Living+the+Life



Living the Life by Ashley

The Greeks took great notice about the world around them. Separating the East and the West, and having a great amount of influence, Greece became a country with a diverse culture. Religion, music, dance, food and clothing are major composites of the Ancient Greek Culture.

The population of Greece consisted of very[| religious]people. The Greeks were polytheistic, meaning that they believed in many different gods and goddesses.[| Religion]was a significant aspect in their culture. Religious teachings by philosophers like Plato and Socrates, often deals with the meaning of life, the existence of afterlife, the nature of the universe and the gods and goddesses. The Greeks might have been influenced by some of these traditional beliefs derived from philosophers. This led to their development of a wider range of ideas in their religion. Ancient Greeks believed that the gods would offer protection and guide their city-states. They also believed that the gods and goddesses were located at the top of Mount Olympus. (Lisa and Amanda. 1999. Para: 2)

Gods and goddesses were both admired and feared. The Greeks feared that they would upset the gods and goddesses in any way, because of their impertinence and impiety. In honor of the gods and goddesses, sacrifices of animals were made at festivals. Slaughtering a domestic animal was considered to be immoral, unless sacrificed to a god or goddess in honor. Animals such as cows, pigs, bulls and sheep were sacrificed. (Lisa and Amanda. 1999. Para: 2)

Every town had a temple in honor for one god or goddess, where these sacrifices can be made. After the amusement of music and dancing at festivals, a parade to a temple where they would make sacrifices to a god or goddess would occur. An example of a temple for a goddess is the Parthenon which still stands today, were built in honor of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. ( Grant Fisher and Cheri Beth Harlan. 1998. Para: 3)

Other than worshiping the gods and goddesses at temples, other places were made for the Greeks to pray at. These places were called oracles, which are holy sites. Oracles are to provide advice and guidance. At these sites and temples, Greeks pray and ask a question about the future to the gods and goddesses. An example of this ceremony is at Dodona. This is where the oracle of Zeus would be found. A Greek would write a question down and present it to the priest. The priest would listen to the rustling of the leaves of the sacred oak leaves and provide a god’s answer. Oracles were to control and manage human decisions such as crimes and penalties, health, peace and war, and migrations.

Greek gods and goddesses were quite eminent by man from their immortality. Divinities were one of the most important elements in the Culture of Greek. The Greeks worshiped the gods and goddess in the form of strength, power and beauty. Greeks had such a love in nature. To reflect their love, they placed each god and goddess to be in charge in the different aspects of life. All gods and goddesses were placed to have a specific role. For example, Zeus was the supreme leader of the gods and goddesses, having Hermes as the messenger of the gods. Much emphasis was placed on worshiping these gods and goddesses. In order to live a life free of oppression and hardship the Greeks believed that you had to constantly worship the gods and goddesses. The Greek religion shared many common ideas and aspects with the earlier forms of conceptions of Paganism. ( Grant Fisher and Cheri Beth Harlan. 1998. Para: 2)

Music and dance are another composite of the rich culture of Greece. They are the expression of everyday human feelings, thoughts and life. In honor for the goddess Hera, the Ancient Greeks invented music. Each song and dance had its own meaning in it. ( Leonidou, Anne. 2000. Para: 4)

The most famous instrument used in music by the Greeks is called bouzouki, which is a plucked string instrument. It is believed that music and dance promotes a physical and mental well-being. Syrtos was very prominent in Ancient Greece as it is a Byzantine folk dance. Another type of dance that was very popular was the Pidiktos. The difference is that Syrtos is a smooth, flowing, dragging type of dance and this dance is more of a jumping and leaping type of dance. Syrtos and Pidiktos are two classifications of a type of dance. Along with music, writing and other physical exercises, dance was the basis of the educational system in Ancient Greece. Dance and music was essential for ceremonies, weddings, the preparation and celebration in victories of wars, ensuring fertility and the expansion in personality. (Adkins, Lesley & RoyA., 1997. Para: 7)

Music and [|dance] was greatly treasure in the Culture of Ancient Greece. This divine, unique gift was commended and entrusted to them by the god Apollo and the patron Muse, Terpsichore. Especially, music is an undividable part of the Greek Culture. Music glorifies the joys of a man, shows history, records his inspirations and helps to remember all the legends and folktales. ( Leonidou, Anne. 2000. Para: 4)

Italians and the Middle Eastern area made a huge impact in the Greek food. The style of Greek food was mainly in the usage of olive oil in most of their cooking, enriching and flavoring the food. Grains, figs, breads and cakes are all part in the food of Greeks. Greeks are delighted over seafood and drank customarily wine. The consumption of wine straight from the glass was considered to be barbaric without being watered down. Milk was rarely drunk as it was more commonly used in cheese production. As for the sweetener in foods, Greeks sometimes enjoyed adding honey; sugar was unknown to the Greeks. Fish was a main source of protein, as beef was barely consumed of its expense. (Eric Rymer. 2004. Para: 1) An example of popular food in Greece is Moussakas, which are made from lamb, eggplant and topped with white sauce. Popular desserts such as Galaktoboureko and Ravani are craved in Greece, which is like a golden-yellow cake. (Anne Pearson. 2007. Para: 7)

Philosophical and religious meaning was shared in the Greek food. Taste buds changed the way Greeks look at food. They believed that certain gods and goddesses enjoyed certain foods over others. Also, Greeks felt that some foods were dirtier and cleaner than others. Mentioned earlier, Greeks felt that it was insolence to butcher a domestic animal for food without considering and making a special sacrifice for a specific god or goddess.

