Greek Cultural Contributions

Page
1

Slide 1

Greek Cultural Contributions

Religious Practices

Theater

Science/Philosophy

Discoveries/Inventions

Slide 2

www.mythweb.com

Go to this website to learn more about Greek gods and heroes.

Slide 3

Olympics - to honor Zeus

Boxing - fought until one was knocked out or gave up

Equestrian Events - chariot racing and riding - jockeys rode without stirrups

Pankration - boxing and wrestling

Pentathlon - combination of 5 events: discus, javelin, jumping, running, wrestling

Running - 4 types of races

**Jumping - they carried stone or lead weights

Slide 4

Slide 5

Entrance to the Olympic Stadium

At Olympia

Slide 6

Slide 7

Theater

Ancient Greek theater has been fascinating. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes and others, have been the teachers of morality, nobleness, courage and patriotism across the centuries.

Theater originated as a festival to the god Dionysus, the god of joyous life and hospitality.

Slide 8

Tragedy

set in the past

relationships between people and gods

not all had unhappy endings

though people suffered, most still carried on despite their suffering

Slide 9

Writers of Tragedy

Aeschylus - wrote about power and its effect on people

Sophocles - suffering was due to sins and mistakes and suffering could make someone a better person

Euripides - people suffered because they did bad things

Slide 10

Slide 11

Comedy

set in the present

had a happy ending

poked fun at certain politicians in the audience (not the brightest idea!)

later poked fun at a certain kind of person

Slide 12

Writers of Comedy

Aristophanes - found something funny about every one

Did you know that the first Shrek movie followed the rules for Shakespearean and ancient Greek comedy? Check it out.