From it's mythology, history, philosophy, and ideology one may argue that the ancient civilizations of Greece have done more for the advancement of mankind than any other culture to this date. It is an extremely fascinating culture, located in the midst of the Aegean Sea that was once the center of the universe. A remarkable story that is still celebrated today, led by great names such as Homer, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Leonidas, and Alexander. They are a magnificent people that have inspired a worldwide concept of beauty, power, and glory.
Greek Mythology
I have always been fascinated with Greek Mythology, and intend to write a complete entry on the study of it. It is without question the most fascinating folklore/mythology of any ancient culture. Most of it derives from the famous epic-poems of Homer, the
Iliad and the
Odyssey. The general understanding is that the world first consisted of Titans, Gods, and Giants. The titan-god Kronos was betrayed by his son Zeus and cast down into imprisonment. Zeus and his brothers and sisters therefore created a new system of existence from on-top of Mount Olympia. They created mortals, heroes, and civilizations to glorify them. Much of Greek mythology revolves around these heroes, such as Achilles, Herakles, Jason, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Hector, and Paris. In each of these stories lies Greek themes of love, courage, and honor.
Greek History
Although there is no significant evidence of whether these mythological stories are true, they still resemble the ancient practices of Greek culture. Of the earliest historical recordings, these gods and heroes are often referenced and used as inspiration.
The organization of Greek civilization first began as the "polis" or city-states, that were mostly independent from one another. The greatest of these city-states were Athens and Sparta, who were constantly at dispute with one. The first major unification of these city-states came during the
Greco-Persian Wars in 500 BC, where the Persian Empire led by Darius and Xerxes led a massive conquest of Greece. During the
Battle of Marathon, in 490BC, an Athenian messenger was sent to Sparta to ask for aid. His long run became the inspiration for the 26.2 mile race still done today.
During the famous
Battle of Thermopylae in
480 BC, King Leonidas led 300 of his best Spartans, as well as several other tribes, to stand against the massive Persian armies of Xerxes. For seven days they held hundreds of thousands of Persians from advancing, until finally they were betrayed and flanked from behind. King Leonidas' glorious blockade is one of history's most remarkable stands. Although the Persians were ultimately successful in capturing Greece, they were later repelled in the naval
Battle of Salamis. The Greeks then went on the offensive in the
Battle of Plataea and finally drove out the Persian invasion.
Following the Persian Wars, Greek city-states began to create a sytem of unification known as the
Delian League, however this led to further dispute amongst the two largest powers, Athens and Sparta. In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian War was fight by Athens and their allies against Sparta and their allies. The war lasted until 404 BC, with the dissolution of the Delian League and continued city-state independence.
By 348 BC, a new power from the north emerged from Macedonia, led by King Philip II. He quickly conquered and united the exhausted cities of Greece and established the foundation of the Greek Empire. However before he could set out onto further conquest into Persia, he was assassinated by one of his body guards, and his son Alexander became king. Alexander was only 20 years old, however was taught by the wise Aristotle and had already proved his valor in numerous battles. He would eventually lead one of the greatest conquests in history.
Inspired by the wisdom of Aristotle, the stories of Greek mythology, his sorceress mother Olympia, and his valiant father Philip, Alexander was simply born for greatness. At the age of 20 he picked up where his father had left off, and began his famous campaign into Persia. His strategic victory at the
Battle of Guagamela, highlighted his utter genius. By 331 BC he marched into the beautiful city of Babylon and had captured half of Persia. His campaign continued further east in pursue of Darius. Once Darius was eliminated Alexander made himself "King of Kings" in Persia, by instilling Greek ideology to its people, while still adopting many of the Persian customs.
His conquest continued further east into India, known as the Hindu Kush, a land that was only known from ancient tales. During the
Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC, his Macedon army faced a strong resistance in modern-day Pakistan, led by King Porus and his notorious war-elephants. The Macedonians were once again victorious, yet this would be the last major battle for Alexander's army. His soldiers began to revolt at this point, leading him to decide it was in the best interest of his empire to return to Babylon.
While in Babylon, Alexander began to plan a new campaign in Arabia. However with the death of his lover, Hephaestion, he began to lose sanity and eventually grew very ill. He died in Babylon in 323 BC at the age of 32. With no legitimate heir, his empire was divided into four parts amongst his generals. A kingdom in Egypt, the Seleucid Empire in the east, a kingdom in Asia Minor, and an empire in Macedonia.
With the death of Alexander, Macedonia eventually lost control of it's unified Greece. This made it easy for the new rising power in the West, to conquer the independent city-states. The Roman Empire thus replaced the Macedonian Empire, as the ultimate power in the Mediterranean. The Greeks allied with Carthage during the
Punic Wars, from 246-146 BC, yet were ultimately unsuccessful in repelling their Roman conquerors.
Greece thus became a province of the Roman Empire from 146 BC to 330 AD. In 330 Greece eventually came under the control of the Eastern Roman Empire, lead by Constantine the Great. Constantine reformed the Roman empire in the east, in the capital city of Byzantium (which later became Constantinople) with a new emphasis on Christianity. This Eastern empire eventually became known as the Byzantine Empire, and lasted for over a thousands years, with the land of Greece at it's center.