Often, men would gather at dinner parties. These parties are known as symposiums. Women of the house were not permitted to attend these gatherings. Only guests were allowed, considering as “male-only” affairs. Wine was given to gods and then drank, while talking about <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">politics and morals. As entertainment, young girls and boys would be employed to sing and dance at these dinner parties. Depending on the event, games and songs are sometime played to amuse them. Various, unique acts are sometimes demonstrated at these drinking party. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">(Adkins, Lesley & RoyA.1997. Para: 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The god of wine, Dionysos, describes proper and improper drinking. For those who are proper, on the first round of wine, they consume it for health and their well being. The second round of wine would be for love, pleasure and enjoyment. Before those who are proper go home, they have the third round of wine for sleep. These men who are proper are considered wise men and after three glasses of wine, they return home before things get out of hand and disastrous. Improper men are to drink their fourth round of wine just because of their bad behavior. Their fifth round is for shouting and then the sixth is for disrespect and insults. Continuing their drinking, the seventh round is for those who are tough and is for fights and the eighth round are for those who are wild and is for breaking the furniture. The Ancient Greeks were to get super drunk and sober. The ninth round is for depression and the feeling of melancholy. For the last round, which is <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">the tenth round, this is for unconsciousness and insanity. (Chisholm, Hugh. 2010. Para: 7)

<span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Weather was warm during most of the year in Greece. Light, loose clothes were <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> worn as long pieces of colorful fabric were used to make these garments. Men and women wore linen in the summer and wool in the winter. Clothes could be bought from the agora, which is a marketplace that was highly expensive. These [|garments] were made either by women or the female slaves. Although clothes could be bought, most families were likely to make their own clothes because of the expense. Made out of linen or wool, these garments were commonly dyed in a bright color or bleached white. Decorations of the clothes were often decorated to represent the city-state in which they lived. For the men mainly tunics were worn, which are big squares of cloth that were held together by pins around the shoulders and a belt around the waist. Also, tunics were also called a chitin. Women’s clothes were pinned in various places. Unlike the men’s clothes, their clothes always went down to their ankles. (Barrow, Mandy. 2008. Para: 6)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hair was arranged in interesting, designed styles and was most frequently curled. Greeks liked to hold their hair up in place with scented waxes and lotions, which helped to make them smell more appealing. Young girls often wore their hair parted in the middle and wavy, in the back of their ears.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Headbands were popular around Greece, which were made out of ribbon or metal. Women liked to keep their hair long, up in a ponytail or in braids up on top of their head. The first real hat was invented by the Ancient Greeks. This hat is called the broad-brimmed petasos, which were only worn for traveling. Because hats were not needed to be worn all day, a long chin strap is attached. When these hats are not needed for protection against the weather, these straps make it possible so they could be hung down from one’s back.(Barrow, Mandy. 2008. Para: 6)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Every so often, Greeks would buy jewelry from traveling peddlers. Hairpins, rings and earrings were normally purchased. Accessories formed an integral part of Greece fashion. Only the rich were able to afford much jewelry. Perfumes in Greece were made by the process of boiling flowers and herbs. Wealthy people were those who could afford purchasing tunics made out of colored cloth. Poor people only wore the plain colored tunics. When the cold weather came, Greeks wore cloaks. Most Greeks walked around barefoot. If needed for shoes, Greeks would wear leather sandals or boots. (Anne Pearson, 2007. Para: 8)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Many composites make up the diversity and splendor of the Culture of Greece. Religion, music, dance, food and clothing are just some of the major composites of the Greece Culture. The lifestyle of the people of Ancient Greece was influenced from their surroundings in the world. They adapted to the influence that were close to their nature, while the other influences helped them to move forward in their culture. A huge impact from the world has created the wonderful lifestyle of Greece, as they took many elements from the civilizations around them.

**<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">Works Cited- Sites **


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sites- **


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 * Web.10Dec 2010. [|http://www.woodlands- junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/greece/clothes.htm]. **


 * 2). <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times','serif';">Chisholm, Hugh. “Symposium.” Web. 10 Dec 2010. **
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 * 3)."Greek Clothing." //Ancient Greece for Kids//. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 **


 * <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">4)."Greek Religion." //Chalk.Richmond.edu//. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">2010. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">[] **
 * <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">5).Leonidou, Anne . "Portrait of the Greek Dance." //Brief// **
 * //<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">Description of the Greek Dance //<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">. MapXL Inc., 2000. Web. 10 Dec 2010. <http://www.nostos.com/dance/> **
 * <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">6)."Paganism Past and Present- Ancient Greek Religion." //Ancient// **
 * //<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">Greek Religion //<span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">. Think Quest, n.d. Web. 10 Dec 2010 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%;">[] **
 * <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">Books **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 2pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">1. Adkins, Lesley & RoyA., (1997). Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece, Facts on File, Inc. New York, New York. **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 22.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 2. Anne, Pearson. __Ancient Greece. -Eye Witness Books__. London, New York, 2007 **