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Ancient and modern olympics similarities
The influence of Greeks on the modern world
The influence of Greeks on the modern world
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For thousands of years Ancient Greeks have influenced modern society in our everyday things. Some actions include science, architecture, and sports. Ancient Greek styles have influenced our modern day architecture and the way they think affects our science. Ancient Greeks have also influenced our sports with the Olympic games. Ancient Greeks have influenced our life with a great impact. To begin with, Ancient Greeks used many materials that are still used today such wood, unbaked bricks, limestone, marble, terracotta, and some metals. The most common Ancient Greek styles are the Ionic, Corinth, and Doric styles. In modern day architecture we still do find many similarities between each other's architecture such as the styles the Ancient Greeks used. An example of this is the Corinthian style found on the pillars of the U.S Supreme Court building. Many of our buildings are influenced by Ancient Greece whether it be religious, political, or recreational.
Ancient Greeks were very religious and competitive people. They held the Olympic Games which tested the strength, endurance, and speed. The winner of these competitions would have eternal fame, a statue in their honor, and be awarded a laurel wreath. And to this day we still have the Olympic Games (though there are many changes). The Olympic games still are about competitiveness but not so much as religion. The games still do test your abilities and will. Instead of winning a laurel wreath your win medals and you do not receive a statue but you do receive long-lasting
The Ancient Greek contribution ranged by the 1900-133 BC, however its influence on the Western Literate Society lasts to this day. As the Greeks expanded their empire, they spread their ideas to other countries, while also borrowing from other cultures. During this period of time, the Greeks made many significant and long-lasting contribution to our modern culture in Philosophy, Art, Democracy, Drama, Math, and Science. These givings of important ideas, inventions, and structures have had an extraordinary influence on the surrounding environment, society, and in the future. The essential contribution of Greeks to the Western Civilization are Democracy, Art, and Philosophy.
The Parthenon in Athens, for example, is a dedication to Athena; the goddess of wisdom and the patron of Athens (OI). As depicted in The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece (Doc6), this architectural piece is shown to have Doric columns that have a cylindrical shape seeming to be plain but sturdy. In comparison to the Doric style, the Ionic style was more elegant as it was taller and more decorative; engraved with vertical lines and topped with a curved rectangular shape. The Corinthian design is similar to the Ionic design because of the elaborate designs at the end of the pillars; it features more detailed designs that seem to be based around nature such as the inclusion of leaves and flowers. There are many buildings today that include these types of columns in their architectural design mainly in monuments and government buildings. According to the depiction of the White House in Greek Architecture (Doc8), the columns of the White House most closely resemble the Ionic style. Greek architecture are one of the many important legacies that Western civilization had inherited, influencing many architectural elements and building types used in art and architecture
Athletic events at this time were also closely related to the religious beliefs and practices of the Greek citizens. Each competition was devoted to a specific pagan god. For example, the patron of the Olympics was Zeus. The Greeks believed that the physical strength and ability of athletes was a direct gift from the gods (http://www.meiaconcerto.com/olympic/olympia/ideal_o.php, September 27, 2004). Therefore, each athlete competed not only in honor of his city-state, but also in honor of the gods.
How the Greeks revered their gods. In ancient times, the Greeks had absolute and undeniable respect for their gods. They demonstrated their admiration by putting in place many rituals and celebrations to reverence the gods that they loved and feared in order to ensure harmony with them. In particular, the focus will be on the religious beliefs of the Greeks, including prayer and sacrifice, as well as on festivals and the arts, such as the ancient Olympic games and theatre.
The Ancient Greeks were nothing if not influential. Ever since it 's formation in the 8th century B.C., Greek civilization has impacted many of the world 's greatest thinkers and shaped the landscape of Western Civilization. Aside from their art and philosophy, the Ancient Greeks were particularly interested in politics and, in the case of Athens, a new system of government known as: democracy! Long before the American founding fathers declared their independence from Britain, Athenian citizens governed their own state and voted to solve political turmoil. However, ancient Athens was no perfect twin to American democracy, and being an upstanding Athenian citizen meant more than simply voting and going about one 's business. A standout Athenian
Cassian Harrison’s Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (1999) documents the history of ancient Athenian Greece between 570 BC and 460 BC. It was released as a three part series through PBS as a documentary of events through the lives of Cleisthenes, Themistocles, Pericles, and Socrates, as well as their contributions to ancient and modern society. Film scholar Bill Nichols qualifies non-fiction films as documentaries of social representation. Nichols states, “documentaries of social representation offer us new views of our common world to explore and understand” (2). Greeks builds a foundation of beliefs, practices, and events that can be directly linked to our modern world. According to Nichols, “The bond between documentary and the historical world is deep and profound. Documentary adds a new dimension to popular memory and social history” (2). Analysis of Harrison’s film allows us to understand how Greeks gives tangible representation to the world we already inhabit and share, makes the stuff of social reality visible and audible in a distinctive way, and gives a sense of what we understand reality itself to have been, of what it is now, or of what it may become.
