Abstract The paper traces the story of King Minos of Crete in the story, "Metamorphoses" by ancient Roman author, Ovid. The paper begins from his spurning of the worshipful Scylla to his own betrayal by first his wife Pasiphae and then his daughter Ariadne and illustrates through various relationships how the filial connection is thrown off, basing the patterns of this dissolution on Freud's theories.
From the Paper "Ovid's story of the tale of Icarus is a tale unto itself but at the same time it is the climax of a broader story. Icarus? death is the final tragedy to result from the maze his father, Daedalus, built to imprison the Minotaur. Throughout the story of the Cretan labyrinth, the process of the dissolution of the Oedipal complex is central as is the manner in which the wish fulfillment connected with that process expresses itself through feelings of either totemic hostility or Oedipal guilt (depending on the gender of the child)."
Compares the "Bull Leaping" fresco from 1500 B.C. in Crete and the horsemen frieze from 500 B.C in the Parthenon in Athens. Discusses themes, styles, cultural and religious aspects, aims and subjects.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 7 sources, 1995, $ 71.95
From the Paper "Two works of ancient art with a similarity of theme present very different approaches to the rendering of their subjects. In The "Bull Leaping" or "Tauromachy" fresco from the Minoan palace of Knossos, depicts a ceremonial game, an athletic event with religious overtones. The detail of horsemen from the sculptural frieze on the north side of the Parthenon in Athens shows the men and horses as part of an extended depiction of the procession in the greatest of Athens' religious festivals. The aims of the two works of art are similar. Each is a depiction of a religious event and an animal is included. Despite great differences in the media and the final effect, each work aims for a feeling of spontaneity and fluidity of movement combined with a certain amount of solemnity. In its own way, each work achieves these ends and the differences between them make an interesting ..."
Abstract This paper discusses three of the monsters of Greek mythology:the Gorgon Medusa, the Minotaur and Scylla and Charybdis. The paper also looks at the role that they play in this culture. The paper explains that among the most grotesque of the Greek monsters was the Gorgon. The paper suggests that the Gorgon is a representation of a human head undergoing decay, more common to the Greeks than to modern peoples, but still distasteful. The paper then points out that just as the Gorgon reflected something the Greeks had seen in real life, the Minotaur may have reflected their revulsion with human sacrifice as carried on by the Minoans of Crete. In conclusion, the paper shows that the Greeks tried to explain their world and to do this they created a series of myths and legends that have vastly enriched the world's lore and literature ever since. While some of their stories seem more than fantastic, on examination, most have a reasonable explanation.
From the Paper "Medusa was eventually killed by Perseus. He was the product of one of Zeus' many dalliances. Perseus and his mother, Danae, came eventually to the land of Seriphos, where the king fell in love with Danae. Wanting to get Perseus out of the way, the king tricked him into going on a quest for the head of Medusa. (Hard, 239)
"Perseus received help from the gods Hermes and Athena, who sent him to the Graiai, the three "old woman," sisters of the Gorgons, who knew their secrets. The Graiai gave Perseus winged sandals with which he could fly, a cap of invisibility which would let him approach Medusa unseen, and a metal satchel in which he could safely store her head."
Abstract This paper attempts to relate the decline of the Greek Bronze Age with the eruption of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. The author examines the developments that led to the decline of the Greek Bronze Age and how they coincide with the eruption of Santorini volcano.
From the Paper 'Two of the greatest controversial questions in ancient Greek history are when did the decline of the Greek Bronze Age begin and what caused this dramatic reversal in progress? Dates have varied from as early as 1350 B.C. to as late as 1100 B.C. Causes have range from massive invasions by barbarians to widespread droughts. However, evidence has begun to surface that suggests the possibility that there was a massive series of natural phenomena that affected the whole eastern Mediterranean region between 1600 and 1300 B.C. After examining all of the current evidence, a conclusion can be drawn that a series of earthquakes shook the region during several decades which set off a cataclysmic volcanic eruption on the island of Thera. This explosion can be directly connected with the decline of Bronze Age Greece."
