CHRONICLES: CHAPTER 5
THE DAWN OF THE WEST: THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
The heroes of the Iliad (from left to right): Menelaus, Paris, Nicomedes 2, Odysseus Nestor, Achilles, Agamemnon.
HOMER: THE EPIC NACE
New episode of the greatest moments in human history after long hiatus. Please apologize this long period in the mist, but different tasks and disturbing secrets in the house of my host has greatly shaken my existence. To reward my faithful few, and despite finding myself stunned by the comings and goings, even to my own particular view of history. And gentlemen, I call attention, as it plays now a truly glorious chapter. Try to be brief, but hardly fair, because I love these moments that marked forever the destiny of humanity and the soul of man.
L to ancient Greece , considered the cradle of Western civilization . In fact the West is the birthplace of the democracy the Western philosophy , the Olympics , western literature and the study of history, politics and the most important principles of mathematics and science.
is a curious phenomenon occurred in the early classical period, but to understand the sublime change in the course of history which involved such as restless tribes generically called 'the Greeks' , briefly mention the literature ...
The Aegean coast saw the emergence of the first civilizations in Europe, the Cretan civilization or Minoan (in memory the legendary King Minos ) and the Mycenaean . After 700 to . C. the last was conquered by Rome in 168 to . C., although the superiority of Greek culture profoundly changed the Roman. In fact, in the eastern part of empire culture and Greek his disappearance resurfaced followed another about being more influential.
insurance As you remember, the Phoenicians had besides the one God of Jews , varied cast of semi-gods with very human traits. Well, I am convinced that these tribes into contact with the Phoenicians may have been the germ to develop the complex Greek Greek Deities which in turn, inherit Rome.
The term ancient Greece refers to the period of the history of Greece ranging from the Dark Ages of Greece ca. 1100 to . C. and the Dorian invasion until the year 146 to . C. and the Roman conquest of Greece after the battle of Corinth . Is generally regarded as the seminal culture which provided the basis for Western civilization .
The Greeks had no Bible, Koran or as books cohesion of their culture, however, could provide the equivalent in the Iliad and Odyssey the of Homer . Both letters have the presence of Deities, addition to being charged with a heavy moral burden and tone relatively realistic. They are also both full of evocative images and poetic , with kinship, color on facts and figures. Note in this excerpt, as described nature, full of vitality: 'when the rosy fingers of dawn rises, the storm rumbles, the wolf steals, the worm digs the earth, the serpent is raised to attack the beetle wheel the ball ... ' In this short extract, is palpable and restless personality observer of the Greeks.
The Iliad and the Odyssey known for their unity and coherence, highlighting the intelligence, cunning, risk and adventure. Homer emphasizes primordial human feelings. They are not religious literature, but is very close.
The historical period we are going to comment, began around 1184 years BC the Mycenaean period Age of the Bronze . This was a legendary stage and uncertain, with a slight degree of cultural uniformity l over a wide area that brought together Greece, Anatolia, the Aegean Sea and Canaanite kingdoms. In the Homeric epic also find recurrent features of the Indo-European tradition found in turn in the ancient literature India in the early Germanic sagas, the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf and the Irish ancient tradition. Issues such as the withdrawal of a hero, loyalty, revenge and the concept of glory as a reward for the mobile warrior. The most obvious precedent for this Gender is the saga Sumerian Gilgamesh of
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The Iliad (in ancient Greek Ἰ λιάς: Ilias , in modern Greek Ιλιάδα: Iliad) is an epic Greek and the oldest poem written in Western literature. Is traditionally attributed to Homer . consists dactylic hexameter, consists of 15,693 verses (divided by the editors, as in antiquity, in 24 songs and rhapsodies)
I can not even imagine how important the influence of Homer in our current life and ideas, especially in the narrative. The Gods of time, unlike the distant, cold and distant Lord, take an active part in physical and human events. While Zeus retains some divine detachment of one God, does not hesitate to mate occasionally with women, mestizos sponsor, glorify or humiliate merciless human actions while men always sighed knowing that your destiny is written in the sky and the stars with a clear influence of Mesopotamian relatives.
