2. Ancient Greece Government Entertainment Theatre Religion Olympics Summary

3. Government Greece, by 800 B.C.E. was divided into many small, separate city-states Democracy began in Athens in 508-507 B.C.E. Male citizens of the city-state met in a gathering called the Assembly to vote on matters of importance to the city-state Jurymen, officials, and council members were elected to positions in the government

4. Democracy means “rule by the people” Democracy became the model for modern government in the Western world In ancient Greece democracy was limited to Greek men Women, children, immigrants, and slaves were not allowed to vote How is our government today similar to that of ancient Greece?

5. Entertainment Entertainment for the ancient Greeks was often associated with religious festivals Festivals were held to owner the patron deity of the city-state and many other gods Each festival developed certain rites (formal ceremonies) that people followed The most important festival was Panathenaea in Athens in honor of Athena, the goddess of wisdom

6. The dramas that were part of these festivals continue to survive as plays These ancient Greek festivals gave us the dramatic ideas of tragedy and comedy For everyday entertainment the ancient Greeks played games and enjoyed long conversations Many of the children played with dolls, toy dishes, hoops and balls and many had pets, such as dogs Greeks today, now enjoy many past-time pleasures

7. Theatre Going to theatre was an important part of religious life as it honored the gods and goddesses Theatres were outside in the open air Tiers of seats were built around the circular orchestra How do these theatres resemble the one’s we have today?

8. Religion To the ancient Greeks, gods and goddesses helped to explain natural forces that they did not understand They told many stories about their deities, many of these survive today as legends and myths If you visit the temples built by the ancient Greeks you will understand how much they respected and feared their deities.

9. Who were some of the gods and goddesses? Zeus : Ruled all the gods on Mount Olympus. He ruled the sky and sent rain, wind, and the dew. His symbol was the thunderbolt. Hera : Wife of Zeus. She protected marriages and the home. Poseidon : Zeus’s brother and god of the sea. His symbol was the trident. Hades : Brother of Zeus and Poseidon. He ruled the underworld and the dead. Apollo : Son of Zeus. He was the god of shepherds and music. His symbol was the lyre and the laurel tree. Artemis : Apollo’s twin sister. She was the goddess of light, the moon, maidens, and of the hunt. Her symbol was the bow.

10. Aphrodite : The goddess of beauty. She was the wife of Ares. Hermes : The son of Zeus. He was the messenger of the gods and guided the souls to the underworld. He carried a winged staff. Ares : The son of Zeus and Hera. He was the god of war. He was murderous and hated by the gods. Hephaestus : The son of Zeus and Hera. He was the god of fire and artisans. He was the blacksmith of the gods. His symbols were the hammer and tongs. Hestia : Zeus’s sister. She was the goddess of the hearth and home. Dionysus : The god of wine and vegetation. Women worshipped him in secret rites. Demeter : Sister of Zeus. She was the goddess of the Earth. She had a daughter named Persephone.

11. Athena: Daughter of Zeus. The goddess of wisdom and strategy in war. Her symbols were the olive tree and the owl.

12. Olympics In 776 B.C.E. the first true Olympic games were held. The Olympic games were a test of strength. Events included javelin throwing, the discus, wrestling, boxing, the long jump and foot races. During the Olympics, Greeks came from all over the ancient world to worship their gods and goddesses. -Entrance to the ancient stadium in Olympia.

13. Summary Through examination of the ancient Greek civilization, we are able to make connections as to how aspects of our society and culture have come to be. It is best to take a closer look at ancient Greece to further determine other areas of our society that we have been influenced by. Further questions to pursue: How is our past time spent in comparison to the ancient Greeks? How are our systems of religion the same? Different?