Logan Tinker

Ms. Dale

Composition

17 February 2010

Inspiration through the Ages

Imagine, a world without wrestling, with no ultimate challenge of the Olympics, or the incredible architecture that we see in modern day buildings like the White House. All of these things have been brought to us by one of the most inspiring cultures in our history, the Greeks. Because of them, other nations, especially the western civilizations, have been able to thrive and come to life over the ages.

Ancient Greece had many inventions that were way past their time. One of the first inventions they had was a robot. Robots may be seen today as an invention of the late 20th century, but actually, one of the firsts spoken of was Talos, a mythical robot figure (“Ancient Greek Technology”). This robot, whose name means “sun,” was a gift to King Minos of Crete (“Ancient Greek Technology”). According to one version of the myths he was created in Sardinia by Hephaestus on Zeus' command, who gave him to the Cretan king Minos. In another version, Talos came to Crete with Zeus to watch over his love Europa, and Minos received him as a gift from her (Trckova-Flamee). Talos' purpose was to run from his seat in Phaestos around the island three times a day and to throw rocks at any foreign ship coming to Crete without permission. When people from Sardinia tried to invade Crete, Talos made himself glow in the fire and he kept everyone in a fiery embrace with a wild grimace (Trckova-Flamee).

Another invention they had was a calendar of sorts. This calendar device is known as the Antikythera Mechanism. Scientists have found that the device not only predicted solar eclipse, but also organized the calendar in the four-year cycles of the Olympiad, forerunner of the modern Olympic Games (Wilford). The Antikythera Mechanism, sometimes called the first analog computer, was recovered more than a century ago in the wreckage of a ship that sank off the tiny island of Antikythera, north of Crete (Wilford). Earlier research showed that the device was probably built between 140 and 100 B.C. (Wilford).

Another amazing invention the Greeks had that few realized is automatic doors. They weren’t a very commonly found thing but, some temples were built with these automatic doors that would open after and offering was made – this was used to show believers that their god was there and performing miracles right in front of them (“Ancient Greek Technology”).

Another great influence of Greece is the athletic activities they have brought us. Greece has brought us some of the better known sports like boxing, wrestling, and a lot of our track and field activities, plus other sports that are lesser known like pankration. Although they had the same sports, they didn’t necessarily have the same rules and regulations. Ancient boxing had fewer rules than the modern sport. Boxers fought without rounds until one man was knocked out, or admitted he had been beaten (“Ancient Olympic Events”). Unlike the modern sport, there was no rule against hitting an opponent when he was down. And instead of gloves, boxers would wrap leather thongs, known as himantes, around their hands leaving their fingers free (“Ancient Olympic Events”).

In ancient Greece, boxing was somewhat different, but one sport that hasn’t changed much is wrestling. Like the modern sport, an athlete needed to throw his opponent on the ground, landing on a hip, shoulder, or back for a fair fall. Three throws were necessary to win a match (“Ancient Olympic Events”). Biting was not allowed, and genital holds were also illegal. Though attacks suck as breaking your opponent’s fingers were permitted (“Ancient Olympic Events”).

A lesser known sport from this ancient culture is pankration. This sport is very similar to our modern day UFC type sports. Punches were allowed, although the fighters did not wrap their hands with the boxing himantes. Rules outlawed only biting and gouging an opponent’s eyes, nose, or mouth with fingernails (“Ancient Olympic Events”). Attacks such as kicking an opponent in the belly, which is against the rules in modern sports, were perfectly legal (“Ancient Olympic Events”).

It is known that the Olympics were started by the Greeks, but there are probably a few thinks that aren’t known about it. One thing that many don’t know is that like the Olympics of today, there were two different types of games, the Isthmos and the Pythian games. The Isthmos games were staged every two years at the Isthmos of Corinth, while the Pythian games took place every four years near Delphi (“Olympics”). Another thing that was different from the modern games is the people who were allowed to participate in the events. No women were allowed to watch the games (“Olympics”). And only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country (“Ancient Olympic Events”).

One thing that ancient Greece doesn’t get noticed for much is their contributions to the arts. One of their biggest contributions to the arts has been architecture. The Greeks developed three architectural systems called orders, each one with its own distinctive proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian (“Art”). The Doric style is rather sturdy and its top (the capital), is plain. This style was used in mainland Greece and the colonies in southern Italy and Sicily (“Art”). The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a scroll-like design (a volute). This style was found in eastern Greece and the islands (“Art”). And lastly is the Corinthian style which was seldom used in the Greek world, but often seen on Roman temples. Its capital is very elaborate and decorated with acanthus leaves (“Art”). Some examples of their architectural skills are the Parthenon and the Erechtheum, both are temples dedicated to ancient Greek gods. Some places where this Greek architecture can be found in modern society are the White House or basically any building with pillars being displayed.

Another contribution of the Greeks is to the theatre. The Greek theatre flourished between the years of 550 and 220 B.C. (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). The three common theatrical forms of ancient Greece are tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). The word tragoidia, from where our word tragedy comes from, is a portmanteau of two Greek words: tragos meaning goat and odia meaning song. It is interpreted with much latitude as "songs sung by goat-men" and "he-goat sacrifice song" (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). Until the Hellenistic period, all tragedies were unique pieces written in honor of Dionysus (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). According to legend, Greek tragedy as we know it was created in Athens, 530 B.C. by a man known as Thespis (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). The year of 480 B.C. is considered to be the Golden Age of Greek Theatre (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). Play writers never put more then two actors on stage at a time except for in a few plays. Women never appeared on stage and if there was a woman part in the play, the part was taken by a male actor. Also, they never showed violence on stage; if someone were to be killed he would taken off stage and then brought back on “dead” (“Theatre of Ancient Greece”). One big thing that is still scene today in the theatre is the tragedy and comedy masks, which were given to us by the ancient Greeks.

Through the ages, the ancient Greeks have inspired a nameless number of cultures. Whether it was through their genius inventions, creativity in creating one of the ultimate tests of skill in sports, or through a countless number of contributions in the arts; they have never failed to inspire and capture the imagination of western civilization. Because of these great achievements, ancient Greece will never be forgotten in this age or the next.