Euripides & Classical Greece

Fig 01. Sketch of a sculpture of Euripides

Euripides (480-406 B.C.E)

Euripides was the last of the three great tragedians of Classical Greece. Although the majority of his plays have survived as fragments, eighteen have survived in a completed condition.

For the time they were created, his plays seem quite modern when compared to those of his contemporaries. This is mostly due to their portrayal of strong female characters, intelligent slaves, and satirised heroes of Greek mythology. Due to these modernistic qualities, Euripides' work was perceived as controversial by not adhering to the traditions of the audience. This meant that he was never as popular as the other playwrights of the time. This is possibly most apparent in the fact that Medea, first performed in 431 B.C.E, in an Athenian tragedy competition came in last place.

While his plays were not as popular as other playwrights' work at the time of their creation, due to the simplicity of the language used within his plays, by the end of the 4th Century B.C.E they were the most popular. They also had a great influence on many works and genres since, including Roman drama and 17th Century French Classicists, such as Corneille and Racine.

Fig 02. Sketch of a bust of Euripides

Life in Classical Greece

Through their introduction and understanding of science, philosophy, dramatic arts, architecture and democracy, the Ancient Greeks are considered the creators of the western world.

Houses

Fig 03. Sketch of a Classical Greek house

The Ancient Greeks, sometime referred to as Classical Greeks, lived a mostly outdoor lifestyle, performing activities, whether for work or leisure, in the open air, with the house mainly providing shelter at night. For women however, the house was more of a prison without bars.

The houses were constructed using a variety of materials, with the majority using timber framework and pise, or alternatively, plaster finished unbaked bricks on stone foundations. Roofing was mostly flat, with the occasional sloped or twin-sloping for collecting water.

Fig 04. Types of Greek Columns

Architecture

Probably the best example of Classical Greek architecture are the many temples devoted to their gods and goddesses, which regularly comprised of huge columns and carvings of battles from myths.

They believed that the secret to making a great building was the use of mathematics, which they achieved through using the human body for measurements.

There were three main designs of columns used in Classical Greek architecture, Doric (left), Corinthian (centre), and Ionic (right).

The Parthenon

Although the Parthenon appears to have straight edges, it is comprised of strategically placed curves. This means that each piece is uniquely designed for its position in the temple. There is however, no trace of the 40ft gold and ivory statue of Athena that once stood in the great hall through the entrance.

Fig 05. Sketch of The Parthenon

Fig 06. Classical Greek arena theatre

Theatre

The Ancient Greeks loved theatre. The performances were so popular that every town had an arena, which was usually a large bowl-shape built into a hillside, with hard stone seats. An audience, at the time, had the choice of watching three types of play - comedies, tragedy, and satyrs.

There are two main differences between modern plays and those of Classical Greece. Firstly, only male actors were allowed to perform, including all female parts. All performers also had to wear masks, meaning that no faces were seen during the performances. The costumes also consisted of wigs and padding to alter the performers' appearances.

One aspect of the plays that still exists is the chorus, however the role of the chorus nowadays is usually fulfilled by the narrator. The chorus would normally perform below the stage, draped in elaborate costumes. Their role during the performance was to inform the audience of what was going on in the story, most of the time delivering their lines through song and dance.

Fig 07. Sketches of Classical Greek performance masks

Fashion

The main item of clothing at the time was the tunic. These varied greatly depending on the wearer, for example, young men wore short tunics, while older men preferred long ones. Women also wore long tunics, called a chiton, made from a piece of cotton or linen. This was regularly accompanied by a cloak draped from the shoulder, called a himation.

Many people walked around barefoot, but some would wear leather sandals. Due to the discovery of various types of jewellery, such as bracelets, earrings and necklaces, being buried in tombs, it is suggested that such items were commonplace in Ancient Greek culture.

Fig 08. Sketches of types of tunics

Marriage

Marriages were usually arranged with the plan for the woman to be aged between 12-15 years of age and the man being between 25-30 years old on their wedding. These arrangements would sometimes occur several years before the couple reach such ages. The ceremony was traditionally held at the groom's house, with the bride travelling there in a chariot, if they were rich, or a mule cart, if poor. The woman would bring a dowry, which was a gift of something with significant value, and could have been, but not limited to, money, property or even cattle, on the wedding day.

Although this was the case in many parts of Greece, wedding ceremonies were different in Sparta. The bride and groom would engage in a short, friendly physical fight, with the groom winning if they both wished to be married. Afterwards, the groom would toss his wife over his shoulder and carry her off, which would conclude the ceremony. There would then be a feast, in which the guests toasted the new couple.

Divorce, however, was not uncommon in Ancient Greece.

Fig 09. Image of Ancient Greek wedding ceremony

Events around 431 B.C.E

Corinth-Corcyra War (435-431 B.C.E)

Corcyra (now modern day Corfu) was originally established and founded as a colony by Corinth, but due to the taxation and treatment of the colony, by the state of Corinth, the colony sought independence from the state, escalating into a war in 435 B.C.E.

After several years of conflict, Corcyra approached Athens for assistence, who were willing to intervene. The assistance Athens provided to this war is a contributing factor to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war, between Athens and Sparta.

Fig 10. Map of Classical Greece

Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.E)

In 431 B.C.E, the city state of Athens was the greatest power in the Mediterranean, however, tensions had been building between Athens and Sparta for decades, ultimately leading to war between  the two last great city states.

At the outbreak of the war, the Athenians retreated into the city, behind the walls, in order to deny the Spartans the infantry based combat they excelled in. Instead, the Athenians looked towards their navy to supply the city with the provisions needed to succeed in a long drawn-out war. Athens' power came from its naval forces, using amphibious tactics against Sparta in a series of skirmishes and raids.

One year into the war, plague broke-out in Athens, brought back on the shipments of grain. Over one-third of the population would die from this outbreak.

In the year 404 B.C.E, the war would come to an end with Athens' surrender. A great contribution to the Spartan victory was the involvement of the Persian Empire, a great enemy of the Greeks, particularly the to Athens. The Persians provided Sparta with mercenaries and ships, to threaten Athens' domination of the Mediterranean.

The war lasted for almost thirty years, and can be directly attributed to the eventual downfalls of both Athens and Sparta.

Fig 11. Images of a Trireme and Hoplites

Military

The Ancient Greek military was comprised of two main groups, the infantry, known as Hoplites, and the naval force, with their most powerful ships being the Triremes.

The Trireme was developed by the city state of Corinth, and used a combination of speed and manoeuvrability. They were designed to ram into and sink other ships, but also allow infantry to board enemy vessels to fight.

Hoplites would commonly fight in what was known as phalanx formation, which involved interlocking shields and pointing their spears through the gaps.

Fig 12. Sketch of Hoplite infantry in Phalanx formation