By 1453, following the Fourth Crusade, the capital city of Constantinople was conquered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Under Ottoman rule, Greece became divided into two religious; Christianity and Islam. Many Greeks began to migrate into western Europe at this point, to escape Ottoman rule, thus taking part in a growing period of enlightenment known as the Renaissance.
On March 25, 1821 the Greeks led by Theodore Kolokotronis, rebelled against the Ottomans. The
Greek War of Independence lasted for several years, and with the support of the British, Russian, and French Empires, the Greeks finally won their independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832. Territorial disputes with the Ottoman Empire continued throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
During World War I, Greece took the side of the Triple Entente against the Ottoman Empire and against the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. During World War II, Greece was invaded by the Italian Armies of Benito Mussolini in 1940, yet were able to repel the Italian invasion. However during the Battle of Greece, Mussolini was aided by German paratroopers, who finally seized control of the country in April 30th of 1941. The country was then occupied by Nazi Germany until 1944.
Following World War II, the
Greek Civil War took place from 1944 to 1949. This was generally fought over political ideology, communism vs. capitalism. The Soviet Union supported the Democratic Army of Greece, while the United States supported the National Army of Greece. By 1949 the National Army of Greece had won the war, secured their nation, and made a strong alliance with the west against the spread of communism.
Greek Philosophy
The philosophy of ancient Greece covers a wide range of subject matter, from politics, ethics, metaphysics, ontology, logic, biology, mathematics, rhetoric, cosmology, aesthetics, and theology. To this day it is considered as the foundation of modern reasoning. The tradition of learning first took shape in Athens, and by the 5th century had grown to major prominence. A young man named Socrates, began to create an entirely new approach to philosophy by openly sharing it with the cities and it's people. He is considered the founder of political philosophy.
One of his most famous students, was Plato, who continued the tradition of spreading philosophy. Plato is known for his influence in laying a foundation in Western philosophy, science, and mathematics. His student Aristotle took Greek philosophy a step further by providing insight and explanations to practical concerns. Aristotle also served as the mentor to the young Alexander. Unlike Plato's metaphysical style of thought, Aristotle's reasoning was a practical style of thought. To this day both styles of thought are extremely significant, and have greatly impacted mankind.
Greek Architecture
Although Greece took a notable role in the Renaissance, their greatest artistic achievement is in the area of architecture. Their most amazing creations were in their temples and theaters, built of marble, stone, and pillar, many of which are still standing today.
- The Parthenon
- Acropolis of Athens
- The Erechtheum
- The Temple of Hephaestus
- The Temple of Olympian Zeus
Greek Cuisine
Greek cuisine is perhaps one of my favorite types of ethnic foods (perhaps slightly behind Thai), with a strong and distinctive flavor. It incorporates a sour pinch by using various forms of wine, olive oil, vinegars, vegetables, and strong cheeses. The Greek salad, soaked in vinegar, olives, onions, peppers, and cheese, is an essential. And no words can describe my passion for gyros, a roasted pork, that is served with onions, tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, and pita bread. It was during my time in Chicago, where I first discovered this incredibly orgasmic food! Finally there is the desert that is often accredited to the Turkish, yet still remains a Greek commodity, the famed Baklava.
Greek Movies
Most movies concerning Greek Culture, generally focus on the tales of Mythology or Alexander the Great. Here are a few noteworthy films, that capture the essence of Greek Culture.
Hercules (1997) Walt Disney animation about the heroic son of Zeus
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) Starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz, tells of a love story between an Italian officer, and a Greek citizen, during the WWII.
- Troy (2004) Wolfgang Peterson's interpretation of the Iliad, starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Peter O'Toole.
- Alexander (2004) Oliver Stone's biopic of Alexander the Great starring Colin Farell.
- 300 (2007) A visual stunner directed by Zach Snyder and starring Gerard Butler as the King Leonidas
- Percy Jackson (2010) A story in the likes of Harry Potter, that revolves around modern-day Greek mythology. I read the book, and have no intention to see the film.
- Clash of the Titans (2010) A terrible blockbuster, about the story of Perseus vs. Medusa. I fell asleep during this film.
Greek Sports
The Greeks can be accredited with the creation of sports as a spectacle by infusing athletics, such as running, jumping, throwing, and wrestling. Greeks glorified champions of athletic competition in public stadiums and theaters. The first ever Olympic games took place in 776 BC and lasted until 393 BC. The games did not experience a revival until Greece won back their independence during the mid 1800s. By 1896, Greece hosted the first organized international summer Olympic games in Athens. The tradition continues to this day every four years with the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.
Libya has now taken center stage, in the Middle East/North African protests, as the next regime to collapse. However unlike Egypt and Tunisia, this one will not be near as peaceful. The protests began on Feb. 15, as peaceful demonstrations, however were violently dispersed by police. It thus became quite clear from the start that Col. Muammar al Gaddafi, would not fold whatsoever to the people. Leading the country for the past 40 years, Gaddafi has gained somewhat of a reputation as a sadistic madman.
Of all the uprisings thus far, throughout this Arabian Revolution, this one could prove to be the bloodiest of them all. Gaddafi is an extremely proud and insane leader, who would rather die then give up his power. He has already resorted to openly killing any that oppose him in the streets. This has lead to massive outcry throughout the world, condemning Gaddafi's radical actions. Libya is thus at a breaking point, on the verge of civil war. Gaddafi may have control of the Libyan military, however the people have the support of the US.
