Ancient Greece: History and Documentaries About Ancient Greek Civilization, Mythology, and Art
The vibrant period of Ancient Greek civilization from 1200 BCE to 323 BCE gave us exceptional achievements that we continue to benefit from today. It was a long stretch of time that spanned from the building of the Oracle of Delphi shrine in 1200 BCE to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. In the 900 years between those notable moments, Ancient Greek culture shaped contemporary poetry, democracy, philosophy, art, theater, and language. Take Greek mythology, for example: those stories are timeless because we constantly refer to myths and stories of Ancient Greece to make sense of contemporary events.
How Greek Mythology Inspires Us
From It's Lit: Ancient Greek Mythology has worked its way into modern pop culture so deeply that it would be an almost Sisyphean task to compile every way it’s manifested!
The Fates: Greek Mythology's Most Powerful Deities
From Fate & Fabled: In this episode, we examine the Fates - three shadowy figures who seem to have a near omnipresent influence in the goings-on throughout the Greek mythical universe - and who show up in stories and religions from cultures whose time and place are far removed from the ancient Greeks.
How Chimaera Mythology Became Reality
From Monstrum: The impossible, three-headed monster of Ancient Greek mythology, the Chimaera, may have started off as a fantasy, but today, the word “chimera” can be used to refer to anything that seems impossible. This includes the real-life, interspecies animals humans have successfully created.
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Tragedy Lessons from Aristotle
From Crash Course Theater: Aristotle. He knows a lot, right? And if you choose to believe Aristotle, then you must believe all the mechanics of tragedy that Mike is about to lay on you. This week, we're looking at Aristotle's rules for the basic elements of theater, and how those can be used to bring about catharsis, the emotional release triggered by onstage trauma. You know you love the catharsis.
Odysseus Returns
From Odysseus Returns: An amateur historian, Makis Metaxas, claims he found the bones of Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey. But the discovery is soon embroiled in controversy, and Makis embarks on his own odyssey to convince the world he is right.
In this clip: Is King Odysseus, the Trojan-horse-building genius in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, merely a figure of ancient fiction — or was he a flesh-and-blood man? In 1991, Makis Metaxas, a local politician on the Greek island of Kefalonia, discovers a 3000-year-old Mycenaean tomb. However, the discovery is soon embroiled in controversy, and Makis embarks on his own odyssey to convince the world he is right.
