Talk given at University of Applied Sciences for Management and Communication in Vienna in January 2017. It critically interrogates the narrative of digital disruption. It will describe some of the contemporary psychological and social research about the digital lifeworld and make some broader observations about how to best think about technological change.
Every year at our new student orientation, I used to give this talk to our first year students. Instead of telling them what they should do to achieve success, we thought it would be more effective and humourous to tell them instead how best to fail your courses. This was the last version of this talk from 2017.
Red Fish Blue Fish: Reexamining Student Understanding of the Computing Discip...Randy Connolly
This 2016 presentation (for a paper) updates the findings of a multi-year study that is surveying major and non-major students’ understanding of the different computing disciplines. This study is a continuation of work first presented by Uzoka et al in 2013, which in turn was an expansion of work originally conducted by Courte and Bishop-Clark from 2009. In the current study, data was collected from 668 students from four universities from three different countries. Results show that students in general were able to correctly match computing tasks with specific disciplines, but were not as certain as the faculty about the degree of fit. Differences in accuracy between student groups were, however, discovered. Software engineering and computer science students had statistically significant lower accuracy scores than students from other computing disciplines. Consequences and recommendations for advising and career counselling are discussed.
Constructing and revising a web development textbookRandy Connolly
A Pecha Kucha for WWW2016 in Montreal. Web development is widely considered to be a difficult topic to teach successfully within post-secondary computing programs. One reason for this difficulty is the large number of shifting technologies that need to be taught along with the conceptual complexity that needs to be mastered by both student and professor. Another challenge is helping students see the scope of web development, and their role in an era where the web is a part of everyday human affairs. This presentation describes our 2014 textbook and our plans for a second edition revision (which will be published in early 2017).
Computing is Not a Rock Band: Student Understanding of the Computing DisciplinesRandy Connolly
This presentation reports the initial findings of a multi-year study that is surveying major and non-major students’ understanding of the different computing disciplines. This study is based on work originally conducted by Courte and Bishop-Clark from 2009, but which uses a broadened study instrument that provided additional forms of analysis. Data was collected from 199 students from a single institution who were computer science, information systems/information technology and non-major students taking a variety of introductory computing courses. Results show that undergraduate computing students are more likely to rate tasks as being better fits to computer disciplines than are their non-major (NM) peers. Uncertainty among respondents did play a large role in the results and is discussed alongside implications for teaching and further research.
Citizenship: How do leaders in universities think about and experience citize...Randy Connolly
This presentation explores the concept of citizenship based on the experience of student leaders from a mid-sized university in western Canada. Five student leaders participated in semi-structured individual interviews to explore their experience with, and understanding of, citizenship. Interviews concentrated on personal view points and definitions of citizenship, explored whether or not there are “good” and “great” citizens, and the role universities play in fostering strong citizenship amongst its student body. The measurement of citizenship and opportunities to foster citizenship were also explored. Qualitative content analysis revealed five themes, including political participation, social citizenship/solidarity, engagement, transformative action and autonomy. Citizenship, while highly valued by this population, also appears to be impossible to measure. If post-secondary institutions are aiming to create better citizens, more work needs to be done to create a common understanding of the intended outcome. Based on these findings, a new potential model of citizenship is proposed, in line with the work of Dalton and others who emphasize a shift towards personal involvement over traditional political engagement. Further, these results suggest that students could benefit from understanding themselves as political agents, capable of inculcating change within the university context and beyond.
Presentation for a guest lecture for a colleague's Media History and Contemporary Issues course. She wanted me to cover technological determinism and social constructivism, as well as through in some content about my research on multitasking and online reading.
A longitudinal examination of SIGITE conference submission dataRandy Connolly
Presents our examination of submission data for the SIGITE conference between the years 2007-2012. SIGITE is an ACM computing conference on IT education. The presentation describes which external factors and which internal characteristics of the submissions are related to eventual reviewer ratings. Ramifications of the findings for future authors and conference organizers are also discussed. If you want to read the full paper, visit http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2656450.2656465
This document is a chapter from a textbook on web development security. It covers several key security principles for web development, including the CIA triad of confidentiality, integrity and availability. It discusses risk assessment and management, including identifying actors, impacts, threats and vulnerabilities. Authentication methods like passwords, multifactor authentication and third party authentication are explained. The importance of authorization to define user privileges is also covered. Overall security practices like secure design, testing, policies and business continuity planning are recommended.
Temple of Asclepius in Thrace. Excavation resultsKrassimira Luka
The temple and the sanctuary around were dedicated to Asklepios Zmidrenus. This name has been known since 1875 when an inscription dedicated to him was discovered in Rome. The inscription is dated in 227 AD and was left by soldiers originating from the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv).
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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How to Setup Warehouse & Location in Odoo 17 InventoryCeline George
In this slide, we'll explore how to set up warehouses and locations in Odoo 17 Inventory. This will help us manage our stock effectively, track inventory levels, and streamline warehouse operations.
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
2. Homer is the attributed author of the
epics The Iliad and The Odyssey, the first
cultural texts of Greek civilization.
Were written in the 8th century BCE
(700-750), soon after the rediscovery of
writing in the Greek area. Most scholars
believe they are the written culmination
of a much older oral compositional
tradition.
The epics recount events about the
Trojan War that occurred about 400 years
earlier (traditional date 1184 BCE).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Homer_British_Museum.jpg
3. Homer is, in one tradition, blind.
Even in antiquity, there were
concerns/doubts about Homer.
Thus we have the so-called Homeric
Questions:
Who was Homer?
Were the epics written by one or
many authors?
How were they composed (written
or oral)?
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) -
Homer and his Guide (1874).jpg
4. After studying and recording non-
literate oral bards in Yugoslavia in
the 1920s, Milman Parry argued
pervasively that the two Homeric
epics are grounded in oral
composition.
