More about Greece
This story is written by
Rick Archer
Starting in 2004, SSQQ has taken two cruises a year. One
cruise each year is our popular dance cruise around the Caribbean
while a second cruise is booked to a "Destination".
In 2004 we went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In 2005 we went
to Alaska. In 2006 we went to New England. In 2007
we went to Hawaii. In 2008 we try our most ambitious trip yet
- the SSQQ Cruise to Greece.
As I am sure most of you
remember from your Ancient History courses, as far as the Western
Civilization is concerned, Greece is where it all began.
The people of the region attempted to explain the
world through the laws of nature. They made
important discoveries in science. They developed
democracy, where people govern themselves rather
than being ruled by a king. The Greeks also valued
beauty and imagination. They wrote many stories and
plays that continue to be performed today. The
ancient Greeks developed a great
many traditions that we
take for granted without even
thinking about their origins (for example, the
Marathon and the Olympics).
This are the reasons why Greece is often known
as the Cradle of Western Civilization.
If it were not for the
Greeks, we would not have the Democracy we take for granted.
If it were not for the Greeks, we might be speaking Persian
today. If it were not for the Greeks, we would not
have the Trojan War, Greek Mythology, Greek Philosophy,
Greek Drama, or the Olympic Games.
Obviously Greece has had a profound effect on the course of
Western history.
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The Civilization of
ancient Greece flowered more than 2500 years ago.
Greece is an extremely mountainous country that makes it very
difficult for agriculture. Consequently the ancient Greeks
were forced to adapt. They became a sea-faring nation.
They also developed a passion for knowledge and culture. As a
result, Greece became the most advanced scientific country of its
time. Known for its advanced mathematics and astronomy, Greece
is the country that gave us Archimedes, Ptolemy and Pythagoras.
Known for its medicine, Greece gave us Hippocrates and Galen.
Perhaps what Greece is most famous for is its Philosophers.
The ancient Greeks seem to have been a most inquisitive group of
people. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were prodigious
scholars whose ideas were deeply influential. Socrates was a
rebel who taught people to question authority and to act on their
own principles even if it meant challenging the established way of
doing things. Socrates is given credit for the ideas that led
to the formation of Democracy. Unfortunately, Socrates
became so unpopular with the people who were in power that he was
executed mainly for teaching people to think for themselves.
No wonder we admire these people!
Before Democracy came along, the existing
systems of government in the Greek city states
included Monarchies, Tyrannies, and Dictators.
Athens itself used Oligarchy as their system
of government. Oligarchy means 'rule by the
wealthy few'. But the scholars of Athens could
see the selfish decisions of wealthy were ruining the morale of the
people and preventing progress. The scholars spoke up and made
persuasive arguments in favor of this new idea called
Democracy. First Aristotle wrote the Athenian Constitution.
Then Solon, the Father of Democracy, implemented the
new system.
Later it fell to a man named
Cleisthenes
to continue the development of Athenian Democracy. Cleisthenes
was the grandson and namesake of a foreign Greek tyrant, the ruler
of Sicyon in the Peloponnese. For a time he was also the
brother-in-law of the Athenian tyrant, Peisistratus, who seized
power three times before finally establishing a stable and
apparently benevolent dictatorship. It was against the increasingly
harsh rule of Peisistratus's eldest son that Cleisthenes championed
a radical political reform movement which in 508 ushered in the
Athenian democratic constitution.
It was under this political system that Athens successfully resisted
the Persian onslaughts of 490 and 480, most conspicuously at the
battles of Marathon and Salamis. These victories in turn
encouraged the poorest Athenians to demand a greater say in the
running of their city.
So it was
in the late 460s that Pericles presided over a
radicalization of power that shifted the balance
decisively to the poorest sections of society. It was
Pericles who made this new system of government
truly work.
From 460
until 429 BCE when
he died of sickness, Pericles controlled Athenian
affairs. During Pericles rule, Athens reached it's
greatest political, social, and economical power. He
established a building project, which included the
Parthenon, which today is still visible on
top of the Acropolis.
It was the democratic Athens of Pericles that won and lost an
empire, that built the Parthenon, that gave a stage
to Aeschylus, Plato, Sophocles, Euripides and
Aristophanes, and laid the foundations of
western rational and critical thought.
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Despite these incredible contributions,
unfortunately Greece later fell on difficult times. For nearly
two thousand years, Greece was subjected to constant oppression by
outside empires. After its heyday with Alexander the Great,
Greece was conquered by the Romans who ruled Greece
for over a thousand years. Next came 400 years of oppression
by the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. It wasn't until 1829
that the Greek people successfully regained control of their own
land. The next hundred years weren't any easier.
Greece was constantly subjected to further meddling in its affairs
by European Countries and endured more problems with its longtime
enemy Turkey.
Greece again came under subjugation when the Nazis invaded during
World War II (who can forget the immortal film Guns of
Navarone?)
