STEP 1: Understanding the Information
Historical Background BC – 146 BC 776 BC - First Olympic Games recorded. 700-601 BC - Acropolis begun in Athens. Theatre built in Delphi. 600 BC - Doric style develops into Ionic. 600-501 BC - Temple of Apollo at Corinth built. Temple of Olympian Zeus at Athens built. 581 BC - Pythagoras, a mathematician born. Archaic Period 555-540 BC - Early Archaic Period. 530 BC - The Basilica built in Paestum, Italy. 503 BC - Democracy begins in Athens. 500 BC - Pericles, a statesman born. Theseum built in Athens. Phidias, a sculptor born, the greatest of all ancient artists (two of his most famous statues the Athena of the Parthenon and the Zeus at Olympia are no longer in existence.) 500-451 BC - Classical period of pottery. 498 BC - First Temple of Saturn built. 490- 480 BC - Late Archaic Period. 490, 479 BC - Greeks defeat invading Persians in several battles. 480 BC - Athens burnt, Acropolis destroyed. Myron, a sculptor, particularly in bronze, born His most important work is "Discus Thrower". 478 BC - Marble Temple of Apollo built. Charioteer of Delphi sculpted. Classical Period 477- 431 BC - The Golden Age of Greece. 450 BC - Polyclitus, a sculptor, a younger contemporary of Phidias lives. His works are “Spearbearer” and the statue of Hera. 460 BC - Temple of Zeus built at Olympia. 461-429 BC - Pericles, the Athenian statesman rules. He tried to unite the country under the leadership of his own city, Athens. Pericles also promoted democracy within Athens. His rule is sometimes known as the Golden Age of Greece. Many magnificent buildings, including the Parthenon were built under his administration. He led the Athenians at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, but died soon afterward. 450BC - Temple of Theseus built at Athens. 448-433 BC - Acropolis rebuilt at Athens. 431-404 BC - Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. Sparta won the war. 430-423 BC - Plague kills about one third of the Athenian population. 407 BC - Erechtheum on the Acropolis at Athens finished. 400-330 BC - Praxiteles, a sculptor, lives. 384-322 BC - Aristotle, a philosopher, lives. 338 BC- Macedonians, led by Philip II, defeat Greeks. 334-326 BC - Alexander the Great, Philip II’s son, forms empire, spreads Greeks' ideas. Hellenistic Period 323 BC - Hellenistic Age begins with Alexander's death. 146 BC - Rome conquers Greece. Lysippus - court sculptor of Alexander the Great, one of the most productive artists of the Hellenistic Age. His most famous work is "Apoxymenos", a copy of which may be found in the Vatican. Part I Words to be pronounced and learnt:
Pre-Viewing Questions and Activity 1. Man is a measure of all things. What is the meaning of this phrase? How does it exemplify Greek humanism? Do you agree with the philosophy? 2. Look for examples of humanism in Greek art and architecture. 3. What is "community"? Define it. What definition does the programme give?
While watching find the answers to the following questions 1. Where did the Dorian tribes come from? 2. Where did the Ionians come from? 3. Where did they settle? 4. What level of culture had they attained? 5. Why do we look to Ancient Greece for the roots of Western Man? 6. In what way were these early Greeks different from previous civilizations? 7. Was the most striking difference their commitment to man himself, to his capacities, his potential and his ideals? 8. Were the Greeks history's first humanists? 9. Did they believe that man was the measure of all things? 10. Did they wish to survive in freedom and dignity? What human values did they aspire to? 11. Do their ideals exert enormous influence today? 12. What is the difference between the Greek and the Egyptian civilizations?
13. Were gods and goddesses in the form of superhumans? Did they fight like humans? Were they angry and jealous? Did they make love? Did they take sides in the wars of man? Were gods created by the poet, priest and sculptor in the form of the powerful, dignified and graceful human beings? 14. In what way are the gods in Ancient Egypt represented? By animals or distorted humans? 15. Did the Greeks believe the human being to be the module, or basic unit of measure? Did they identify the human being with the characteristics of the column? Why? (strong, orderly, proud, erect, beautiful). The column symbolized Man, while Man symbolized life, the intellect and the human spirit. The Greeks dedicated their temples not only to the gods, but also to the idea of Man. Man was the measure of all things, even of his gods. Just as each column contributed to the whole structure, so each human contributed his support to the whole community. 16. What is community? What is polis? Was it intended to exert force or oppress the individual? Did it influence all aspects of their lives - moral, intellectual, social, aesthetic, spiritual and practical? Did the word "polis" stand for the integrated relationship, which governed every aspect? What else did it mean? (It was a community, a city and a state, all in all. The Acropolis - the physical centre of the polis. Acro = high, polis = city). 17. When was the Athenian Acropolis erected? 18. What did the Greeks take part in? (refinements, subtleties, not in huge dimensions). 19. What are the four buildings that crowned the great age? Were they excellently planned, down to the last detail? Is such excellence rare? Post-Viewing Questions and Activities 1. Compare the Greek and Egyptian beliefs and lifestyles. 2. How did the art of each culture reflect that culture's belief in the value of earthly life? 3. What was the polis (both the idea and the place)? How did the ideas of the polis reflect the humanistic philosophy of the Greeks?
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