He demonstrated that within oral
cultures, long stories are
“chunked” into more manageable
and memorizable sections by the
use of common, repeated
formulaic epithets that are used to
fit into a rhythm scheme.
(e.g., Achilles is brilliant, godlike, or swift-
footed; the Greek’s ships are black, round,
hollow, or swift).
In this theory, the written stories
are just a snapshot in time of the
oral tradition.
5. Today most Classicists agree that, whether
or not there was ever a composer named
Homer, the poems attributed to him are to
some degree dependent on an oral
tradition, a generations-old technique that
was the collective inheritance of many
singer-poets (also called bards)
7. The epics recount events about the Trojan War that
occurred about 400 years prior to Homer.
The Iliad covers a period of about 14 days during the
ten-year long siege of Troy.
The Odyssey recounts one of the main characters from
the Iliad (Odysseus) efforts to return to his home, which
takes him an additional ten years.
Both epics are reflections on a lost world (the high
Bronze Age cultures of the Hittites, Mycenae and Minoa)
as well as reflections on a new emerging Greek moral
code and way of life.
10. Bronze age civilizations were
tightly connected via trade.
The Minoans, based in Crete,
played a vital role in this
trade system for over a 1000
years (2700 – 1400).
11. Crete has a stunning
diversity of
geographical features.
12. It appears that Minoan
economy was based on the
creation and trade of
luxury goods: fine pots,
ornamental bronze jewelry,
clothes, dyes, paintings.
13. This charmless creature is a Cretan
Murex, a mollusk that feeds off
decomposing flesh. It has a horrible
odor, but from it, the Minoans
extracted something known as
Purple.
It was a dye that was exceedingly
rare and expensive, and throughout
most of history, purple is the color
of royalty, because only they could
afford it.
Discoveries of these bronze-age
murex have these holes, which are
evidence that the murex were
feeding on each other. That is, the
Minoans factory farmed them for
their purple. "Twelve thousand
snails of murex yield no more than
1.4 g of pure dye, enough to color
only the trim of a single garment."
22. The animals in the Minoan
frescoes are Aurochs which have
been extinct for nearly 400 years.
Aurochs were about 25% larger
than today’s bulls. It’s hoof-
prints were the size of a man’s
head
23. So-called throne room at Knossos. But is it actually a throne?
Most of the art in these so-called palaces, unlike palaces
everywhere else in the Bronze Age, don’t seem to show or
express power, and certainly don’t appear to display kings or
queens.
24. There is no evidence of walls or any other military
architecture at any of the ancient Minoan towns
and palaces.
Similarly, there is little evidence of weapons or
military art.
37. The Minoans seemed to love
their colors. For instance, the
so-called Blue Monkey Throne
Room.
So how does this compare to
the throne/palace rooms of
the Minoan’s Bronze Age
compatriots?
38.
39.
40. So were the Minoans just makers of luxury
goods and the hosts for the Bronze Age-era
spring break parties?
41. Shrine at Anemospilia (the cave of the winds). In
the 1970s a discovery was made here which found
a skeleton, wearing expensive rings, that appears
to have been crushed by the stone blocks of the
walls or ceiling dating from about 1700 BCE.
42. Under its body was another skeleton, this one
of a teenager, lying on an alter, its limbs still
bound up. On its chest was a dagger. The priest
appears to have been making a sacrifice as the
walls came tumbling down.
In the modern world we take for granted its
stability . But prior to the later 19th century, in
almost the entire world, it took just two bad
harvests to wipe out the food supply. Much of
the religious practices of the far past seemed
to have been oriented towards placating
gods/spirits of the earth.
Minoans seemed quite exposed at times. In
1700s BCE, Crete was ravaged by earthquakes.
But worse was yet to come.
43.
44. Greek island of Santorini (modern name)
or Thera (ancient name)
46. Around 1530 BCE the island was rocked by severe earthquakes; a
few months later the volcano erupted.
Ten times stronger than the eruption of Vesuvius that buried
Pompeii, and four times stronger than Krakatau (the most
powerful volcanic eruption of the past several hundred years and
which killed 40000).
1/3 of the island land mass disappeared. 40 meters deep layer of
ash on the remaining part of the island.
Crete only 70 miles away and was hit with a gigantic tsunami, that
destroyed the Minoan naval fleet. Crete was also buried it in ash,
which would have caused famine conditions for many years.
47. Excavated Minoan houses on Thera.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherholland/524632200/sizes/o/
48. A recent discovery dating from a few decades
after the eruption found near the palace of
Knossos. It contained a jumble of children’s
bones found in a cooking pot along with edible
snails. The flesh from the bones has been
stripped away with a knife. Clear evidence of
cannibalism.
49. Other interesting evidence from the same post-
volcano time.
Several of these prototypical earth goddess
statues, which are extremely common in
Minoan sites (perhaps like crucifixes are now) were
found purposefully broken, sealed in jars, and
then buried. One archeologist called it “paying
back the vengeful gods” or “disposing of it as if
it was nuclear waste.”
When times are tough, even the most pleasure-
loving, cosmopolitan, outward-looking, trade-
oriented culture can turn in on itself and
seemingly self-destruct
50. Sometime around 1450 BCE, most
Minoan cities and palaces appear
to have gone up in flames.
For instance, at one site, in a
room presumably filled with pithoi
(large 40 gallon containers holding
olive oil), the heat was so intense
the stone floor was turned into
glass.
These fires were not accidents. At
one site, the pithoi’s necks have
been sawed off, presumably to
make the oil burn easier. In other
sites, building doors were blocked
in before the fire was set.
What happened? Invaders? Or
religious civil war?
51. Linear A is the earliest writing on Crete
and is still un-deciphered. Linear A
appears to be the earlier, lost Minoan
language.