Both the Iliad as Odyssey Ancient Greece and were used as the foundations of Greek pedagogy. Both are part of a larger series of epic poems of different authors and extensions called Trojan cycle, but the other poems, have survived only fragments.
A great work of literature is always a complete and closed universe, governed by their own laws. The Iliad is not only a poem of war, but peace. It is especially touching scene between Achilles and the father of Hector . The Iliad shows the tragedy of isolation, as there are noble heroes on both sides. Misunderstandings, unbridled passions, selfishness and grief Homeric heroes, who continue to enjoy even in Westerns , dot the entire work with a sad conclusion: The tragedy, death and misunderstanding between people, create more beautiful and believable stories.
The most striking peculiarity Iliad is its poetic language, marked by the juxtaposition , a particular sequence syntactic and semantic also, is marked by the juxtaposition of elements parataxis and autonomy of its parts. Maintains what is called: "improvisational oral poetry, for his reading sound more musical and objective narrator and distant.
whole poem combines conflicts of capricious deities with the human drama . The fight against bad end the honor and the dilemma of inevitability . These issues are thrilling and inspiring to readers even today. Without doubt, the Iliad contains some complexities of human existence with its grandeur and misery. Too bad the last movie, although I do not consider bad, I did not know to squeeze all the epic and nuances of what this work could lead to another.
The plot of the Iliad lies in the anger of Achilles (μ ῆ νις, meniscus). Chronicles the events that occurred during 51 days in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War . The title of the work derives from the Greek name for Troy , Ιlión .
Odyssey also has interesting similarities and differences. But enrollaré me more, I prefer the innovative way to deal with difficulties: the wit and oratory. Ulises exemplified as , and very representative of the new Greek spirit. The moral issues that arise, as the virtue of loyalty and unconditional defense of private property (Which in this case, including his wife) that causes us no small satisfaction to see how it is applied with an iron fist . Universal and timeless values \u200b\u200bthat reflect on even today. And above all, the inverse structure the concept of the journey where the destination is the starting point. But hey, we'll talk some other time of Greek literature ...
Odyssey is coupled to Iliad, one of the early texts of the Greco-Roman epic and therefore of Western literature. It is believed that the original poem was transmitted orally for centuries by bards who recited the poem from memory, consciously or unconsciously altering.
Could reproach that this is not history itself, as everything is legend and fiction . Well, that was previously thought that a German businessman said he believed that chronicles the fall of Troy was true. Schliemann was a certain . All his colleagues laughed at him. But that did not stop moving forward. Schliemann his life savings and traveled to start digging. About GreciaMicenas found a huge city, with items battle and burned remains of buildings from almost exactly the time that alleged describe the Homeric texts. We found an ancestor ring of the pharaoh Akhenaton himself. Everyone gasped. Troy existed, and his story will inescapably linked to human ... there is always some truth in fiction, I have always believed that without realism can hardly be a good story.
'The Greeks knew and felt all the horrors and terrors of existence. " Nietzsche
Athens and Sparta: Everything begins to change
In those early years, living in Greece and neighboring islands rich warrior people. Although there was a unified kingdom, but fortified small principalities in small towns who learned the craft of the Phoenician navy, but unlike these, they liked much more than trade war. It took a lot of value for the trade of piracy , but if there is something that we will discover in this village is bold and risky in their behavior and ideas.
The literature as we understand it today, is created exclusively Greek and although the written word to give an aesthetic is something that had happened before, however not with the intensity and importance it acquired in ancient Greece . why we say that Western literature has its origins in ancient Greece.
So far we have seen that the Egyptians , Babylonians or Assyrians considered very important that nothing will change. Unlike these, the Greeks did not have a big cultural wealth to espaldas. Eran muy curiosos. Su contacto con una gran multitud de pueblos extranjeros les proporciono una mentalidad abierta y disfrutaban con el cambio . A partir de este momento, la idea de que todo tiene que permanecer tal como era antes... iba a cambiar . El ritmo de la historia se aceleró tanto en este lugar, que incluso hoy en día se sigue hablando de estos hombres con asombro y sus ideas siguen pareciendo frescas.
