Greek Artifacts

Paper Summary:

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."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "New Greek and Roman Galleries." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Internet. 2007.Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/special/greek_roman/images.asp.
• Seyffert, Oskar. The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Religion, Literature and Art. New York: Gramercy Books, 1995.

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• Analytical Essay # 139575 : "Greek Art - Analysis of a Water Pitcher"
• Persuasive Essay # 60387 : "The "Elgin Marbles": Greek Property in British Museums"
• Essay # 23225 : "Greek Archaeological Sites"

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