Abstract In this essay the characters of Jay Gatsby and Nick in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zorba and his Boss in the novel "Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis are discussed. The author of the paper shows that in both books, the narrator is a part of the story and through his eyes the main character or characters come to life. Moreover, the reader gains insights through the narrator's perceptions and interactions with the other characters.
From the Paper "Nick was clearly an observer in his role as the narrator in The Great Gatsby. He was not a major participant in the story line. He more or less took on a voyeur role, as if he was studying the habits and attitudes of a species foreign yet familiar to him. The narrator in Zorba the Greek was a full participant in the story. Without his quests for truth and his childlike innocence of the grit of the world, Zorba would never have had a reason or opportunity to express and expound on his philosophies of life and love. Zorba is a mentor to Boss. He teaches him the madness of the world and the madness within himself. Boss more or less becomes a man during his time with Zorba, much like Nick sheds his illusions of the rich and powerful after his summer in New York."
From the Paper "The name Minoan is given to the civilizations that flourished on the Mediterranean island of Crete during the Bronze Age. The term is also used to identify the earlier Neolithic inhabitants of Crete. Almost nothing was known about the Minoan civilization until the very end of the nineteenth century. Arthur Schliemann, who had recently excavated the sites of Troy and Mycenae, had done some preliminary excavation at Knossos near the north coast town of Heraklion. But it was not until 1897 that Arthur Evans was finally able to excavate the site. The main excavations took place between 1900 and 1905. But Evans' expeditions to Crete continued until 1932 with only a six year break because of the First World War. Evans had originally gone to Crete in search of samples of hieroglyphic writing on stones. In Crete he suspected that extensive ruins of some type were..."
From the Paper "This report will discuss some of the characteristics of the art--particularly the paintings--of ancient Minoan Crete. It will seek to relate these to what we know or can infer about other aspects of Minoan civilization, and will inquire into the Minoan roots of later Western civilization.
The Minoan civilization of prehistoric Crete lies as a great question mark beneath the foundations of Western civilization. Of Minoan history we know almost nothing at all: the Egyptians left only a handful of oblique references to the "Keftiu," and from the Minoans themselves we have only some tablets inscribed in "Linear All--written in no known language--and (from the last period of Minoan civilization) some others inscribed in "Linear B." These can be read; they are in an early form of Greek. Alas, they record no history or poetry, but only "data processing"."
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the Oriental influences on the development of Greek temple architecture. The plan of the research will be to set forth the context in which Greek temple architecture attained its highest form, and then to explore the scholarly debate on the origins of such architecture in a manner that has the effect of showing the extent and kind of influence upon the perfection of geometric and monumental structures that may have come from more archaic civilizations in Persia and Crete, but especially from Egypt.
To understand the extent of Oriental influences on the emergence of Greek temple architecture, it is important to realize what any such influences might have wrought. In this connection, an important term that is used repeatedly throughout the literature of classical Greek architecture is Doric Order. An ..."
Abstract This paper examines the archaeological search for the historical Atlantis, the theories that have been suggested over the years and the techniques which have been used to investigate them. It looks at how the myth has been captured by many authors over the years such as Ignatius Donnelly. It also considers whether K.T. Frost's hypothesis attempting to prove that the lost city of Atlantis was in fact in the Aegean is the solution to the problem of its location.
From the Paper "However, if we are equating the destruction of Minoan Crete to that of Atlantis, we run into problems. The most obvious of these is that Atlantis was supposed to have sunk under the sea after experiencing "earthquakes and floods of extraordinary violence" . While Crete probably did experience earthquakes as a result of Santorini, it is quite plainly still there, not sunk under the waves at all. Supporters of the Crete/Thera theory have two arguments to this. The first is that the eruption of Santorini could have caused a tsunami that would have hit Crete. This would certainly be a watery end for the Minoans, but even stretching the imagination one cannot say that it 'sank' the island."
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities that existed between Greece and Rome in ancient times. The paper also looks at the significant differences that existed between the two civilizations.
From the Paper "As life settled and wars abated in Greece and Rome, time could be devoted to entertainment and education. Greece became prosperous through trading and good leadership. Thus leisure time could be devoted to politics and religion, as well as other entertainment. In Athens for example, a splendid temple was built in honor of the goddess Athena (Unstead 23). Cities were also furnished with open-air assembly places where speeches and voting could be attended. Market places with stalls were surrounded by walks and shops. Theaters were built for the notorious Greek dramas, with marble seats for the richer citizens. 17,000 people could be seated in these theaters. The chorus was a very important part of the Greek tragedy, and actors wore wigs and masks (Unstead 26). Further leisure time was devoted to pottery made in beautiful shapes and decorated with great skill."
Abstract This paper provides a brief overview of the ongoing struggle between Greece and Turkey. The paper describes the history of their relations, the wars fought between the two countries, massacres of populations and occupations of land, British involvement in the struggle, present day relations, as well as the current political situation in Cyprus.
From the Paper "Despite many commonalitities, Greece and Turkey have been at odds for hundreds of years (Turkey pp). Although many subscribe to the myth of ancient hatred, there is however, a history of conflict that dates back to the entry of Turkish nomads into the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century, the eventual collapse of the Byzantine, the fall of Constantinople in 1453, and the long dominance of the Ottoman Dynasty over Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean islands (Turkey pp). Throughout history, the strategic location of the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been of interest of several states that sought to gain a foothold for Middle East invasions (Meier Pp). Greece gained control of the island in the 13th century B.C. and dominated the island until the Ottoman takeover of 1571, after which Turkish immigrants began to inhabit the island (Meier Pp). During the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the wake of its war with Russia, the United Kingdom negotiated to become the protecting power over Cyprus and officially gained sovereignty over the island in 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne, making the island a British Crown Colony until its independence in 1960 (Meier Pp). Since Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832, relations between Greece and Turkey have been marked by mutual hostility resulting in four wars, The Greco-Turkish War of 1897, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, the First World War 1914-1918, and the Greco-Turkish War 1919-1922 (Ottoman pp)."
Abstract This paper explains that, after the Stone Age, the earliest known Bronze Age culture of Europe and the Mediterranean was the Minoan, an ancient civilization on what is now Crete in the Mediterranean prior to classical Greek culture. The author points out that the advances in building construction led to the widespread use of the arch by the Romans and to the invention of durable cements and concrete for structures that have survived to the present times. The paper clarifies that, although Rome possessed a collection of tribute-states for centuries before the autocracy of Augustus, the pre-Augustan state conventionally is described as the Roman Republic; the difference between the Roman Empire and the Roman Republic lies primarily in the governing bodies and their relationship to each other.
From the Paper "In discussing history over such great spans of time, historians rely on what is known as the classic three-age system. The system divides early human history into three distinct phases based upon the level of technology developed and the materials used in forming tools. These three ages and their exact placement in time vary according to geographic region; some regions developed the use of bronze and iron before others. Indeed, there are still Stone Age cultures extant on the planet, although that is becoming more and rarer as the years pass. Other ages than the ones mentioned are used by archaeology to delineate "sub-ages" that distinguish when a particular material (usually a metal) began to be used in tool-making and industry (examples include the Copper Age, the Silver Age, or the Gold Age)."
Abstract This paper explains that Heracles, which means glory of Hera, is best known as the strongest of all mortals and considered as a super hero and the deciding factor in allowing the Olympian gods to win their battle with the giants. The author points out that Heracles was the last mortal son of Zeus and the only man born of mortal woman to become a god upon his death. The paper relates that Heracles was renowned for making the world safe for man by destroying many dangerous monsters; his self-sacrifice obtained the ascent to the Olympian realms, welcomed by the gods.
Table of Contents
The Twelve Labors of Heracles for King Eurystheus
The Traditional Order of the Twelve Labors
Kill the Lion of Nemea
Kill the Nine Headed Hydra
Capture the Erymanthian Boar
Capture the Cerynian Hind
Clean the Augean Stables in One Day
Kill the carnivorous birds of Stymphalis
Capture the Wild Bull of Crete Steal the Mares of Diomedes
Obtain the Girdle of Hippolyte
Obtain the Cattle of Geryon
Steal the Golden Apples of the Hesperides
Capture Cerberus
Heracles Good and Evil Character
Heracles Marriage Life, Sex Life and Death
Heracles Male Lovers
From the Paper "Heracles first task that he must performed for King Eurythus is to put to death the mighty Lion of Nemea. Heracles used his bow and arrow to kill the Lion of Nemea. Apparently the arrows just bounced off the lion's coat. Heracles had no choice but to fight the monster with his bare hands. The fight was so violent. Heracles had his little finger bitten off but this only made him angrier and stronger. He grasped the lion tightly around the neck and squeezed. The lion choked to death. After the lion death Heracles skinned the lion and wears the skin for protection."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that until about 1870, historians and scholars who specialized in the history and archeology of ancient Greece were, for the most part, quite ignorant about Greek culture and society and considered this area of study as being filled with myth. The writer points out that from excavations conducted in the early years of the 20th century, the history of ancient Greece is now well-known and understood, especially through the magnificent artifacts that have been uncovered. Thus, the writer maintains that these artifacts illustrate that the cultural and social heritage of ancient Greece was one of the most important Western civilizations of all time. The writer concludes that they also prove that the ancient Greeks were superb artisans who always attempted to reveal the intricacies of Greek culture through their work.
From the Paper "In essence, many of these artifacts will enable us to reconstruct the development of the Greek style in art and to appreciate their uses and place in ancient Greek society. Imagine for a moment living in ancient Greece, perhaps somewhere amid the long and winding coastline of the Aegean Sea, or perhaps high up in the great mountain chains of the Peloponnesos or Thessaly, the home of Mount Olympus and the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, such as all-powerful Zeus and his wife Hera, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Apollo and Hermes, the messenger of the gods."
"In this environment, common men and women worked in the cities as laborers, merchants and slaves and toiled in the fields in order to feed the hungry masses in places like Argos, Sparta, Thebes and especially mighty Athens, the home of Pericles and Greek democracy. Thus, in these and many other environments, the ancient Greeks fashioned a very wide spectrum of items, ranging from ordinary clay pots to outstanding examples of Greek art in the form of amphora, drinking vessels, armor, weapons, jewelry, bowls and statues."
Abstract This paper presents a formal art analysis and critique of the Octopus Vase as well as a discussion of the historical and cultural context of the art work. The author describes the vase in great detail and explains how the artist used intangible shapes, unbalanced lines, and unrefined contours to bring the octopus to life. The author discusses the historical background and artistic tradition behind the vase and concludes that it is a superb example of the Minoan culture and a beautiful and unique work of art in its drama, space, composition, motion, line, and style.
Outline:
Introduction
The Image
Formal Analysis
Style
Form
Space
Line
Composition
Motion
Pros of Material
Cons of Material
Pros of Technique
Cons of Technique
Drama
Historical and Cultural Context
Critique of the Artwork
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Minoan Octopus vase is a great example of art influenced by the Aegean culture. The vase is thought to have been made around 1500-1450 BCE of the Late Minoan IB phase. The influence of Minoan culture was prevalent throughout the island of Crete. Crete was the hub of business for wine and oils which were exported in pottery vases in exchange for food crops from the mainland. Because of Crete's position in the heart of the Mediterranean crops and plants were scarce; this is most likely the use ordained for the Octopus Vase."