However, after World War II, with the help of the Marshall Plan, Greece
began a gradual return to strength and autonomy. Now that
Greece has had 50 years of peace and independence, this country has
begun to flourish. Today Greece enjoys one of the highest
standards of living in the world thanks in large part to tourism.
People are drawn from all over the world to see the spectacular
beauty of this rugged mountain country as well as the fascinating
islands that dot the Aegean Sea.
As our SSQQ community begins to gray a bit, many of us are developing a
desire to see the world and understand history better. I
cannot tell you how many people say this trip is something they have
wanted to do their entire life. It is no surprise that we are
drawn to Greece as well as to Italy, Crete, Sicily, and Turkey.
After all, this is where it all started.
I spoke to an SSQQ student who recently had visited Greece. I
asked her to sum up the most interesting thing about her trip.
She replied, "That's easy - I enjoyed seeing the Ruins!
As I walked around the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (Turkey), my
tour guide taught me more ancient history in an afternoon than I
ever absorbed in high school and college combined. It was
absolutely fascinating!"
However, you don't have to be retired or near retirement to develop
a fascination for the Mediterranean. One day my daughter
Samantha asked me for money to buy some Christmas presents.
Sensing an opportunity, I ask Sam, a Junior at Duchesne Academy, to
pretend she was a travel agent and identify some of the places she would like
to see on our Greece-Italy-Turkey adventure. Her eyes lit up -
she had just finished studying Greece in her sophomore year.
Sam said she would be glad to help. So she pulled out her
notes from last year and started writing.
I was impressed with Sam's work. I think we might just have a
future Travel Writer in the family.
Ten Places I Would Like to
See in the Eastern Mediterranean
Samantha Archer
November 2007
10. Catacombs of Rome
While the Roman
Catacombs are just on the outskirts of the heart of the
city, you won’t want to miss something this rich in history
(not to mention spookiness). The ancient peoples of Rome,
the Etruscans, built the original catacombs. The Christians,
who sought affordable ways to bury their dead with the body
still intact, then adopted the practice of burying dead in
the catacombs. The forty Roman catacombs, situated along via
Appia, via Ostiense, via Labicana, via Tiburtina, and via
Nomentana, are currently under the care of the Roman
Catholic Church. The Catacombs of San Callisto house the
crypt of the Popes, St. Cecilia, and the Sacraments. Maybe
catacombs sound too creepy for your taste – but who knows
what fascinating artwork and artifacts can be found down
there.
9.
Corinth
Today, Corinth is
the second-largest city on the Peloponnesian Peninsula. In
ancient times, it rivaled the likes of Athens and Sparta
until its destruction by the Romans in 146 BC. The city was
then rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 BC. Famous figures who
have walked its grounds include Alexander the Great and the
Apostle Paul, who wrote a famous epistle to the Corinthians.
Sights to see in this ancient city include the Temple of
Aphrodite, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Octavia
(sister of Roman Emperor Augustus) and the Bema, the
platform St. Paul pleaded his case in front of the Roman
governor Gallio. Corinth is the perfect opportunity to get
away from the bustle of Athens and still explore beautiful
Grecian ruins.
8.
Taormina
Taormina – a small
city on the outskirts of Messina – holds a great amount of
cultural history because it has acted as a crossroads
between the many peoples who have called its lands home. The
city itself has much to offer – the fountain in the piazza
duomo, the monastery of the San Domenico, the Taormina
Cathedral. The Cathedral houses the Byzantine Madonna, also
called the non hand-made Madonna. Legend has it that this
painting was left hidden inside a wall by angels – hence the
name “non hand-made,” for it was made by the angels, not
humans. An absolute must-see monument is the Palazzo Duca S.
Stefano – the palace of the Duke San Stefano. Its
thirteenth-century Gothic architecture also has a nearby
garden of equal beauty. So take a stroll through the town
and enjoy its architectural achievements – you won’t be able
to miss the nearby Mount Etna, which serves as a backdrop to
the town.
7.
National Archaeological Museum
The National
Archaeological Museum at Athens is considered one of the
great museums of the world. It is home to some of the
richest historical artifacts from one of the richest
civilizations the world has ever known. The most interesting
artifact by far is the mask of Agamemnon, found by Heinrich
Schliemann in 1876 during an excavation of the ancient city
of Mycenae. “I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon,”
Schliemann claimed. Attacks at the mask’s authenticity have
been made – but that doesn’t make this artifact any less
interesting. Agamemnon, who appears in Homer’s Illiad
and a story of his own name by Aeschylus, is one of the more
well-known characters in the vast arena of Greek literature.
Other interesting artifacts with literature ties include
Nestor’s Cup and Theseus’ Ring. Sculptures of Greek heroes
and Gods are also found in the Museum – Marathon Boy and
Poseidon of Cape Artemision among them. These
archaeological treasures are plentiful in the museum, so use
your time to observe some of the remaining artifacts of the
ancient world.
