The Meaning Of Culture In Greek Literature

on our history and mythology helped shed light to it’s culture, religion, and government of ancient Greece. The Mediterranean has served as a vessel for the early civilizations., Greek mythology has influenced the life style and religion of the Greeks, especially because Greek mythology served as the primary basis of Greek belief, it became the nearest thing the Greeks had to a holy bible.1 These mythologies served as the center of Greek life and these mythologies served as their basis for their life and in turn the mythologies shaped the foundation of the Greek life style, culture, religion that we know today.

It is easy to say, and prove, that Greek material culture reveals an immense amount about ancient Greek society. From vast studies and examinations of the great ancient Greek architecture, the immaculate fine art and literature and even the personal possessions and crafts of the societies own inhabitants, one can reason that these materials reflect much about ancient Greece and its people.

Theater in ancient Greece was considered the climax of the days long cultural festival of The City Dionysia. At the festival, various types of plays were shown but one of the most popular was tragedy. These tragedies show the main character, usually a god or person of myth, going through human suffering and the terrible sequence of events that followed; and were produced in 472- 401 BCE. In order for a play to be performed at The City Dionysia festival; tragic playwrights would first have to appeal to the state official that was organizing the festival by submitting ideas to him and his committee. The ideas submitted were outlines of main themes and points of interest to be performed in the play. If a playwright was selected by the state official and his committee, then they received a financial backer and a chance to compete in the drama competition of the festival. The state official, or his committee, was likely pushing their own agenda and choose playwrights that matched their ideals. This is just one example of how theater in ancient Greece was used to influence the morality of Greek culture by using the stories of tragedies, like those of Euripides.

When exploring each of the specific elements that make up the Greek culture, one can see that their history of religion is vast. To understand the religious practices of the Ancient Greeks, we must first begin to examine the cultural practices. I will be describing Greek religion as it was practiced in the Archaic and Classical Period, which ranged around 800 B.C. to 323 B.C. When discussing the Classical Period we enter the realm of polytheism which has no attachment to church or body of dogma. Although the Greeks believed in multiple gods, there was no denying that the conduct of the gods was not all acceptable to Greek thought. The Greeks kept mythological stories of the gods at heart, but relied on having the ability to think rationally, or have ‘human reason.’ This was the Greek way and it was their idea of rational thinking. When it came to living, the primary aim of Greek life is health and goodness. In order to gain this, they had to have religious sacrifices. I would like to discuss these religious practices of Ancient Greek worship, sacrifice, holidays and burials because it is important to learn about and from one of the greatest cultures in history.

Ancient Greece is one of the most famous and important contributors to Western Civilization and the modern world. The Greek civilization only lasted around 4 centuries, but the Greeks civilization and ideas have formed and shaped the ideas and civilizations of the world for thousands of years. The Greeks strived for arête meaning being excellent in everything they do. The Greeks were in fact, excellent in everything they did. Greek culture is used as a reference for their democratic government, medicine, and sciences. Their literature, philosophy, architecture, math, science, arts, and religion are studied and used today all around the world. The Greeks were a very advanced culture, starting the first democratic government which most democratic countries studied to create their own government. They produce some of the most famous writers and philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Socrates, Thales and more. Their mathematical theories and formulas are used in math classes around the world. Their architecture is still being used because some of their buildings still stand today and the beauty they were able to capture. They were great merchants, traders, and colonizers. The influences of Greek culture affected not only other cultures or civilizations but still impacting lives today. The Greeks were unique in the way they thought and in their actions. The advanced art and literature are being taught today in schools. Their philosophies are still being examined today.

Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey” reveals many aspects of ancient Greek life and culture through character and plot. Through each of the tales circling the life of Odysseus and the Greek people, Homer depicts the history, legends, values, and merits of the ancient Greeks. Greek culture is known to be one of the most flavored and thorough in history, and each facet of it—from religion to ideology to mentalities and beliefs.