En la Ilíada los hombres mueren horribles muertes, los niños se convierten en esclavos y las women concubines if they are lucky and not the plague of pests. In view of these horrors, even the mightiest warriors occasionally experience fear. History suggests that living with honor, above all, even the family ... is the only path worthy of man. The gods and prophets foretell death and destruction, because everything created by man is mortal and will eventually fall from the walls of Troy until the reign of Agamemnon.
Serve as a test, this sample. If an archaeologist found a scrap of pottery or a ring on the Greece today, could say with certainty, at what time belongs. Then things started to go out of style quickly, as happens today. The new and changing it best. The island of Crete became a great example of magnificence and innovation, the paintings were full of life and movement, unlike the Egyptian or Babylonian. The architecture was magnificent, full of mazes as the home of the legendary Minotaur.
face of spiritual forms from the East, Greece is the root of all forms of Western art. style lush symbolic and fantastic , style happens sober, reasoned and restrained. The art, literature, philosophy become something subject to the rule. Imagination and intelligence get the same level. If we compare a pagoda in the Parthenon, the representation of a monstrous god of India with a statue of Apollo, we understand the enormous difference between a concept to another. All that we realize that our culture and art education comes from Greece and Rome , his immediate successor.
I must say that the first Greeks were not natives, but northern tribes brave and warlike: Dorian, Ionian, Aeolian ... Resembled the Mohicans or Sioux , but with one important difference: They knew the iron . The Dorians settled in the south that looks like Maple Leaf. Were few, but subjected to native making them work for them, and thus was founded the city of Sparta . The Ionians meanwhile, came after the area of \u200b\u200bthe stem in a very fertile and there planted vineyards, olive trees, cereals and the prospect of business, soon showed the Phoenicians founded colonies and trading. Did not take long to teach them something new, the most wonderful thing that could have been offered them: writing. And now you will see how that changed a few things ...
SMALL FACING THE GIANTS
The Greek mythology and culture have inspired the c reation popular even today. From comics, literature, film and even video games. This image is of a game called Total War PS2 where As in the Iliad , mixing history and mythology, a curious and bizarre.
POINT BEFORE CONTINUING
I'll tell you a funny story. About 550 to 500 BC a milestone occurred. There was once a small village in the highlands of Asia. A beautiful area inhabited by fierce men who worshiped the sun and believed that this remained a constant struggle against the darkness of evil.
Century V a. C. Athens and Sparta would soon have to ally themselves with the greatest threat to ancient Greece would face up to the Roman conquest. After crushing the Ionian Revolt , a revolt of the Greek cities of Ionia , Darius I of Persia, King of the kings of the Achaemenid Dynasty , decided to subjugate Greece. invasion in 490 to . C. was suppressed by the heroic Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon under Miltiades the Younger . Xerxes I of Persia, heir Darius I, attempted his own invasion ten years later.
These people called themselves: Persians. Dominated by the Assyrians, then by the Babylonians, came a day without it anymore. One of its rulers, the intelligent and courageous Ciro , threw balls to the matter and said it's over. So he gathered his troops to face ridiculous huge Babylonian empire, the second largest in the world civilization along with the Egyptian. Ciro riders took his handful of warriors and dared to defy their oppressors at the foot of the imposing walls of the city. Meanwhile, the Babylonians laughed chest party negligible threat. But as fate would have with cunning and courage, could make the city prosperous. Ciro not content just with that, but continued their march to Egypt and even died on the way, his son Cambyses managed to dethrone the Egyptian pharaoh at the time, and change a regime that had lasted 3000 years. The known world had fallen, including the unexplored parts of India were subjected to the emerging power Persian. Everything ... but a handful of savages who inhabited certain lands in the shape of maple leaf.
Despite the overwhelming number of soldiers in his army, Xerxes was defeated after the famous rearguard battle of Thermopylae and victories by the Greek allies in battle of Salamis and Plataea . The Medical Wars continued until 449 to . C., led by the Athenians and Delian League, during which Macedonia, Thrace the Aegean Islands and Ionia were freed from the influence of Persia.
