Professor Ryals
Due Date: October 16, 2015
Ancient Greek Concepts In Literature
Almost ten centuries ago, the ancient Greeks created a standard for literature and art, to a level of brilliance that has rarely ever been surpassed. These greek writers made works of art that have motivated and impacted many to the present day. Many of these texts and arts represent greek concepts like: hubris, arete, eros, polis, and paideia; these ideologies relate to the influence on human nature and politics on the ancient Greek society. These specific concepts can be observed in works like The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer, illustrations on Greek pottery and The Republic by Plato.
There are numerous instances of hubris in The Odyssey …show more content…
Arete is excellence or valor. It originated to describe courage in battle, describing someone of all-round strength of character. This virtue is presented in Hector, specifically in his battle with Achilles. He obtains arete after realizing his chances of winning when hearing the plea of his wife but replying to her with "All this weighs on my mind too, dear woman. But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy and the Trojan women trailing their long robes, if I would shrink from battle now, a coward.” In spite of the odds of winning, being in favor of Achilles, and the cries of his child and Andromache, he goes out to battle Achilles represent the true character of a courageous Greek Warrior.
Greek pottery is constantly depicting images of greek concepts like love. Eros can be seen through images on vases and more arts. Eros is referring to both physical and spiritual love, but mainly the physical desire as an inspiration for the arts. Eros would be shown as the modern-day cupid. Eros is usually interpreted as an adolescent with wings sometimes holding a lyre. On Greek ceramics he typically shows up in wedding and other sentimental scenes. Many vases show images of eros hovering over Paris and Helen of