Linear B, which don’t appear until about
1400-1500 BCE, was deciphered by
Michael Ventris in the early 1950s who
discovered it was an archaic form of
Greek. The Mycenaean Greeks may have
conquered the island or perhaps just
stepped into a power vacuum
52.
53. The Mycenaeans appear to have made use of Minoan
artists, but there were no blue monkey rooms in the
throne rooms of the Mycenaeans …
64. Unlike the trade-oriented Minoans, the
Mycenaeans were a war-like people.
They appear to be focused around the
chieftain/king and his retainers/warriors
living in heavily-fortified palaces.
65. Unlike the Minoans, much of the
archeological record for the Mycenaeans
consists of chariots, spears, bronze armour,
swords, and boar tusk helmets.
68. The Mycenaeans appear to have
been the Vikings of the Bronze Age.
Odysseus, “sacker of cities”:
“The wind drove me out of Ilium on to Ismarus,
… There I sacked the city,
killed the men, but as for the wives and plunder,
That rich haul we dragged away from the place”
Odyssey, 9.42
Nestor:
“we headstrong fighting forces of Achaea—so many
raids from shipboard down the foggy sea,
cruising for plunder, wherever Achilles led the
way”
Odyssey, 3.102
http://www.ushistoryimages.com
http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/FacultyPages/PamMack/lec124/viking.jpg
69. We have many Mycenaean Linear B tablets (which we can read).
They are without exception lists: of tributes, taxes, military
equipment, and the booty from raids.
There are no diplomatic or personal letters, no poetry, history,
prayers, epics. Only lists of possessions.
70. The Greek forces in the Iliad (actually
called Achaeans in the text) were the
same people that modern archeologists
call Mycenaens.
Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces in the Iliad,
is the king of Mycenae.
71. The subtext of the Iliad is that the world
of the Mycenaeans collapsed (as did those of
other near east bronze age cultures) soon after the
sack of Troy.
That is, there is a recognition in Homer that the “glory” of the
Greek victory came at a tremendously high price.
73. Different theories about the collapse of
Mycenaean civilization (and other nearby
bronze-age cultures):
• foreign invaders armed with iron
• slave revolts,
• plague,
• environmental crises,
• general systems collapse.
74. All over the bronze age world, we see
evidence of 2000 long years of bronze age
cultures being replaced by a layer of ash.
There are also interesting written records
talking of a nameless threat from the sea.
“The enemy advances against us and they
are unlimited in number.”
75. Other bronze age cultures collapsed or suffered burn
events at same time (1250-1150): Hittites, Phoenicia,
Palestine, Egypt, northern Mesopotamia.
Egyptian and Hittite sources talk not just of warriors but also of women
and children, i.e., mass migrations.
76. “Altogether the end of the Bronze Age was
arguably the worst disaster in ancient history, even
more calamitous than the collapse of the western
Roman Empire.”
77. During this time, Mycenaean culture
disappears, most of its population
centers are destroyed, and the few
remnants (like pottery) are found at the
very top of remote mountains.
No ecstatic bull jumpers, topless
maidens, laughing monkeys, or even
grand bronze weapons, just some crude
huts with a few treasured items, and
plenty of time to watch the fog, the
vultures circling, and scanning for
whatever it is they are trying to flee
from.
It is over a hundred years before we see
evidence that these people returned to
lower-lying areas. In many areas,
writing disappears, agricultural
production plummets, population
declines radically, art and pottery
becomes very crude.
78. What follows is referred to as the Greek Dark Ages
(1200 – 800 BCE).
Compare the simplicity of the art work after the collapse to the
lavish beauty of the Minoan Bronze Age frescoes.
80. Troy’s location was the key to its wealth. Due to the
strong sea currents of the Dardanelles, if the winds were
blowing in the wrong direction, Black Sea bound ships
would stop at Troy and wait for the winds to change.
t
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a
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While the reason for the war in the Iliad is the recovery of Helen, it
doesn’t take a great deal of political imagination to recognize that the
Trojan War was all about the sea- and booty-oriented Mycenaean’s
desire to seize and control a lucrative centre of trade.
81.
82. Archeologists have discovered the site has hosted a variety of
settlements from 3000 BCE up to 100 BCE, and have given the
various settlements names Troy I, Troy II, etc
The Troy of the Iliad is identified
with Troy 7a, in which there is
evidence of widespread destruction
(though we can’t tell whether it is
from earthquake or from a violent
sacking).
No “Achilles Was Here” graffiti has been
found …
http://www.uoregon.edu/~klio/maps/gr/bronze/TroylayersredVI.jpg
83. Heinrich Schliemann was a successful international
businessman with a love of languages (he was fluent in 13
and wrote his daily diary and letters in the language of the country
he was visiting).
He became rich by opening a bank in California
during the California Gold Rush of 1849, sold it,
moved to Russia, married a Russian princess,
cornered the indigo market, and then just before the
Crimean war, monopolized the markets in salt peter
and sulphur (necessary for gunpowder).
He retired in 1858 at age 36 wealthy enough to
pursue his archaeological dream to find Troy.
84. In 1868-9, his great year, he:
3.Wrote his book in German about Troy
4.Wrote his PhD in Greek about Troy
5.Became a temporary citizen of Indiana so he
could
6.Legally divorce his wife
7.Moved to Greece
8.Advertised in Greek paper for a Greek wife
9.Got married to 17 year old Sophia
10.Started searching for Troy
85. Sophia was his collaborator throughout his
excavations at Troy, which began in 1871. He
was in such a hurry to find treasure that his
excavations ended up destroying most of Troy’s
walls.
In 1873, Schliemann saw gold glinting in the dirt, so
he sent his workers home for the day, and he and
Sophia secretly excavated what he called “Priam’s
Treasure” and then snuck out of the country with the
loot. The Ottoman Empire demanded the return of
the treasure and banned him from returning.
88. Most of Priam’s Treasure was eventually sold to
the Imperial Museum of Berlin, where it was
displayed until WW2, when it was moved to a
protective bunker under the zoo.
The treasure disappeared from public knowledge
until 1994, when thanks to investigations by two
Russian journalists, it was revealed that:
The treasure was taken by Red Army soldiers in 1945
and then secretly moved to the Pushkin Museum in
Moscow.
89. When this news was revealed, the German
government demanded their return, as did the
government of Turkey and the descendants of
the Schliemann family.
In October 2009, the items moved to the brand new
Neues Museum in Berlin.
101. Early 20th century children’s book
idealizing Achilles.
Notice that Hector has evidently died from a
bad scrap on his knee…
http://www.heritage-history.com/books/langjean/iliad/zpage116.gif
102. Howard David Johnson, “Achilles Triumphant” 2006
Evidently there are people who buy this
modern-day oil painting/reproduction and
display it in their living rooms.
104. Achilles in Hyde Park
Achilles in Texas
Hyde Park Achilles statue built in 1822 to honour
Wellington after the Peninsular Wars against the French.
Money raised entirely by patriotic British ladies during
the war; fig leaf added just before unveiling!
105. Patriotic statues of warriors, fictional or real,
continue to be a popular way of expressing
admiration for supposed heroic ideals.
106. What are the Trojan warriors
fighting for?
They are clearly fighting to protect their city
and their families
107. What are the Homeric Greek
warriors fighting for?
Honour (timê)
Glory/Fame (kleos)
110. Glory (kleos) is the only immortality
available to a Homeric warrior. It is won
through what one accomplishes. Those
accomplishments are manifested by the
prizes (geras) you win.
Agamemnon not only dishonors Achilles by
taking away his prize (Briseis), he is in a
way affecting his immortality (i.e., his
fame).
111. So now the heart of Sarpedon stalwart as a god
impelled him to charge the wall and break it down.
He quickly called Hoppolochus’s son: “Glaucus,
why do they hold us both in honor, first by far
Sarpedon (a Trojan) asks his
fellow prince why do they have with pride of place, choice meats and brimming cups,
wealth and comfortable lives as in Lycia where all our people look on us like gods?
aristocrats Why make us lords of estates along the Xanthus’ banks,
rich in vineyards and plowland rolling wheat?
So that now the duty’s ours –
The answer, he says, is because we are the ones to head our Lycian front,
they are at forefront of any fighting brace and fling ourselves in the blaze of war,
so a comrade strapped in combat gear may say,
‘Not without fame, the men who rule in Lycia,
these kings of ours who eat fat cuts of lamb
And by being leaders in war, their
retainers will think that they deserve
and drink sweet wine, the finest stock we have.
their easier lives. But they owe it all to their own fighting strength,
our great men of war, they lead our way in battle!’
Ah my friend, if you and I could escape this fray
If they were gods who could live
forever, then there would be no and live forever, never a trace of age, immortal,
need to fight. I would never fight on the front lines again
or command you to the field where men win fame.
But now, as it is, the fates of death await us,
But because we can die, then we
must fight. (That is, the only thousands poised to strike, and not a man alive
immortality available is glory gained can flee them or escape – so in we go for attack!
from heroic feats on the battlefield) Give our enemy glory or win it for ourselves!”
Glaucus did not turn back or shun that call –
on they charged, leading the Lycians’ main mass.
112. Ah my friend, if you and I could escape this fray
and live forever, never a trace of age, immortal, Thus, because the gods lack human vulnerabilities
I would never fight on the front lines again
or command you to the field where men win fame. (death, aging, injuries, grief) they lack any
But now, as it is, the fates of death await us,
thousands poised to strike, and not a man alive capacity for nobility (courage, bravery, sacrifice,
can flee them or escape – so in we go for attack!
Give our enemy glory or win it for ourselves! glory, honor).
For these Homeric warriors, the gods are akin to being eternally
stuck playing a video game with an invulnerability cheat turned
on. The gods know that no harm can ever come to them and are
thus endlessly bored. They envy humans for their vulnerability
and the achievements that that vulnerability makes possible.
113. Gods in the Iliad
They are not good, evil, just, merciful,
omniscient, omnipotent, nor is their relationship
with humans based on mutual love.
The gods in Homer’s works personify forces of
nature but are anthropomorphic.
And Hera the Queen [of the gods], her eyes wide, answered,
“Excellent! The three cities that I love best of all
are Argos and Sparta, Mycenae with streets as broad as Troy’s.
Raze them – whenever they stir the hatred in your [Zeus’] heart.
My cities … I will never rise in their defense
Iliad, Book 4, lines 59-62
Then Zeus, looking down from Mount Ida, intensified
the slaughter, and the two sides kept killing each other.
Iliad, Book 11, lines 317-19
114. The human characters in the Iliad are, by and
large, reverent and respectful towards the gods in
their speeches. The gods are dangerous and
unpredictable forces to the humans.
But Homer, when he is speaking as the narrator,
tends to portray the gods as being petty, childish,
or figures of comic relief.
For instance, see Book 14, lines 375-412
115. Death in the Iliad
The Iliad has been called the poem of
death for good reason. The deaths of
some 250 warriors are recorded.
These fall into two categories:
•death of “significant” hero
• death of “common” warriors
116. Death of Heroes
Major heroes in the Iliad will only die to another, greater
or equal hero. These battles between equals are more
like ritualized duels.
Before they fight, the heroes tell each other about their
background, heroic deeds, and important ancestors
(see battle between Diomedes and Glaucus, Book 6, lines 120-217).
Diomedes and Glaucus in fact do not fight but exchange gifts because
their parents were xenos (guest-friends).
117. The heroes in the Iliad compete endlessly, not only with
the enemy, but with other heroes fighting on the same
side.
They compete to prove their arete (virtue/excellence).
Different heroes claim that they are the best in strength,
skill, cleverness, fleetness of foot, cunning, strategy,
ambushes, archery, spear throwing, weight lifting,
chariot driving, etc.
No surprise that it was the Greeks that created the
Olympic Games in 776 BCE about the same time as
Homer was writing the Iliad.
118. When heroes do fight each other, one will usually die.
But before the hero dies, he has his “moment in the
sun,” his aresteia, a period in which he displays his
fighting prowess.
For some heroes, this will only be for a few paragraphs.
For others, their aresteia lasts for dozens of pages.
Though Achilles does not die in the Iliad, his aresteia is
terrifying, long (Books 19-22), and almost inhuman and
revolting.
119. Death of Commoners
And Meriones killed Phereclus, Harmonides' son--
the father a craftsman whose hands were skilled in creating
all kinds of beatuiful things, since Athena loved him.
...
Meriones ran him down, and as he drew close
he hit him in the right buttock, and the bronze spear point
pushed up under the pubic bone into his bladder
and he fell to his knees, screaming, and death embraced him.
And Meges cut down Pedaeus, Antenor's son--
a bastard son, but Theano had brought him up
as one of her own, so much did she love her husband.
Meges' spear hit the back of his neck, then cut
right through his jaw, and sliced off his tongue at the root.
He fell in the dirt, and his teeth closed around the cold bronze.
121. Death is narrated by Homer graphically and
realistically.
Violence is a permanent factor in human life. It is unsentimental
to pretend violence is not ugly but also that it has a strange and
compelling fatal beauty.
122. Yet Homer does something special with the deaths
of the commoners/non-heroes. They are not red
shirts or mooks …
123. So which of these four isn’t going to
return to the spaceship?
tvtropes.org calls these types of “good” characters the Red Shirt. Their
purpose is almost exclusively to give the writers someone to kill who isn't a
main character.
They are used to show how the monster or villain works, and demonstrate
that it is indeed a deadly menace, without having to lose
anyone important. Expect someone to say “He's dead, Jim” and
then promptly forget him.
124. The Bad Guy equivalent are Mooks: faceless, nameless cannon
fodder for The Hero.
“Nameless, faceless, horribly awful shots, incompetent, unwilling to
retreat, and completely disposable: they provide a chance for the
characters to show off their flashy fighting skills and can be shot
without guilt. The hero might find it in his heart to Save the Villain, but
the guys whose only crime is not finding a better employer will be
shown no mercy.” tvtropes.org
“They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the patrol. Whatever
the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round
about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack
the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No one ever asks them if they
wanted to.” Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
125. And Meriones killed Phereclus, Harmonides' son--
the father a craftsman whose hands were skilled By describing the civic and/or family life of the
in creating all kinds of beautiful things
... warrior falling to the hero, the audience/reader’s
The two good sons of Merops, who had refused to
let his two boys march to war, this man-killing emotional attention is diverted to the fallen foe. It
war, but the young ones fought him all the way …
and Diomedes destroyed them both. ensures that each death in the Iliad is perceived, if
...
Diomedes cut down Axylos, Teuthras’ son, who only fleetingly, as regrettable.
had been a dweller in strong-founded Arisbe, a
man rich in substance and a friend to all humanity
since in his house by the wayside he entertained
all comers.
“in the Iliad glory is usurped by sympathy for the
human being, possessed of a family and life story,
who has been extinguished.”
Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles
126. “This remarkable point is worth emphasizing:
subtly, but with unflagging consistency, the Iliad
ensures that the enemy is humanized and that the
deaths of enemy Trojans are depicted as
lamentable.”
Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles
127. “the Iliad is ever mindful that war is about men
killing or men killed. In the entire epic, no warrior,
whether hero or obscure man of the ranks, dies
happily or well. No reward awaits the soldier’s
valor; no heaven will receive him. The Iliad’s
words and phrases for the process of death make it
clear that this is something baneful. … Again and
again, relentlessly, the Iliad hammers this fact: …
death is tragic and full of horror.”
Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles
128. In Book 11 of the Odyssey, Odysseus visits
Hades, the land of the dead, a place of
total baneful unpleasantness.
“I [Odysseus] reassured the ghost, but he [Achilles]
broke out, protesting,
‘No winning words about death to me, shining
Odysseus!
By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man —
some dirt-poor farmer who scrapes to keep alive —
than rule down here over all the breathless dead.’”
129. Embassy to Achilles (Book 9)
After the war turns against the Greeks,
Agamemnon relents, and Odysseus (guile
and reason), Phoenix (surrogate father)
and Ajax (fellow warrior) visit Achilles and
try to convince him to rejoin the war.
They tell Achilles of Agamemnon’s offer of Briseis,
many other gifts, first pickings of loot/prizes after
troy is conquered, plus one of his daughters in
marriage (i.e., political power).
130. Achilles brutally rejects (lines 311-441) not
only the offer but he rejects all the values
of their warrior culture as well. He says:
1. Why should warriors put their lives at risks for a king
who gains all the prizes at little danger to himself?
• What is the point of plunder as marks of honor or
fame if they can be taken away? Thus since tîme can
be taken away at the leader’s whim, it ultimately has
no value.
1. Finally, is plunder really worth dying for?
131. Of course every warrior knows that dying
is a possibility. However, Achilles, is
different.
His mother, the goddess Thetis, has told
him that he has two possible fates: win
imperishable glory by dying at Troy, or live
a long, happy, but unremarkable life by
returning home and living in peace.
He tells them that he now intends to
choose the latter and sail home.
132. Hector
Unlike, Achilles, who is isolated from his
fellow warriors and who is ½ divine,
Hector is fully realized human being and
integrated completely into his community.
He is the only character who is shown in every
conceivable human relationship: brother,
father, husband, son, general, prince, warrior.