Established a series of systems to control such a vast empire. A network of roads, spies in all satrapies . And in a time of great king Darius . Had already arrived in the area of \u200b\u200bAsia Minor, on whose shores were the Ionian cities. There Darius sent officials to pay tribute to him. But the Greeks were strangers, were not used to belong to a great empire or obey anybody. Especially when were in the boonies. They considered themselves free traders. So I drove the Persians ambassadors.
Persia The term refers to a historical region Middle East, east of Mesopotamia, now Iran. The Persians were a people of Indo-European language. It originated as a group of nomadic tribes whose original location lay north of the plateau of Iran. Around 1400 BC C. , some of these tribes, ancestors of the Persian historical moved into southern Iran.
The Athenians , early settlers of the metropolis, supported their brothers and sent ships to help. Meanwhile, Darius heard the news of his envoys in amazement. But how dare these tribes oponérseme sensitive foolish? To me, the King of Kings-that was his title - Governor of the world! - Sure thought.
So Darius unleashed his anger against the Athenians. Assembled a large fleet, which had a bad wreck because of the elements. Faced with this catastrophe, and such was his anger, which has ordered his servants to tell him 3 times a day: 'Lord, remember the Athenians' then sent his son with a new fleet. He soon raze many Greek cities. Then dropped anchor near Marathon , and prepared to march against the very Athens with an army of more than 100000 men. Which was more than the entire population of Athens . Athenians had only one tenth as effective. The die was cast, but fate decreed that a general named Miltiades , military side of the Greeks. Milciades was an intelligent man and great balls that had lived with the Persians for a long time. Therefore knew his way of fighting. Although many believe that war is a matter of mathematics, as Sun Tzu said one of the oldest books in history: 'The Art of War ' an enemy at bay is worth ten. The Greek fighting for their women, children and freedom. And soon we shall see, in the brief paragraph that I prepare for Alexander, and his daring to defy military logic in more than one occasion with stunning victories.
The Persians came to occupy territories from northern Greece to the Indus River and the Amu Daria River, including Thrace, Egypt, Middle East, Asia Minor and the Caucasus . His empire was weakened after losing Medical Wars against the Greeks, and was subsequently reduced and conquered by Alexander the Great, passing eventually into the hands of the Roman Empire.
The Persians laughing approached the battlefield. They thought that the fate of their enemy was gone. The Greeks sweating, not moving. The Persians were relaxed, organizing numerous rows when the Athenians were thrown at them without fear. This move totally unexpected and disconcerted suicide was crazy! However, such was his determination that the Persians could not stop them and were forced to flee to their ships, leaving behind a large number of casualties. The Greek were full of bliss. Had won in the open to the world's largest army.
The system of theocratic government was a hereditary monarchy where the king or sultan was considered the anthropomorphic form of God on earth. The king was to be the greatest warrior, as well as the best hunter. Had a personal army composed of 10,000 soldiers known as "Immortals " because every time I fell one was immediately replaced by another of the reserves formed for this purpose. Persian government were marked by military despotism , the emperor's authority was absolute, was defended and supported by the Immortals.
But Milciades was a man of mind twisted. A victory here would have obscured the greatest personalities. But he looked suspiciously like they were going vessels Persians and direction. While others wept with happiness, Milciades shouted to his men: To arms, fast, in training! Everyone was perplexed, because they did not understand as their leader did not celebrate the triumph. He sent a messenger to Athens , who ordered him to run as fast as they could to prepare for battle, for he thought that Persian boat would go there.
The Persian army was characterized by two things: skill and marksmanship. The personal army consisted of soldiers trained for battle called the "Immortals." It was an army of 10,000 men, were told because every time I fell was a replacement for another of the reserve, and the archers on horseback, were a specialty of the Persians that required exceptional coordination and skill l, which combined archery with the cavalry. For his part was so great Persian empire through the recruitment of troops, as we saw above the organization of the provinces allowed the rapid and efficient recruitment of troops.
Fortunately, the way land was shorter than by sea. Thus the messenger ran to save his village when he arrived and delivered the message, he died of sheer exhaustion. While Milciades traveled the same path a forced march with his army when he arrived, the Persian ships were on the horizon looking stunned the determination of those men who first began to fear. So Miltiades saved all Greece in 490 BC and remained a time, while Darius placate a revolt in Egypt .
