What does 'Ancient Greece' refer to?

A collection of individual city-states sharing a language, religious system, and cultural practices.

When does Ancient Greek civilization begin?

Around 1750 BCE with the emergence of the Mycenaean period.

What led to the emergence of the Mycenaean period?

Interactions between nomadic pastoralists migrating west and existing Greek populations.

What was the center of ancient Greece before Mycenae?

Knossos on the island of Crete.

What major event is believed to have occurred during the Mycenaean period?

The Trojan War, around 1200 BCE.

What characterized the ruling class during the Mycenaean period?

The emergence of an elite warrior ruling class.

What is a 'wanax' in Mycenaean society?

An individual warrior or king who established militarized forts.

What is a megaron?

A large open civic-religious space with a throne room for the ruler, used for religious events.

What is significant about the megaron's interior?

It was always fully painted with geometric motifs and figurative scenes.

What architectural development followed the megaron?

The development of citadels and acropoli as larger civic-religious spaces.

What was the purpose of the citadel in Mycenae?

To provide visibility and defensibility, housing important resources and elite dwellings.

What are shaft graves?

Deep underground pits used for elite burials, marked above-ground by stone slabs.

What is the 'Mask of Agamemnon'?

A funerary mask found in a shaft grave, named after Agamemnon from Homer's Iliad.

What are beehive tombs?

A type of tumulus characterized by a false dome, popular from around 1500 BCE.

What distinguishes a beehive tomb from a true dome?

A beehive tomb consists of entirely horizontal layers, while a true dome is curved.

What is the 'Treasury of Atreus'?

A beehive tomb outside the Mycenae citadel, notable for its large circular chamber.

Why is the 'Treasury of Atreus' sometimes referred to as the 'Tomb of Agamemnon'?

It is named after Agamemnon, but there is no evidence he was buried there.

What caused the collapse of Mycenaean power around 1200 BCE?

Internal conflicts, civil wars, and possibly foreign invasions.

What influence did the Greeks have after moving around the Mediterranean?

They developed expertise in stone masonry, which was later brought back to Greece.

When did Greek civilization reemerge after the Mycenaean period?

Around 800 BCE, following the collapse of Mycenaean power.

What marked the re-establishment of Greek city-states around 800 BCE?

Growing power of individual city-states and numerous Greek colonies established throughout the Mediterranean.

What type of political system did Athens establish by 700 BCE?

A democratic system.

What were the frequent causes of conflict between Greek city-states?

Territory, resources, and access to trade routes.

What is an acropolis?

A citadel placed on hills for defensibility and visibility, often containing temples and gathering spaces.

When did the original Acropolis of Athens start to be built?

Around 600 BCE.

What significant event occurred to the Acropolis in 480 BCE?

It was largely destroyed in the Persian invasion of Athens.

Who oversaw the reconstruction of the Acropolis starting in 460 BCE?

Phidias (sculptor) and architects Ictinus and Callicrates.

What is the Parthenon and when was it built?

A temple built between 437-432 BCE, primarily to house a monumental statue of Athena.

What is the function of the Parthenon?

To house the statue of Athena Parthenos and sometimes serve as a treasury.

What materials were used to create the statue of Athena Parthenos?

Wood, covered with thin sheets of elephant ivory and gold leaf.

What is entasis in Greek architecture?

A slight convex curve in columns to correct the optical illusion of concavity.

What are the three classical orders of Greek architecture?

Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

Describe the Doric order.

The simplest order with wide columns, circular capitals under square cushions, and fluted surfaces.

What distinguishes the Ionic order from the Doric order?

Narrower columns with volutes and egg-and-dart motifs, sometimes fluted.

What characterizes the Corinthian order?

Narrow columns with fluting and elaborate capitals featuring leaves and flowers.

What is the purpose of the frieze on the Parthenon?

To depict Athenian citizens participating in the Panathenaic Procession.

What is the significance of the Parthenon marbles?

They are part of the decorative sculptures that originally adorned the Parthenon.

What does the term 'contrapposto' refer to in Greek sculpture?

A realistic weight distribution in the depiction of the human body.

What is the function of the opisthodomos in a Greek temple?

A fully enclosed rear chamber, usually off-limits to the public.

What is the cella or naos in a Greek temple?

The large central hall for public events and gatherings, where statues of gods would be displayed.

What does the term 'hypostyle' refer to in Greek architecture?

A wall of columns supporting the roof.

What is the significance of the Panathenaic Procession depicted in the Parthenon frieze?

It shows Athenian citizens honoring the goddess Athena during a festival.

What is the architectural term for the topmost part of a column?

Capital.

What is the stylobate in Greek temple architecture?

The top step and floor that supports the columns.

What is the function of the pteroma in a Greek temple?

A walkway between the naos and outer walls, allowing circumambulation.

What does the term 'frieze' refer to in Greek architecture?

The central section of the entablature, often decorated or carved.

What is the significance of the Parthenon's optical illusions?

They create the appearance of symmetry and straight lines in the structure.