He accepts his responsibility as a prince to
fight to protect his city, but his own wish is for
peace. That is, he fights for the good of his
people, not for his own personal glory.
133. “Yes Andromache, I [Hector] worry about this myself,
But my shame before the Trojans and their wives,
With their long robes trailing, would be too terrible
If I hung back from battle like a coward.”
Iliad, Book 6
134. Death of Hector
After Hector kills Achilles’ companion
Patroclus, Achilles rejoins the war,
knowing that it will bring on his own
death.
Achilles in almost a berserker rage, has a
long and terrifying aresteia, in which he
kills effortlessly with no mercy, with no
Heroic Duel rituals, and even battles gods.
135. “I just went crazy. I pulled him out into the paddy and
carved him up with my knife. When I was done with
him, he looked like a rag doll that a dog had been
playing with … I lost all my mercy. I felt a drastic
change after that … I couldn’t do enough damage … for
every one that I killed I felt better … Every time you
lost a friend it seemed like a part of you was gone… I
got very hard, cold, merciless. I lost all my mercy.”
From Achilles in Vietnam
138. Hector, not wanting to fight Achilles,
nonetheless, leaves the city to face Achilles.
Hector, before the fight, tries to convince
Achilles to follow the ethic of war (the winner
will let the loser’s family bury the fallen), but
Achilles refuses.
139. After killing Hector, Achilles desecrates Hector’s
corpse.
Achilles finds that his rage and grief does not end
with Hector’s death, nor with abusing Hector’s
body.
140. Priam and Achilles
Priam and Achilles meet in the twilight of their
lives. They both will soon be dead and they
appear to know it.
They mutually assert non-military, non-
competitive moral virtues (hospitality and
compassion).
141. Achilles returns Hector’s body to Priam and
agree to a 12 day truce.
All truces are bittersweet: in every truce floats
the specter of an opportunity (usually lost) for
peace.
143. Ending of the Iliad – Hector’s Burial
The epic ends with the sadness of the death of
Hector. It made the enemy of the Greek's the
true tragic hero of its greatest epic.
144. The Greeks after Homer recognized the Iliad as a
dark portrayal of the true costs of war: the
destruction of a community, rape and slavery, and
victors brutalized as much as the victims.
The Greeks of the later classic era were crazy
about fighting, and most men fought in wars
almost every summer.
Interestingly, however, perhaps because of the
influence of the Iliad, they ritualized and limited
it, thereby making war somewhat less devastating
and total.
146. Whenever they’d drink the deep-red mellow vintage,
twenty cups of water he’d stir in one of wine
and what an aroma wafted from the bowl—
what magic, what a godsend—
no joy in holding back when that was poured!
Homer, The Odyssey 9 l. 231
The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge
from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive
and the vine.
Thucydides
One bowl [of wine] for ruddy health,
then one for getting happy.
The third brings sleep. …
The fourth’s for pride
and the fifth for lots of noise,
The sixth for mindless f _ _ _ing,
and the seventh is followed by black eyes.
The eighth brings the police,
The ninth’s for throwing up,
And the tenth’s for trashing everything
before passing out.
Eubulus, 4thC BCE Athenian politician
147. The Odyssey is an epic of return, an epic
that focuses less on warfare and its ethic
and more on how a human needs to
behave in the everyday world of emerging
Greek civilization.
Odysseus (and not Achilles) ends up being
the cultural hero of the Greeks of the
emerging classical age.
148. Odysseus is renowned for his cunning, for
thinking through problems, for knowing
how to act, for having both brains and
brawn.
149. Odysseus was seen by later Greek culture
to be the epitome of the moral (and
aesthetic) ideal of sophrosyne.
Sophrosyne seems to have referred to the
ideal of living life to its fullest but to do so
with moderation, common sense, and in
the light of self-knowledge.
150. The Sophrosyne ideal was latter enshrined
at Delphi, the Classic Greek religious
centre, in a variety of sayings carved into
the temples.
153. Cahill, in his 2003 book claimed
that this ideal of sophrosyne
gave the Greeks insight into the
five key areas of human life,
which are nicely captured by his chapter titles:
155. The Odyssey begins, not
with Odysseus, but with
his home, with his son
and wife, who are beset
by ill-behaved suitors
hoping to marry
Penelope (since
Odysseus has been away
for 20 years) and
presumably become
king.
159. Xenia
Is the Greek word for a very complicated
concept/ideal that is at the heart of the Odyssey’s
moral vision. We don’t really have an English word
that corresponds to it.
It means guest, stranger, friend, foreigner.
Our English word xenophobia (fear of foreigners) comes from the Greek
word.
160. Philoxenia
Often translated as hospitality or guest-friendship.
It proscribed a set of norms that governed how a
host should behave to a guest, and how a guest
should behave to a host.
In a world without inns or hotels, philoxenia was a
vital part of surviving when travelling.
161. At the beginning of the Odyssey, the suitors are not
following the guest protocols of philoxenia, by
never leaving Telemachus’s house, eating all his
food, constantly wooing Penelope, and sleeping
with the servants.
Calypso is not following the host protocol since she
refuses to let Odysseus leave her island.
162. Telemachus in contrast shows proper philoxenia.
Straight to the porch he went, mortified
that a guest [xenos] might still be standing at the doors.
Pausing beside her there, he clasped her right hand
and relieving her at once of her long bronze spear,
met her with winged words: “Greetings, stranger! [xenia]
Here in our house you’ll find a royal welcome.
Have supper first, then tell us what you need.”
163. Telemachus then goes to visit some other veterans
of the Trojan war, looking for word of his father.
He too is treated with proper xenia.
As soon as they saw the strangers, all came crowding down,
waving them on in welcome, urging them to sit.
Nestor’s son Pisistratus, first to reach them,
grasped their hands and sat them down at the feast.
…
Once they’d put aside desire for food and drink,
old Nestor the noble charioteer began, at last:
“Now’s the time, now they’ve enjoyed their meal,
to probe our guests and find out who they are.
Strangers-Friends, who are you?”
164. Meanwhile, Odysseus, thanks to the gods’
intervention, is freed from Caylpso’s island and is
given a raft … which is promptly sunk by a still-
angry Poseidon.
He washes up on the island of the Phaeacians.
165. He is meet by Nausicaa, a Phaeacian princess, who is
washing clothes on the shore. She clothes him and takes
him to met her parents, the king and queen.
166. The king rose in his place, and said: "This
stranger has come to my hall. I do not know
who he is, or whence he comes, whether from
the east or the west. And he begs us to convey
him safely to his home. Now this, as you know,
is a thing that we have been used from old
time to do for strangers. Go, then, and choose
out a ship Let it be new—one that never has
been on the sea before. And pick out fifty and
two rowers. Let them be the best and
strongest that there are in the country. When
you have done this, come to my hall and feast.
And let the minstrel come also, for the gods
Odysseus among the Phaeacians have given him the gift of song, and there is
nothing better than song to make glad the
hearts of men." So the chiefs of the people
went and did as the king commanded.
…
When the people were ready to begin, there
came two servants of the king leading the
singer by the hand, for he was blind. They
made him sit down in a silver chair in the
middle of the hall; they hung his harp on a rail
that there was above his head where he could
easily reach it. And by his side they put a
table, and on the table a basket full of good
things, and a cup of wine so that he might
drink when he pleased.
Then the people began to eat and drink, and
when they had had enough, the singer sang.
167. Odysseus tells of all his adventures after
leaving Troy to the Phaeacians.
169. The Cyclopedes have no concept of xenia;
instead of giving gifts and food, the
Cyclopes eats his guests.
170.
171. After his cunning escape from
the Cyclops, Odysseus and his
crew sail away and soon find
themselves on Aiolia Island,
the domain of the wind god
Aeolus who provides Odysseus
with enough supplies to return
home including a bag which
contained all the winds except
the ones Odysseus needed to
return home to Ithaca.
177. Thanks to the Phaeacians
Odysseus reaches home. But
instead of quickly announcing
his presence, wily Odysseus
disguises himself as a beggar
so he can perform
reconnaissance and prepare
for the inevitable showdown.
It appears that Minoan economy was based on the creation and trade of luxury goods: fine pots, ornamental bronze jewelry, clothes, dyes, paintings.
This charmless creature is a Cretan Murex, a mollusk that feeds off decomposing flesh. It has a horrible odor, but from it, the Minoans extracted something known as Purple. It was a dye that was exceedingly rare and expensive, and throughout most of history, purple is the color of royalty, because only they could afford it. Discoveries of these bronze-age murex have these holes, which are evidence that the murex were feeding on each other. That is, the Minoans factory farmed them for their purple. "Twelve thousand snails of murex yield no more than 1.4 g of pure dye, enough to color only the trim of a single garment."
Temple / Palace of Knossos
Arthur Evans uncovered the Palace of Knossos in the early years of the the 20 th century and then “restored” certain sections.
1300+ rooms, running fresh water, flush toilets, heated bathtubs, and many beautiful colorful frescos
Europe’s first paved road, several miles long, was flanked by houses, and led from the town to the palace.
Central court – 54m x 27 m – the size of four tennis courts. What was it used for?
Late Bronze Age (LBA), Neo-Palatial Knossos, Crete, Greece. Fragments of this fresco (painted plaster) were discovered in the East Wing of the Palace of Knossos in the Courtyard of the Stone Spout during the excavations conducted by Arthur Evans between 1900 and 1904. The restored fresco is on display in Greece at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Crete. It is 78.2 cm (30.8 inches) high and 104.5 cm (41.1 inches) wide. It has been dated from the Middle Minoan (MM) III through to the Late Minioan IB period or perhaps later. It depicts what is thought to be a male acrobat vaulting over the back of an aggressive charging bull accompanied by two female attendants positioned at the front and back of the bull. The attendant in front of the bull has its horns in her grasp and the one at the rear appears to be preparing to catch the leaper at the end of his vault.
Aurochs – 6’ tall at the shoulder. Aurochs have been extinct for nearly 400 years. It’s hoof-prints were the size of a man’s head. (comparison modern bulls – about 20% - 25% smaller)
So-called throne room at Knossos. But is it actually a throne? Most of the art in these so-called a palaces, unlike palaces everywhere else in the Bronze Age, don’t seem to show or express power, and certainly don’t appear to display kings or queens.
In addition to running water and flush toilets, the ancient Minoans had also mastered cloning …
Late Bronze Age (LBA), Neo-Palatial Knossos, Crete, Greece. Pieces of this fresco were found during Evan's excavation in the west wing of the Palace of Knossos and was later restored by Emile Gilliéron. His original restoration is in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Crete. The three white-skinned female figures with narrow waists and beautifully coiled hairstyles in this fresco are wearing form-fitting dresses with bare breasts. They are elaborately adorned with delicate necklaces, bracelets, and hair ornaments in a display of the great wealth of the Minoan court.
From Thera
From Thera, girl picking saffron
Minoan "Flotilla" Fresco Late Minoan I period, Akrotiri, Santorini (Thera), Greece. This exquisite fresco was found during the excavations conducted by Spyridon Marinatos from 1967 to 1974 at Akrotiri on the southern coast of the ringed islands of Santorini (the Pompeii of the Aegean) which was covered by thick deposits of ash and pumice from the great Bronze Age eruption of the Santorini marine volcano that occurred between 1627 and 1600 BC. It was discovered on the south wall of room 5 in the West House and is 3.90 meters (12.8 feet) wide and 0.43 meters (16.9 inches) high. This fabulous fresco is on display at the P. M. Nomikos Exhibition Center's Thera Wallpainting Exhibition Hall in the town of Fira which houses all of the restored frescoes found during the excavations at Akrotiri. It is considered the single most valuable source for information on the life and technology of the Bronze Age Aegean ever found.
The Minoans were strongly connected to the sea. They appear to have been _the_ traders of the Bronze age, servicing the larger civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
The Minoans seemed to love their colors. For instance, the so-called Blue Monkey Throne Room.
Various other Minoan blue monkey rooms
So were the Minoans just makers of luxury good and the hosts for the bronze age spring break parties?
Shrine at Anemospilia (the cave of the winds). In the 1970s a discovery was made here which found a skeleton, wearing expensive rings, that appears to have been crushed by the stone blocks of the walls or ceiling dating from about 1700 BCE.
Under its body was another skeleton, this one of a teenager, lying on an alter, its limbs still bound up. On its chest was a dagger. The priest appears to have been making a sacrifice as the walls came tumbling down. In the modern world we take for granted its stability . But prior to the later 19 th century, in almost the entire world, it took just two bad harvests to wipe out the food supply. Much of the religious practices of the far past seemed to have been oriented towards placating gods/spirits of the earth. Minoans seemed quite exposed at times. In 1700s BCE, Crete was ravaged by earthquakes. But worse was yet to come.
Greek island of Santorini (modern name) or Thera (ancient name)
Santorini is built on a remains of a volcano
Around 1530 BCE the island was rocked by severe earthquakes; a few months later the volcano erupted. Ten times stronger than the eruption of Vesuvius that buried Pompeii, and four times stronger than Krakatau (the most powerful volcanic eruption of the past several hundred years and which killed 40000). 1/3 of the island land mass disappeared. 40 meters deep layer of ash on the remaining part of the island. Crete only 70 miles away and was hit with a gigantic tsunami, that destroyed the Minoan naval fleet. Crete was also buried it in ash, which would have caused famine conditions for many years.
Excavated Minoan houses on Thera.
A recent discovery dating from a few decades after the eruption found near the palace of Knossos. It contained a jumble of children’s bones found in a cooking pot along with edible snails. The flesh from the bones has been stripped away with a knife. Clear evidence of cannibalism. Other interesting evidence from same time. Several of these prototypical earth goddess statues, which are extremely common in Minoan sites, perhaps like crucifixes are now, were found purposefully broken, sealed in jars, and then buried. One archeologist called it “paying back the vengeful gods” or “disposing of it as if it was nuclear waste.” When times are tough, even the most pleasure-loving, cosmopolitan, outward-looking, trade-oriented culture can turn in on itself and seemingly self-destruct.
A recent discovery dating from a few decades after the eruption found near the palace of Knossos. It contained a jumble of children’s bones found in a cooking pot along with edible snails. The flesh from the bones has been stripped away with a knife. Clear evidence of cannibalism. Other interesting evidence from same time. Several of these prototypical earth goddess statues, which are extremely common in Minoan sites, perhaps like crucifixes are now, were found purposefully broken, sealed in jars, and then buried. One archeologist called it “paying back the vengeful gods” or “disposing of it as if it was nuclear waste.” When times are tough, even the most pleasure-loving, cosmopolitan, outward-looking, trade-oriented culture can turn in on itself and seemingly self-destruct.
Sometime around 1450 BCE, most Minoan cities and palaces appear to have gone up in flames. For instance, at one site, a room presumably filled with pithoi, large 40 gallon containers holding olive oil. The heat was so intense the stone floor was turned into glass. These fires were not accidents. At one site, the pithoi’s necks have been sawed off, presumably to make the oil burn easier. In other sites, building doors were blocked in before the fire was set. What happened? Invaders? Or religious civil war?
Linear A is the earliest writing on Crete and is still un-deciphered. Linear B, which don’t appear until about 1400-1500 BCE, was deciphered by Michael Ventris in the early 1950s who discovered it was an archaic form of Greek. Linear A appears to be the earlier, lost Minoan language. Thus, the Mycenaean Greeks may have conquered the island or perhaps just stepped into a power vacuum. They rebuilt part of the island and
Typical Mycenaean fresco from Tiryns (or Pylos, not sure). Heavily restored
Ruins at Tiryns
Different theories about the collapse of Mycenaean civilization (and other nearby bronze-age cultures): foreign invaders (dorians), slave revolts, plague. But all over the bronze age world, we see evidence of 2000 long years of bronze age cultures being replaced by a layer of ash. There are also interesting written records talking of a nameless threat from the sea. “The enemy advances against us and they are unlimited in number.”
Other bronze age cultures collapsed or suffered burn events at same time (1250-1150): hittites, phoenica, palestine, egypt, northern mesopotamia. Egyptian and Hittite sources talk not just of warriors but also of women and children, i.e., mass migrations.
During this time, Mycenaean culture disappears, most of the centers are destroyed, and the few remnants (like pottery) are found at the very top of remote mountains. No ecstatic bull jumpers, topless maidens, laughing monkeys, or even grand bronze weapons, just some crude huts with a few treasured items, and plenty of time to watch the fog, the vultures circling, and scanning for whatever it is they are trying to flee from. Over a hundred years before evidence that these people returned to lower-lying areas. In many areas, writing disappears, agricultural production plummets, population declines radically, art and pottery becomes very crude
Hyde Park Achilles statue built in 1822 to honour Wellington after the Peninsular Wars against the French. Money raised entirely by patriotic British ladies during the war; fig leaf added just before unveiling!
Iliad, Book IX, lines
Iliad, Book 4, lines 59-62
1914 xmas day truce – all truces are bittersweet: in every truce floats the specter of an opportunity (usually lost) for peace.