Art and Culture - AP European History

Theognis of Megara is a famous ancient Greek poet who, most likely, lived in the sixth century BCE. His poetry takes for its general theme the topic of class anxiety. Theognis writes from the perspective of an aristocrat who fears the consequences of social mobility. Specifically, Theognis decries those “new-money” types who are marrying into the social elite.

In the Homeric Epics, Zeus is shown to be highly concerned with the fate of his favorite warriors and seems to be openly rooting for certain humans to succeed. In the works of Hesiod, conversely, Zeus is presented as a far more circumspect and objective figure. The Zeus of Hesiod is primarily concerned with justice and with his duties as leader of the Gods.

The term Archaic Age means “Old-fashioned era.” The Archaic Age stretches from approximately 750 BCE to 500 BCE. The term “archaic” originates in scholars of art history. The artwork of the seventh and sixth centuries was deemed to be more “old-fashioned” and “less lifelike” than the artwork of the fifth and fourth centuries (the so-called Classical Age).

In ancient Greece an acropolis was a fortified area on top of hill that was often used for religious or ceremonial purposes. The most famous example of this is the Acropolis in Athens, which is the site of the famous Parthenon temple.

Aristophanes is perhaps the most famous and celebrated of the ancient Greek comedy playwrights. Comedy was widely used in Greek society (particularly in Athens) to satirize and criticize society.

Sophocles is one of the three famous Athenian authors of tragedies, along with Aeschylus and Euripides. Sophocles’ most famous work is probably Oedipus Rex.

Many of the more famous Greek dramas, such as the works of Aeschylus and Sophocles, are focused on the relationship between fate and free will in people’s lives. This is often examined in dramas through the intervention of the Gods and the inescapable truth of prophecy.

The Athenian style of art became the standard for classical art. Their attention to detail combined with a focus on grace and idealistic form established the tradition for art for centuries. Modern and Abstract art are trends of the twentieth and twenty first century. Cave paintings predate the work of the Greeks to prehistoric times. Decorative art is another term for abstract, botanic and scenic art.

The Athenians believed strongly in freedom and public discussion. They recognized that the humor of the comedies, while a bit bawdy and crude, was presented to make them think about events and activities in Athens and correct the mistakes made in political activities or social contact. Life, for the Athenians, was not a witticism. The comedies were intended to teach a lesson in a lighthearted manner. The plays were paid for by wealthy citizens of Athens to make attendance free and open to the public. The playwrights of the comedies were free to express their satire in any manner or form. One would say it was “no holds barred” with their comedy. The Greeks playwrights were free to write their satire, as stinging as it may have been, without fear of punishment.

Alcman of Sparta was a Spartan choral lyrical poet. He is one of the famous “nine lyric poets” of the Greek Archaic Era. Alcman wrote many poems praising Spartan society and celebrating martial prowess. These poems were traditionally performed, accompanied by music, in large groups at Spartan public gatherings and religious festivals.

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived in the fourth and third centuries BCE in Athens. He is most famous for founding the school of philosophy, Epicureanism, which bears his name. Epicurus advocated for a philosophy built around the pursuit of pleasure through knowledge acquisition. He sought freedom from fear and release from pain.

King Oedipus blinded himself when he discovered that (unbeknownst to him), he had murdered his father and married his mother. He was so upset that he blinded himself in shame. It is helpful to remember that there is a concept in psychology called the "Oedipus Complex," which describes an individual's sexual attraction to the parent of the opposite sex. This concept is derived from the story of King Oedipus.

Jason and the Argonauts were searching for the Golden Fleece. When Jason was a baby his throne was stolen by his half-uncle Pelias. As an adult, Jason challenged Pelias for the throne and Pelias only agreed to step down if Jason presented him with the mythical Golden Fleece.

The Byzantine Empire was characterized by religious panel paintings. The Ottoman Empire followed the Byzantine and was notable for the destruction of many panel paintings such as this one. If you chose Julio-Claudian or Ottoman, remember to consider the time frame of when such paintings would have been popular. Also remember that Caesar's empire was long before the Byzantine paintings.

Image is in the public domain, accessed via Wikipedia Media Commons: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastero\_di\_Santa\_Caterina\_(Egitto)#/media/File:Transfiguration\_of\_Christ\_Icon\_Sinai\_12th\_century.jpg

The word, "muse" comes from the Greek word mousike, which means the art of music. The muses in ancient Roman literature are the carriers of music. Pottery and paintings were not around until much later in roman history through mosaics and other visual representations. Music from the muses was a large and important concept in Roman history. We can eliminate doctor and manual labor as these careers did not contribute back to the "arts"

The Acta Diurna (Daily Acts) was a newspaper that was published in Rome beginning in the second century BCE. The purpose of the Acta Diurna was to inform the Roman population about Roman military campaigns, births and deaths of important people, and public gatherings.

The Palace at Pylos (sometimes called the Palace of Nestor) is the most extensive, and best preserved, archaeological site of a Mycenaean palace. The palace had many different rooms, serving different functions like storage, bathing, hosting, and sewage.

Homer is best known in the modern world for The Iliad and The Odyssey, so he would be the best choice. Ovid was the epic poet responsible for the Metamorphoses, but he was Roman, so he would not be the best choice. Virgil was also an influential Roman poet and he did not write the works in question, so he would not be a good choice. Lastly, Lord Byron and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were both famous poets, but they lived many thousands of years after the works in question were written, so they would not be good answers.

Linear B was the written script of the Mycenaean Greeks. It fell into disuse in the immediate aftermath of the decline of the Mycenaean civilization. Linear B was a complicated script and was probably known only by a few, privileged palatial scribes. This helps explain why it was so hastily lost to history during the Greek Dark Ages.

The Oracle of Apollo (sometimes called The Oracle at Delphi) was built in northern Greece sometime during the Dark or Archaic ages. It was a place of worship and ceremony for the ancient Greeks. It, along with other oracles, served a very important purpose in Greek religious life. Political and military leaders sought the advice of the holy men who worked and lived at Delphi to try and determine whether the Gods favored the actions they had taken or were considering. Greek rulers would consult the Oracle, for example, before declaring war.