More Greek Notes 3/25/15

Today in class we took more notes...

• Gods and Goddesses
• What is unique about the Greek's relationship with their Gods is the interaction with humans.
• Poseidon (God of sea) interfered with Odysseus trying to return home.
• Aphrodite (goddess of love) had lovers of both Gods and men.
• Dionysus (God of wine) was son of Zeus and of Semele (A human princess)
• and on and on and on.
• Who's who in the Pantheon
• Zeus- ruler of heaven and earth; father of Athena; god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice.
• Had a temper and was known to hurl thunderbolts.
• Athena
• Goddess of wisdom, skill, warfare (and peace), intelligence battle strategy, and handicrafts.
• She was born from Zeus' head fully formed and armored.
• A special patron of heroes- such as Odysseus.
• She was the patron of Athens (city was named after her).
• Just a Few of the Many Gods
• Apollo- God of music, arts, knowledge, healing.
• Zeus was his father, Artemis was his twin sister.
• He associated with the sun, his sister with the moon.
• Poseidon- God of sea, rivers, floods, earthquakes.
• Brother of Zeus, king of the sea and waters.
• Aphrodite- Goddess of love, beauty, desire, sexuality.
• Her lovers included Ares (God of war), Adonis (demi-God of desire), and Anchises (A mortal who fathered a baby).
• Demeter- Goddess of grain, harvest, agriculture.
• Zeus's sister.
• The Fighting Spartans
• Greeks were certainly a warlike people- especially the Spartans.
• Spartans were known for their tough ruthless infantry; soldiers who fought on land. 
• Spartan boys trained from the time they were 7 years of age.
• A Naval Power
• Athens had a great infantry, too, but nothing could come compare with their navy.
• Their most effective weapon was the trireme.
• A technological marvel.
• Fastest ship in the world at the time.
• Rowed by up to 170 men on 3 levels.
• Could be used as a battering ram.
• Agile; fast.
• The Phalanx
• Close-rank, dense grouping of warriors.
• Armed with long spears and interlocking shields.
• Soldiers would advance slowly toward the enemy until they broke through their ranks.
• Socrates
• Looked to science and logic (not the mythological gods) for explanations of how the world worked.
• The Socratic method fostered critical thinking.
• "The unexamined life is not worth living,"
• Socrates was charged with serious crimes
• 1. Impiety (disrespecting the Gods).
• 2. Corrupting the youth of Athens.
• At his trial, he described himself as a stinging gadfill and Athens as a lazy old horse.
• Did not deny what he had done; asked for free diners.
• Found guilty by an Athenian jury, and sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock (nasty way to go).