The Vikings had a closely tied relationship between their culture and other cultures. You can see this because some of the stories from different parts of the world were put into their own stories. The story of the creation myth of Ymir is paralleled to the story of the Brahma. The stories of zombies from the African culture can be closely tied to stories of revenants that are in the Viking culture. A reason for some of these resonances may be because of the trade route they had; which was through the Mesopotamian, Byzantium, and the African worlds.

“Greek civilization is alive; it moves in every breath of mind that we breathe; so much of it remains that none of us in one lifetime could absorb it all.” Ancient Greeks are known to be one of the greatest and most advanced people and have left behind a legacy that helped define the Western civilization. Cultural diffusion helped spread Greek culture all over the world, and its effects can still be felt today in almost every aspect. Greek culture has greatly affected different parts of my daily life including architecture, food, government, inventions, music, religion, and education.

Greek's history and culture are intimately related to the landscape. Continental Greece is practically a mountain range that sinks in the Aegean Sea, whose numerous islands are not more than the summits of this submerged mountain range. But the Greek landscape, being important, does not help on its own to explain the wonderful Greek cultural legacy. Rationalism as an attitude to life, the consideration of man as a measure of all things, the love of beauty and a high aesthetic sense or democracy as a political system, are spiritual values present in our world. Furthermore, Athens.

Growing up my yaya told me contently “Eíste Éllines, ton politismó mas, eínai to palaiótero kai pio agní deíchnoun to páthos, deíchnoun yperifáneia.” Which I quickly learned roughly translates to “You are Greek, you are the best, claim it, be proud.” Being Greek is like being the proudest group of people in the world and telling everyone you meet that you are in fact Greek and because you are Greek almost all Western cultural traditions can be traced back to the Greek—Greece is the birthplace of Western culture and we are proud of it. Now if all you know about the Greek culture is what you have seen from the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” franchise, you are a bit misinformed but that is fine—the franchise did get a few concepts about Greek

The Greeks had come to America for a better life for their children. The culture in America for the Greeks continue on every generation because they are very family oriented and love being surrounded by people. They welcome anyone into their lives as their own and come part of the Greek family. The first generation, the ones that immigrated to America, are known to have some sort of business, especially restaurants or bakeries. They love being their own bosses because of the freedom it has. They also work their hardest for their children to have better education and a better life then what they had, the dream of the impossible. Food is a big part of their culture because it brings the family and friends together. In the family, the mothers

By the 600s and 500s BC, Greece had entered into its Archaic age, with advances in trade, warfare, interstate interactions, and religious institutions converging to define a momentous era of this culture’s long history. Given the extent to which Greece, during these centuries, congealed into the ancient society it is best remembered as today, it is necessary to ask the elusive question of what makes one Greek? By this era, what made one Greek entailed a paradoxical strong value for community coupled with a strong value for competitive individualism, a combination that is found in religion, sports, writing, architecture, and other well-known hallmarks of Greek culture.

Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are rich and diverse. This rich and chaotic past greatly influences current lifestyle, the Greek perspective on the world, Greek music, food, customs, and traditions, even the way Greek do business.

Myths are traditional stories, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events, the values in these stories affect the people of today. Ancient Greece had many myths explaining things they could not clarify. Myths today are fairy tales, movies, books, etc. all of which depict their themes and values and impacts the American Culture. One of the greatest Greek myths that still affect life today with their values is Homer’s Odyssey. A value in the Odyssey is Art, art impacts the American Culture by influencing change into society. In many cases, a single artist taught others his art and changed

Throughout the course of time, different civilizations across the world hold one thing in common by which a society or culture can be based upon or help influence the structure. The one common thing that has help a civilization grow throughout the period of time would be the formation of a religion. Religion is a center point for many societies throughout history. As the center for the different civilizations, it helped form their different traditions and customs. The same could be said about the people of ancient Greece, where religion or mythology played an important role in their lives as it was the pedestal of their culture and how they base their lives upon. The formation of a religion across the large number of regions of Greece, help the different locations mold themselves by the customs that were created from the adaptation. During what was known as Ancient Greece, the people would hear tales of the twelve Olympians and how their actions influence the world around them. Within this period of time for the people of Greece was that of growth, as they sought to bring new ideas into light as they exited from a dark period within their own history.