In Ancient Greece they formed the Greek Olympics in the year 776 B.C in which participants participate to honor the gods and demonstrate their physical abilities. What was amazing was that those who participated were only participating in honor and not prizes. Something that they would win was the olive wreath which was basically winning the honor and recognition of the people and the gods. Comparing to the ancient time and now is that there are now commercialized, endorsements, and sponsorships for athletes to represent companies in the Olympics. However, the Olympics still hold true to the idea that it is still a place for participants compete with the best in the world for the honor (gold,silver, and bronze medal). Also, if we look at the sculpture of the Diskobolos made by Myron of Eleutherae it represented the general athlete in motion and would symbolize the ancient times athlete. But something that is different about now and the Greek ...
It is always important to look to the past in order to move towards the future. This was done in the formation of Western Society, and more specifically the formation of American society. The Greek culture served as a frame of reference for many aspects of Western life including government, architecture, math and the arts. Ancient Greek culture served as a very broad base for our society to be built upon.
Western Europe. But how did this western way of life come to be? Their are many different
In the past the Olympic games were used as a way for the Greeks to honor their gods. Today the games are not an honoring but more of a social gathering. What’s great about the games today is that everyone has equal opportunity to compete. No matter your gender, size, ethnicity, or wealth, all you have to do is work hard and
The Cambridge Illustrated History of Ancient Greece explains a variety of ways in which the Greeks were influenced by their religion. The Greeks expressed their respect for their gods through sacred acts, primarily festivals and rituals. The festivals were held to honor certain deities such as the Olympic Games, an event held for athletes meant to honor
“The Greeks molded the mind of Western Civilization, if not the body and the culture” (PowerPoint #6). The Greeks had a very powerful impact on the entire world, making them a huge influence to Western culture. The Greeks showed their power over the world by their great intellect. Through their accomplishments in art, architecture, government, philosophy, education, and science they helped shape Western Civilization. They built strong and intricate buildings, allowing others to see throughout history the plan of the architecture used. The Greek government was one of the first to have a Democracy. Their ac...
Could you imagine life in the United States today without concepts like democracy, libraries, the alphabet, art, philosophy, mathematics and certain architectural features? (Anonemuss, 2010) Everyday life would be completely changed without these innovations as well as many others. So where did we get these ideas from first? Well it dates back to the Greeks and Romans. Many aspects of modern life have been influenced from their cultures, ideas and inventions. Then there is also the question whether classical Greece or classical Rome influenced the contemporary United States more. In my opinion Classical Greece has had more of an impact on our lives. In fact it had been stated that the Greeks are considered the first group of people from ancient civilization in which our society feels like they can connect and relate t. (Kreis, 2000)
One of the most renowned inspirations from the Greeks would be the Greek philosophy of citizenship and Roman impact on the legal world. In Greece, a true member of society was a participating citizen which directly correlates with the modern world in how we as societies view participation in government. In contrast, Roman inspiration on the modern world is heavily seen through architecture especially with columns and the pantheon. In the United States, the US Capitol Building was built with a dome shaped rotunda resembling the pantheon in a way to symbolize power and strength as such the Romans did through their temples. In regards to religion, the ancient Romans are responsible for the spread of Christianity which is today the most followed religion in the world. Both ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the daily aspects of modern life through the Greek style of showering which is a daily ritual for most decent humans and the Roman style of eating three-meals a day and even dessert which are special daily rituals especially for college students. Even so, both civilizations have directly influenced the American system of government from the basis of democracy in Greece to the bicameral legislature of Rome that was a defining factor is the establishment of our nation through the Great Compromise. Furthermore, the seventh amendment to the United States Constitution establishing a trial by jury is a direct reflection of ancient Greece policies as well as the checks and balances system of Rome that the federal government cherishes. A popular reincarnation of the Greek life on modern culture is the use of the Greek alphabet to name fraternities and sororities. While this is not a direct reincarnation of the Greek lifestyle, the fraternities and sororities use the Greek alphabet to give themselves a
Ancient Olympics The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let alone play in them.. Also, the games were always held at Olympia in Greece instead of being moved around to different sites every time. But also they had some similarities to our modern Olympics, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map, and became financially sound for life. The conflict between the Olympic's ideals of sportsmanship and unity and the commercialism and political acts which accompany the Games where also present in ancient times. "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans."