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The ancient Greeks (mainly the Athenians)
were a unique people. They believed that individuals should be free as
long as they acted within the laws of Greece. This allowed them the
opportunity to excel in any direction they chose.
Individuality, as the Greeks viewed it, was the basis of their
society. The ability to strive for excellence, no matter what the
challenge, was what the Athenians so dearly believed in. This strive for
excellence was the method from which they achieved such phenomenal
accomplishments. These accomplishments astound us to this day. They
also believed in the balance of mind and body. Although many of them
strove to become soldiers
and athletes, others ventured into
philosophy, drama,
pottery and the arts. The two
most important concepts which the ancient Greeks followed were found
inscribed on the great shrine of Delphi, which read "Nothing in excess"
and "Know thyself". This philosophy greatly impacted the Greek
civilization.
Athens was the intellectual
center of Greece. It was one of the first city-states of its time, and
is still world renowned as one of the most famous cities in the world.
It was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and the city's patron.
In 508 BC, Athens became one of the first societies in ancient times
to establish democracy. Democracy came from the Greek words, demos,
meaning people, and kratein, meaning to rule. This form of
government was used at a meeting place which the Greeks called the
Assembly. Here the citizens of Athens met monthly and discussed the
affairs of state. There were no decisions made by government without
first asking the Assembly.
The Acropolis, dedicated to Athena,
was the religious shrine and high fortress for the Athenian people. Its
walls were built on a layer of limestone rock overlooking the city.
Within these walls, the people of Athens built temples and buildings,
the most famous, of which, being the Parthenon.
| The Acropolis in Athens, Greece |
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Athenian art is some of the most
unique in the world. They were not only master builders and architects,
they were also great lovers of art. Their artistic talents can be
viewed through many different forms which have survived for centuries,
such as architectural designs, sculptures, pottery, and fine jewelry.
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Greek Art Found On Vases |
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At the Theater of Dionysia,
named after the god of wine, one of the greatest events of the year was
performed. It was a religious festival held in honor of the gods. For
ten days, Athenians filled the theatre to watch plays performed by their
favorite poets and playwrights. They consisted of either three tragedies
or three comedies followed by a short satyr farce. The actors were all
men. Women were not allowed to participate. They wore large masks and
elaborate costumes while performing both male and female roles. The
cost for entrance to the theatre was two obols. Those who did not
have the money to pay were allowed in at no cost.
| The Theater of Dionysia |
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The Olympic Games were the greatest
national festival for the Athenians. Held every four years, athletes
came from all regions of Greece to compete in the great Stadium of
Olympia and honor their supreme god, Zeus. The most important of the
competitions was the pentathlon, where an athlete competed in
five different events. At the conclusion of The Games, the winners were
presented garlands and crowned with olive wreaths.
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Entrance to the Stadium of Olympia
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Athenian soldiers were required to
serve two years in the military, one in the garrison and one in a
border fort. After the first year, they were given a sword and a
shield with the state's emblem on it. Although they served only
two years, they could be called at any moment up to age sixty. The
army consisted of horsemen and hoplites, footsoldiers. They were
armed with swords, shields, and extremely long lances. Most wars between
city-states were due to problems concerning harvests or livestock,
sometimes only lasting a day or so. There was a truce called every
four years in Greece in order for representatives of various
city-states to compete in the Olympic Games.
Cavalry Helmet
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Athenian Shield
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Hoplite's Helmet
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Ancient Greece was one of the largest contributors to
present-day civilization. Democracy, philosophy, astrology, biology,
mathematics, physics, and the theatre are only a few of its
contributions to us. Words and thoughts from great men such as Plato,
Socrates, Pythagoras, and Aristotle are still taught in universities
to this day. Cities which have withstood the powers of nature for
thousands of years still stand for us to view in awe. This was a great
civilization far ahead of its time, whose beauty and knowledge will
live on for many generations to come.
