What can you teach me about Greek Art/Culture?

[Traianvs]

If you have read Thucydides, then have you read Herodotos? He's a milestone in Greek history, and it's real fun to read too, especially with the fantastic stories and anecdotes he gives (it gets totally hilarious when he describes the size of the Persian army trekking around Thracia into Greece, he estimates the total number of people, including cooks, and other personnel, at about 4,5 million or something iirc)

To give you an idea of an "old comedy" (theatre) you could read Aristophanes, and you'll see that those ancient Greeks' sense of humor was kind of vulgar

Also reading Plato is compulsory

Btw in case you wanted a description of the evolution of Greek sculpture through time for example, I could give you that, but I'm not sure that's what you want to know

[Az]

Originally posted by VetLegion
Well I am don't know much, but if it is to help someone ..


Greeks are big sports fans. Football especially. Compliment Besiktas often. You can't go wrong with saying 'Fenerbahce champion!' to a native either. As for basketball, 'Maccabi Maccabi!' should get you lots of pleasantly surprised faces

[Zkribbler]

When I was an undergrad, I took a course in ancient Greek art...but that was so long ago, the course was entitled "Modern Art." I don't remember much, but here's what's left in my brain:

There were two kinds of clay in Attica (the region around Athens), red clay and black clay. Therefore, the clay pottery consists either of red figures on a black background or black figures on a red background. You can sound really smart by observing a piece is either a red-figure piece or a black-figured piece.

There are three types of relief scuptures: low, medium and high. Low relief barely emerges from the back ground, like the presidential heads we have on our coins. Medium is a more normal look. In high relief, many of the figures completely will emerge from the background, like little statutes which are afixed to the background.

A sarcophagus is a coffin with relief figures on the side.

There are three types of Greek columns: Doric, which is the oldest and simpliest, just a stright up and down column; Ionian, which has cute curly cues at the top and bottom, and Corinthian [sp?], which is the most recent, and has ornate curly cues at the top and bottom. The Romans of course copied this, and the Colliseum in Rome--which originally had only three levels--has Doric columns on the lower lever, Ionian on the middle level, and Corinthian on the original top level. Later, a fourth level was added, but it has no columns, just flat slabs.

Greek statutes are marble. Roman statutes are bronze. A lot of Roman statutes are merely copies of Greek statutes, but because (a) marble is stonger than bronze, and (b) the ankle is the weakest part of the statute, early Roman statutes tended to buckle at the ankle. So, the Romans began putting little bronze tree stumps right next to the ankles to reinforce them.

Romans also like busts, so their soldiers tended to chop off the heads of marble statutes and take them home to Rome.

Every polis (city-state) had an acropolis--a rocky mound upon which the local temple and government buildings were located. "The Acropolis" is located in Athens.

A statute of a woman carrying a bow but not wearing armor is Diana--Goddess of the Hunt. A statute of a woman carrying a bow with armor is Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and patron goddess of Athens.

[orange]

Great post Zkrib

Some of it I knew (Acropolis, Goddesses) but the stuff on their art and architecture was some good basic knowledge. Thanks!

but that was so long ago, the course was entitled "Modern Art

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Trajanus
If you have read Thucydides, then have you read Herodotos? He's a milestone in Greek history, and it's real fun to read too, especially with the fantastic stories and anecdotes he gives

One of my favourites is his description of how Persian men fumigate themselves after having sex, by lowering their genitals over burning incense. Must have been some nasty accidents there.

[orange]

BUMP

Paiktis, Axi, Chris62 where are you?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by orange
BUMP

Paiktis, Axi, Chris62 where are you?

You'd summon them willingly? Dear lord...

[Bereta_Eder]

Re: What can you teach me about Greek Art/Culture?

Fenerbache and macabi have both been beaten in their homes by Greek teams so I doubt that would upset anyone. To be frank I doubt if people would even know them.


Homoerotic poerty almost doesn't exist. It's 1% of the total art production of Greece. Hardly worth mentioning unless you're gay.



Aristophanes was rather vulgar indeed. Glad to see someone has actually starting to get what one of the greatest comedian writer was about.

You have to see them played in the ancient stadiums. Phaluses thrown over shoulders etc.


Now,

Originally posted by orange
I'll be going to Athens, Greece this summer with a few students from college as part of a Study Abroad program. I will be taking 4 courses, one in basic Greek language, another in Ancient Greek and Near East history, one on Greek Art and Architecture, and another on Ancient Greek Drama.

In the history category, I'm set. There's not too much I can do to prepare for the language course (and it's cake) but if you can help there (basic phrases, words, pronunciations) that'll help. What I'd really like to learn more about, as a bit of a primer for this trip, is about aspects of Greek Culture, living, and especially Art.

This is partially because I am interested and always have been, and very timely because of (and it always comes down to this) a girl. Yes, a girl that loves Art History and who I've been talking with a lot lately. She's gorgeous and I want to make babies with her.

So erm yes, enlighten me please

First, good luck with the girl

Secondly could you narrow it down a little bit? What exactly would you like know? There are tons of things

[Bereta_Eder]

Just a general link untill you specify a bit more.

http://www.culture.gr/

[Cruddy]

I regret I can offer you virtually nothing outside of this one poor draft dodger I ran into.

Spiros was quite adamant that modern Greek culture revolved around corruption and bribery. He insisted that the police were all powerful untouchables and his greatest ambition was to live in a Greece where you could live without paying kickbacks.

Sorry to offer such a negative, slanted, one sided view of modern Greece. Oh yeah, you'll run into tons of Brits over there (well, lots of non-Greek tourists I guess).

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Cruddy
modern Greek culture revolved around corruption and bribery.

What a load of bull****e obviously. In the same spirit british culture evolves around inefficiencly, pathetic medical care, violence, unprecedented in Europe racial riots , terrorism and fatal train accidents.

[Cruddy]

Originally posted by paiktis22


What a load of bull****e obviously. In the same spirit british culture evolves around inefficiencly, pathetic medical care, violence, unprecedented in Europe racial riots , terrorism and fatal train accidents.

Umm... it does for a lot of people.

So Paiktis22, what is the dark side of Greece? My source was clearly biased (as I thought I indicated in my post). What are your thoughts on the matter.

[orange]

Secondly could you narrow it down a little bit? What exactly would you like know? There are tons of things

Well...I'd like to know basic things about art and architecture...pictures of important work, styles, etc. Basically, whatever you can provide the better off I'll be.

Thanks!

Oh, and I'll PM you with where I'll be and stuff, so perhaps we can meet up and get some grub, or something

[orange]

First, good luck with the girl

Oh, and thanks!

[orange]

ahhhh, sorry, we'll try one more bump