The Iliad is primarily a military history somehow idealize the character and status of the war. Also embodies the values \u200b\u200bof Western culture, with Achilles: Protagonist brave warrior archetype, beautiful and strong. Sometimes violent, sometimes human and sensitive. Hector the Trojan is the antagonist, is more cautious, tender and sentimental than its rival. Agamemnon decent, hard head, Andromache, Hector's wife is the female figure and loving of the epic. The gods intervene in the action Thetis, mother of Achilles, Zeus asked to allow the defeat of the Greeks to humiliate Agamemnon defends Poseidon and Athena, while the Thebans Apollo favors.
Jerges , his successor, was a hard man eager for power. I wanted to expand their territories by Europe, the only thing left for him to conquer the known world at that time. But I needed to conquer Greece to enter. So he gathered the largest army that history had known. People from all places subject: Babylonians, Egyptians and inhabitants of the whole Asia , joined Jerges . Legend has it that there were more than a million, which is quite exaggerated, considering that to conquer Russia , Napoleon had 600,000 troops throughout Europe .
Zoroaster or Zarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism or as the name of their religion Daena Vanguji, which translates to Good Religion was one of the first monotheistic religions , but later in the dynasty Sassanian be seen as dualistic , centered in God, good Hormuz and the twin brother of this that represents evil Ahriman , the holy book is "Avesta " This religion still exists in Iran and is one of the officially permitted religions, although the majority religion is Islam. There are also followers of Zoroaster in India and other countries, called Parsis the basis of this religion is "pendare nik, nik goftare, kerdare nik" meaning "to think well, speak well, do good"
Defeat Greek was inevitable. The same Jerges in person went to battle. Lost a part of that gigantic army in the waterway of the present Istanbul again by storms Mediterranean. Such was his anger, lashing Jerges sea command chains.
The film adaptation of 300 , based on the comic Frank 'testosterone' Miller leads the frenzy warrior spirit, free and daring the classical Sparta. The beautiful legend of Leonidas and 300 Spartans were the inspiration that joined the Greeks against the Persian giant, and that led Greece to covet the largest empire the world with Alexander as a model for next empire: the Roman .
But again, among the Greeks , won a great military figure: Leonidas, a Spartan trained in the arts of battle. The Spartans were the most feared soldiers of his time. Were so few that they could not stop so vast army, so proposed to stop the enemy in a gorge in Thermopylae, to compensate for their numerical inferiority and void the powerful Persian cavalry . When they reached the Persians were absorbed to see that ridiculous army face them. The Persians spoke:
- 'Surrender Arms, fools! "
The Spartans answered
- 'Come to find them! "
Jerges was furious and said:
- 'Our arrows are so many that darken the sun! "
and got the following response:
- 'Best and fight in the shade'
Jerges guess would be amazed. Five days I hope to see reason, looking at the strange people prepare for battle. Undoubtedly, their behavior is unnerving. The Spartans combing their long hair and laughed non-stop Do not you were crazy? Do not fear death? The first attack was terrible. Probably about 7000 to 250000. The Persians were falling like flies. Jerges control withdrawal, to better plan the next day. Send a messenger and told the Spartans that if they surrendered, would integrate in their own army, Leonidas refused. And Jerges 10000 control the Immortals, their Elite warriors commanded by his brother and temperate in the most bloody battles. Incredibly ... the Greeks rejected.
Persian art was influenced by Egyptian and, above all, Mesopotamian (bulls androcéfalos, use of arc) Among his accomplishments include the Apadana (palaces of receipt) and the royal tombs carved into cliffs and decorated with reliefs representing the various provinces of the empire. Also of note, in addition to the pyramids, the capitals formed by trunks of bull conflicting and perfection of its ceramic vidriada.No brought great innovations since its architecture is derived from the Mesopotamian world.
Jerges was beginning to be very nervous, and at that time Sfialtes , a Greek traitor told that there was a way where they could surround Spartan army and its allies. Leonidas realized too late. The defeat was safe and sent his army to withdraw to defend cities strengths and organize defense. But he was left with 300 Spartan soldiers he chose, more about 700 Thebans and Thespies who would not leave him. Leonidas fell soon surrounded by thousands of enemies, the rest died in a hail of arrows. The courage and bravery of Leonidas always be remembered in history as an example of courage, courage and ultimate sacrifice for their country. His example for all the people under Greek. Again, epic and reality merge.