6. Great
Theater
The Great Theater at
Ephesus is thought to be the largest outdoor theatre from
the ancient world. While it was originally built for 25,000
people, expansions made by Roman emperors made it large
enough to hold an estimated 44,000 people. Built into Mount
Pion in Ephesus, the theatre is one hundred feet high and
those who feel like making the trip to the top will behold a
beautiful spectacle of all the ancient ruins Ephesus has to
offer. Historically, additions were made by the Roman
emperors Nero, Claudius, and Trajan, and St. Paul delivered
a sermon on pagan worship in the theatre. Use your time to
see the historically important Ephesian ruins, but
definitely make a trip to enjoy the beauty of the area on
top of the theatre’s steps.
5.
Colosseum
Think Rome for a
second – what immediately pops into your head?
The Colosseum is one of the
most well-known European structures, ranked with the Eiffel
Tower of Paris and Big Ben of London. The Colosseum was
completed in an estimated ten years, from 70 to 80 AD under
the Emperor Vespasian. Spectacles of all kinds were held in
the Colosseum – enacted were recreations of battles, sea
battles, and dramas. The mechanization for these enactments
were of mind-blowing proportions – especially those used to
fill the amphitheater with water (they exist to this day).
The mind-blowing size of the Colosseum, its cultural and
historical importance, and its beautiful architecture make
it a definite visit while in Rome.
4. St.
Peter’s Basilica
While a visit to the
Vatican tops the list for most Rome-goers, many are
attracted to St. Peter’s Basilica. From the striking beauty
of the structure’s architecture to the artwork and
sculptures housed there, the Basilica has some of the most
gorgeous treats for the eye in Rome. Emperor Constantine
began its construction in 342 AD, near the downfall of the
Roman Empire in 476 AD. Pope Nicholas V restarted
construction near a thousand years later, and today it
stands as an amazing spectacle to behold. Besides the tomb
of St. Peter, the bodies of Catholic British royalty Edward
Stuart, Charles Stuart, and Henry Stuart are also entombed
in the Basilica. As a side trip, take some time to see the
Sistine Chapel – a complete spectacle on its own.
3.
Acropolis
The Acropolis, known
as the “sacred rock” of Athens, hold the most recognizable
buildings in Grecian history. In ancient times, Athens was
known as a city of art and architecture – a great deal of
this is exhibited in buildings such as the Parthenon and the
Temple of Nike. A great deal of the buildings on the
Acropolis were built during the Golden Age of Athens (fifth
century BC) under Pericles. The geometrical and
architectural accomplishments are exhibited throughout the
area. The Parthenon itself is also a representation of
Athenian democracy. Be careful while exploring this Grecian
treasure – it is illegal to steal even a rock from the
site’s ruins.
2. Mount
Etna
Mount Etna is
definitely a sight to behold – as the largest active volcano
in Europe, its dangerous beauty entices all who get to
experience the volcano. While in Messina it is typically
easy to see (weather permitting), getting a hands-on
experience is something any adventurous soul would want to
do. The volcano is 10,910 feet high (Mount St. Helen’s is
currently 8,365 feet). The most famous eruption of the
volcano is the 1669 eruption – it was also the most
destructive. While Messina itself was not as affected as
nearby towns, the region suffered from the lava flow. Take
this opportunity to scale a European treasure – but watch
out for the red stuff.
1.
Palace of Knossos
Whether or not the
rest of this list sounds appealing to you, this site is the
one you do not want to pass up. The history of the Palace of
Knossos is interesting beyond a doubt – the historical and
mythological ties transcend any Mediterranean site out
there. Excavated by Sir Arthur Evans in the early twentieth
century, the Palace of Knossos was thought to be a centre of
Minoan civilization. The advanced technology of the Palace –
including plumbing – was an interesting find for
turn-of-the-century archaeologists. The discovery of the
artwork, the frescoes in particular, were also engaging. The
Palace is also thought to be the origin of the legend of the
Labyrinth and the Minotaur, the Greek half-man half-bull.
Legend has it that Daedalus, father of disobedient Icarus,
was captivated by King Minos and forced to design the
Labyrinth. The Minotaur was not defeated until the Athenian
Theseus killed it using his clever wit. However, these facts
barely touch the interesting side of the Palace. Almost
forty years ago, in 1970, a geologist by the name of H.G.
Wunderlich happened upon the Palace – and made some
particularly interesting hypotheses about the Palace. In his
book, The Secret of Crete, he goes as far to suggest
that the Palace itself was not a Palace of civilization – it
was, in fact, a death Palace, built by the
death-obsessed Minoans for their deceased. The fact that the
island of Crete lies in between the European and the African
sides of the Mediterranean made it a center for ancient
ideas to pass through to the more modern European side. The
Egyptians, famous for their treatment of the dead, plausibly
transferred beliefs to the Minoans, who began to worship
their dead as the Egyptians did. Evidence is found all over
the Palace in support of Wunderlich’s theory – from the
bull-jumping frescoes to the eerie throne room to the bones
found buried near the Palace. The Palace is most certainly
worth taking a look at for yourself – perhaps you might
agree with his out-of-the-box suggestions.
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