1. The Golden Age of Athens

2. The Golden Age. - Pericles – the leader of Athens in peace and war
The Golden Age - Pericles – the leader of Athens in peace and war Athens grew rich from… -Trade -Silver mined by slaves -Tributes paid to Athens by other polises in return for protection - High point of achievements in arts, philosophy, literature People gathered to Athens because Pericles was a good leader

3. Gods and Goddesses Zeus was the king of gods and humanity
The gods lived on Mt. Olympus
Gods were immortal; which means they could live forever
Each city-state honored one of the gods
Temples were built all over Greece in honor of gods
Greek gods had human characteristics
Olympic games and theater were festivals to honor gods
Greeks also honored heroes
Food and sacrifices were left in temples to honor gods
Olympics honored Zeus
People worshipped outside as a sign of respect

4. Oracles Greek priests and priestesses served as oracles
They were believed to speak for the gods.
Oracles were also sacred sites
where it was believed the gods
and goddesses spoke.
Government leaders and common
people went to oracles for advice.
The most famous oracle was
at Delphi
Advice often came in the form of
a riddle or a dream.
Advice often connected to actual
events, and was good.

5. Search for Knowledge
Philosophers believed that people could use the power of the mind and reason to understand natural events.
Most Greeks believed gods were responsible for natural events
Some philosophers had correct scientific ideas.
Socrates believed in the thinking process.
Socrates was accused of dishonoring gods and sentenced to death.

6. Search for Knowledge (continued)
Plato (student of Socrates) founded a school in Athens and wrote about Socrates.
Aristotle believed REASON should guide pursuit of knowledge.
Thales, one of the first philosophers, believed everything was made of water

7. Visual Arts and the Parthenon
“Acropolis” means high city
The Propylaea was a huge gate that was the entrance to the acropolis
Pericles wanted beautiful buildings, temples and architecture dedicated to the gods

8. Parthenon:
The Parthenon was a temple built by Pericles to honor the goddess Athens
Pericles built the Parthenon
Athena statue was 39 feet tall
Sculptures were lifelike.
Parthenon is on Acropolis

9. Visual Arts:
Greeks wrote first plays
Beautiful architecture and sculptures
Red and black pottery
Metalworkers worked gold
Arts were important to the Greeks

10. Performing Arts & Ancient Greek Theater
Men and women treated differently: women could not participate and could only sit in the back of the theater.
First Greek plays were tragedies, or stories about suffering
In tragedies, the main character was imperfect and faced with a difficult choice; often died.
Comedies made fun of well known citizens and customs

11. Theater continued… Audiences hissed, shouted and clapped.
Visual effects were used, such as mirrors and thunderbolts
A chorus chanted, sang and danced
Actors wore huge masks
Plays showed lessons
Plays were performed in open air theaters.