TALE OF TWO CITIES
Although normally civilization progresses slowly, sometimes there are strange phenomena as a kind of evolutionary Booms. In fact, what happened in Greece in those days, in my personal opinion, was undoubtedly something quite revolutionary at the cultural level.
The degree of refinement that the Greeks achieved in all arts, marks a turning point in the history of art.
Greece held firm against the vast Persian Empire , and always went graceful in battle. It was not necessarily because the Persians were fought worse or more stupid, but probably because the Greeks were special. The Persians were too wedded to ancient customs and doctrines, which the Greeks knew. But an open mind, restless and eager for new ways in all aspects of life gave them an advantage. Knowledge made them ahead of their enemies on strategies, predicted the obsolete ideas of the enemy and especially had courage to try new maneuvers. His reorganization of the army marked a before and after.
The narrow pass of Thermopylae today.
One of his greatest works were the famous Olympics, apart from training to serve as soldiers, were a unifying social phenomenon among the Greek people are almost always at odds. These were convened every four years, and considered so important that almost half the time for each new Olympiad. The first was at 776 A . C. and tradition. But not everything was so nice Do you remember a Miltiades Themistocles and ? tell you about the heroes who ran and saved the people Hellenistic of the incursions of Darius and yours. Were honored for their deeds, monuments were erected and were praised. But after a while, were the subject of calumny, accused and banished. In the polis , everything is decided democratically. The thirst for news s hunger for fashion attributes were sometimes not so positive, but so were the Athenians. Always restless, searching, never satisfied. So in just 100 years, went there more things in 1000 in the empires of the East.
The majestic Parthenon, or what's left of it ...
The two cities to which I refer are Sparta and Athens . The first, many perceive it for the fame of his warriors, obsessed with the battle. If a child was born with a defect, was killed instantly. Only the strongest could survive that way of military life. They hit hard and no reason to learn to endure the pain. Should not be scared to death. Fall in battle was a great honor, and cowardice are not admitted. Paradoxically, this obsession came from the warrior fear them. Fear because they were a small town who had undergone the most numerous indigenous and natives of their new home. The Spartans needed to work the land and should be ready to dispel any revolt.
The School of Athens is one of the most famous paintings artist Raphael Sanzio . In it we see the most important thinkers of classical Greece. About the exciting birth of philosophy, discussed in another entry.
In Athens not happen this. The Athenians did not want to live a nice life, but giving it meaning. Something to leave behind the death. Its form of government has been a great legacy for humanity. They also had noble repressors Do you sound the Draconian laws ? But a traveler and fearless people, he has seen and heard it all would not be duped. A nobleman named Solon drafted the first constitution, saying: 'The people must meet in the marketplace and decide ALWAYS had to do with important matters. " Born the Democracy, rule by the people. The affairs of the Polis were called: Policy. But how much remains for man to assimilate all these concepts as advanced, in fact, I think the man still does not understand the responsibility and effort that these approaches means to social and human level. Someone might ask me now not have done so much! A constitution, a bearded jet naked statues and books with speeches talkative with excess leisure.
The honor and battle, great themes of Greek literature and art ...
The achievements compared to his past was invaluable. The new perspective when thinking about and looking at reality had nothing to do with this. It used the dialogue rather than the authority to convince the rhetoric of Aristotle to talk, logical thinking and objective observation for analysis, rather than justify the world through religion and myth. The sculpture and painting moved like never before, the man was able to grasp reality as completely. His obsession was the truth and beauty. Wondered to ... Where do we come? Where are we going? What things are? What are we? Everything was new, and all we did is always asking questions and answer them using only reason. They found that it was important to seek the truth without fear. The boldness and sincerity. Discovered the theater and creative writing led to heights never before imagined.
Image Leonidas at Thermopylae.
are so many things that can not be summarized. But I hope that everything that I wrote, I encourage you to investigate everything that was written, it was thought, was painted, is experienced or said in the market places and the old boards in those days ... and discover how even echo the same echoes our time.
