The Golden Age of Athens

1
The Golden Age of Athens

• Aka The Age of Pericles

2
Politics and Govt

Philosophy Math 5th c. BCE
Athens Science The Golden Age Poetry The
Age of Pericles Art, Sculpture
History Architecture
Drama/Theatre
3

• The Persian Wars (499-480 BC) were decisive in
  the history of the West. Had the Greeks been
  defeated, the cultural and political vitality we
  associate and inherit from the Greeks would never
  have evolved.
• The confidence and pride from these victories
  propelled Greece and Athens, in particular,
  to its Golden Age.

4
Pericles, 499-429 BC

• Pericles was the central figure in Athens during
  its golden age

5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
Architecture

• The many public buildings and temples were
  constructed with marble and featured slender,
  well-proportioned columns.
• Many modern public buildings imitate the three
  great styles of Greek columns

11
(No Transcript)
12
Doric Column
13
Ionic Style Column
14
Corinthian Column
15
In Sculpture

• Artists reflected the ideals of the city-state,
  emphasizing simplicity, dignity and restraint.
• Subjects were gods, goddesses and athletes
• They realistically depicted the human body
  utilizing various materials such as marble,
  bronze, ivory and gold.

16
Phidias, 500-432 BC

• Designed and created the statue of Athena and the
  marble frieze that extends around the Parthenon

17
Myron, c. 450 BC

• The discabolus portrays strength, motion and
  ideal serenity, while honoring Olympic athletes.

18
East Pediment of Temple of Aphaia in Aegina A
Dying Warrior
19
Hermes Praxiteles- The
Praxitelian curve -
20
Aphrodite - Praxiteles the illusion of
life through light, shadow, polished marble and
contraposto
21
Artemis Praxiteles
22

• Dionysus
• Praxiteles

23
Philosophy

• the search for truth- the first thinkers to
  suggest that the forces of nature were not
  controlled by supernatural forces, personified by
  gods and goddesses, but could be understood
  through the use of observation and reason.
• This new, natural outlook suggests the emergence
  of scientific thought.

24
Socrates, 469-399 BC

• Advocated the maxim Know Thyself
• there are universal truths not based on the
  laws of the gods but rather, based on
  reason-rational analysis to do what is right.
• He sought truth by persistent questioning.(The
  Socratic Method)
• Left no written work, his philosophy is contained
  in the writings of his students, especially Plato.

25
The Death of Socrates, Jacques-Louis David, 1790
26
Plato, 427-347 BC

• His philosophy is reflected in a series of
  Dialogues with Socrates and a student as the
  speakers.
• These discussions cover ethics, religion, beauty,
  logic and government, among others.
• Theory of ideas there is a higher reality than
  just experience- a perfect form of everything
  exists.
• Most famous student was Aristotle

27
Aristotle, 384-322 BC

• Wrote on philosophy, science, government, logic,
  ethics and literature.
• His extensive works influenced European thinking
  for 2,000 years
• gtnothing in excess gtmoderation in all things
  gtwhat is reasonable?

28
Aristotle tutoring Alexander J. L. Ferris,
1895
29
Theatre of Dionysus, Acropolis
30
Aeschylus, 525- 456 BC

• The Father of Tragedy
• gtEmployed a dialog between one actor and the
  chorus
• gtIntroduced the Trilogy
• gtWrote 90? Plays, 7 survive
  Won 13 first prizes

31
Sophocles, 495-406 BC

• Dramatic plays added a 3rd actor, dealt with the
  conflict between a persons will and his fate
  include Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Electra,
• 120 plays, with 18 first prizes, but only 7
  survive

32
Euripides, 480-406 BC

• Examined political and social ideas and
  vigorously criticized war, prejudice, hypocrisy
  and greed
• Aeschylus and Sophocles showed how men ought to
  be, Euripides showed men as they are.
• Ahead of his time, felt unappreciated-left Athens
  for Macedonia.

33
Aristophanes, 446-385 BC

• Satirized the political and cultural leadership
  of Athens in his plays Lysistrata and The Frogs

34
Herodotus, 484 424 BC

• The Father of History
• Described the Persian invasions of Greece
• He embellished facts with fable, superstition and
  hearsay but was the first to try and recount the
  past so that future generations can benefit.

35
Thucydides, 471-400 BC

• The first scientific historian he wrote an
  accurate and impartial account of the
  Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BC)

36
Pythagoras, 582-507 BC

• Philosopher and mathematician discovered
  important mathematical principles Pythagorean
  Theorem

37
Hippocrates, 460-377 BC

• Father of Medicine- attributed disease to
  natural, not supernatural causes.
• The Hippocratic Oath to uphold medical
  standards is still taken by medical students upon
  graduation.

38
Democritus (460-370 BC)

• Philosopher and scientist, advanced the theory
  that all matter is composed of small, invisible
  atoms

39
(No Transcript)
40
Any Questions?