Greek and Roman History

Introduction

This assignment will open with a personal observation regarding the lecture series as required viewing to preface the crafting of an essay response. Succinctly, it was unparalleled in its recounting of Greek history; brimming with information iterated in nail-biting fashion. Certainly, my years of ancient history education (from elementary school) in no way prepared me for the fascinating drama that is Greek and Roman empire history. The challenge for this essay was to identify a recurring theme within the lecture, but as the topics were diverse and linear in historical explanation we will offer an iteration of the learnings; up through what is called a ‘decisive moment in history.

Lesson 5 – The Archaic Age Part 2

This lecture is devoted to a comprehensive explanation of the Greek religion or pantheon and its various ‘actors’ including the 9 muses or goddesses of inspiration and creativity; the Olympians and the Chthonians or gods that lived on the earth. Frankly, I have no favorite part – it was all absorbing and kept my pen in perpetual motion taking the following notes. If ever there was an example of knowledge for knowledge’s sake – this is such an instance.

The muses and their accompanying concerns included Calliope; devotee of epic poetry (music); Clio the muse of history and erotic poetry; Euterpe the muse of lyric poetry (accompanied by music); Melpomene the muse of tragic theater; Polyhymnia the muse of religious music; Terpsichore the muse of dance and song; Thalia the muse of comic theater; and Urania the muse of science (astronomy). Perhaps the most famous Olympian was Zeus, the sky god, and number one pantheon. He was married to Hera who was the guardian of marriage and goddess of childbirth. One of Zeus’s older brother was Poseidon who was the god of all water (not just the oceans) and earthquakes. They had another brother, Hades, who ruled the underworld. At this point it is necessary to interject that the evidence of Greek mythology is all around us today and throughout history. 

Apollo was Zeus’s favorite son and the god of logic, reason, healing, music and the sun. His twin sister, Artemis was worshiped as the goddess of the hunt and the moon goddess. Her latter title made her the protector of all wild and nocturnal animals. Artemis was held in high regard; Greeks built a temple in her honor. Ares was the god of war. He is regularly depicted with a red face to indicate he is always angry. Aphrodite (who became known as Venus in Roman mythology) was the goddess of love and beauty and she married Haephastus who was physically repugnant. The marriage is symbolic of the Greeks desire for balance in life – the most beautiful God marries the ugliest – it has a sort of symmetry, circle of life feeling.  

Hephaestus was the god of craftsman or blacksmiths – an important position in ancient times. Athena may have been the most revered of all as the goddess of war and the city-state of Athens as well; and wisdom. In her hand she is depicted holding an owl which is where we find the origins of the correlation of an owner to wisdom. Hermes was the god of messages and had wings on his ankles to indicate his swiftness. But he was also the god of thieves as well – representing the treasured skill of stealthiness in ancient times.

Lastly, the Chitonians were the earth dwelling gods of which only two were mentioned. The first, Demeter was the goddess of agriculture and grain and sister of Zeus. She had a daughter, Persephone, the flower goddess, whom Hades lusted after and tricked into joining him in the underworld. Demeter was furious and a compromise was struck that allowed Persephone to live on earth half the year and in the underworld half the year; hence the seasons were borne. Finally, Dionysus was the god of the grape or wine; but realize this also meant drunkenness, revelry, debauchery and the sexual perversions that were bound to occur after drunkenness. 

Lesson 6 – the Archaic Age Part 3

This lecture focuses on the birth, upbringing, and life of Spartan boys and girls; the former bound to be warriors and the latter their ‘chattel’ confined to learning domestic duties. The Spartans were warriors, plain and simple. They had enslaved the people of a nearby country who kept them in food (agriculture) which left them free to spend their time devoted to creating and maintaining a totally militaristic city-state that was larger than Athens. In short, the Spartans were superior warriors. When a child was born an elder would hold the baby over a cliff and if the child were physically defective it would be left to die. In that way only physically superior specimens would survive. Women, thought to be defective male specimens, were only good as wet nurses, menstruation, and pregnancy (indeed this explains wherefrom comes the chauvinistic male stereotypes of women). At age 7 both girls and boys were taken from their home. Girls were trained in all aspects of domestic duty and prepared to become wives at age 10 when puberty hit. Boys began their military training that lasted until they were 18. Either way, the mothers never really saw their children again – it was the Spartan way. The training was meant to be harsh; boys didn’t wear shoes until they were 18 and were subjected to various cruelties (hung from trees and whipped) all with the intention of toughening them up. Many of them died. 

They were perennially hungry; assigned to flocks for the entirety of their training. Their initiation was to steal back into the country they controlled and kill a native – breaking his neck in a swift motion and stealthily to ensure they were prepared to be warriors. They receive a shield from their mothers at ‘graduation’ with which they would either defend themselves in battle or return home dead. From 18 to 20 they were on probation and then could take a wife. At 30 they moved off base to live with the wife and retired at 60 if they lived that long – making an application to themselves be a leader. Democracy was born here but does not resemble what is labeled such in the United States today – taking a different form altogether. This lecture allowed me the privilege of feeling like a fortunate voyeur; able to look back on our early ancestors with authenticity. 

Lesson 7 – The Archaic Age Part 4 & Lesson 8 – The Archaic Age Part 5

In the interest of space and continuity we will succinctly review the combined stories of Persia, Darrius and his son Xerxes during considerable warfare in ancient Greece; and their vendetta against the Greeks that is ‘one of the greatest stories ever told’. The story begins when the Persian King, Darrius, allowed the Greeks to migrate and colonize in Ionia if they would agree to pay taxes and send their young men to fight in Persia’s army. At that time it was the greatest empire ever known. There came a time when the Ionians were unwilling and instead rebelled – drawing in Athenians; burning down one of the capitals of Persia for good measure; after which the Athenians returned home. Darrius was enraged and burns down all of Ionia as punishment. Then he plots a military campaign against Athens (as a prelude to taking over all of Greece). One spy warned Athens of the impending invasion allowing Athens to prepare – and surprise Darrius in what was known as the Battle of Marathon where they were soundly defeated (as an aside – Nike and the 26.3-mile marathon have their origins in this conflict).  Darrius died before he could return but his son Xerxes went instead; taking 300,000 soldiers and warships. 

Themistocles was a tactical genius and became an admiral and the Spartan king, Leonidas, joined him. They knew it was futile to prevent Xerxes from eventually reaching Athens and destroying it but they plotted to hold him off as long as possible. At the Pass of Thermopylae Leonnidus positions his men shoulder to shoulder in a phalanx – with 7000 Thespians behind them to prevent the Persians from passing through to the city of Athens. The battle raged and pulsed; but the Spartans were like today’s Delta Force, a well-trained fighting machine, and they held Xerxes off that first day – killing 10,000 Persians in the process. Even the faceless warriors, the Immortals, were unable to break through Leonnidus’s ‘line’. Day 2 brought more disappointment to Xerxes with a storm that made the experience miserable. But a Greek traitor eventually told him of a secret passage that allowed Xerxes to flank the Spartans. Even then, however, the Greeks fought fiercely. On day 3 Leonnidus dies and the resistance crumbles but not before completing their mission which was to allow Athens time to evacuate. A separate maritime battle adds glory to the tale for the Greeks; even though the Persians won in the end – this was a ‘decisive moment in history’ (and a recounting that is nothing short of breathtaking).

Work Cited

Valencia Productions. Greek and Roman Humanities. Lecture Series; 2013.