Horace Mann Middle School - Site Under Construction 10/99
Ancient Greece Research Links
General Websites for Students
Ancient
Greek World: Introduction (University of Pennsylvania Museum)
gives a good overview of ancient Greek history and culture. This
presentation of life in ancient Greece has four major themes: Land
and Time, Daily Life, Economy, and Religion and Death. Objects in the
museum illustrate the history presented.
Greek
Civilization for Middle Schoolers (A.K.A. "Greek Civ for Kids"
from Portland State University, 1999) These pages have been designed
by Portland State sophomores primarily for the use of middle school
students (ages 11-14) investigating Greek civilization of the
Classical period. They include appropriate information and maps,
links to other relevant sites on the World Wide Web, and suggestions
for further reading.
Ancient Greece (from
Universal Artists) is a rich resource of links for history,
mythology, art, culture, architecture and more.
Ancient
Greek Artifacts Virtual Tour of the British Museum with a
description of Teachers' Resource Packs commercially available in the
UK.
Greek Mythology
Link Catalogue of Images, by Carlos Parada. This site is a great
resource for teachers and students who are trying to find information
about and images of mythological characters for student reports.
There are photographs of classical and modern statues and paintings.
For example, see paintings of
Theseus Slaying
the Minotaur or
Thetis
dipping Achilles into the River Styx to protect him from death,
or a statue of
Athena
springing from the head of Zeus, or a classical statue of
Athena
from the Parthenon. [Warning to teachers of younger students: several
of the paintings and statues will present characters in the nude. If
that is a problem for your classes, you might want to go through the
list and bookmark those which are appropriate to your students.
Teachers should also read the copyright notice at the top of the page
which prohibits using the images for publication on the www.]
Greek Art
- The
National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the most important
archaeological museum in Greece and one of the richest in the
world concerning ancient Greek art. The museum's collections
include: Prehistoric items,
Sculpture,
Pottery
and Minor art , and
Bronzes
(as well as a collection of Egyptian Art).
- The
Acropolis Museum (Athens, Greece) has a collection of the art
of the Acropolis. Click on the thumbnail photographs (small
pictures) to get an enlargement.
- The
Louvre Museum in Paris has an extensive collection of Greek
and Hellenistic art. Click on a time period, then click on the
thumbnail photographs (small pictures) to get enlargements.
(Virtual tours of Greek rooms on the main floor are also
available, but require Quicktime 4.)
- Ancient
Greek Sculpture (limited collection) which shows the discus
thrower, and some Roman copies of Greek art.
- Greek Art and
Architecture (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs) has
an extensive collection of images of
architecture
from various archeological sites (Crete, Athens, Olympia, Delphi
and more),
sculpture
from early to late classical and through Hellenistic times.
- Emory University (in Atlanta, Georgia) has a Permanent
Collection
of Classical Art . It is introduced at this site. The text is
rather advanced for middle and high school students, but it is
accompanied by several good photographs from the collection.
- The
Pergamon Great Altar (now in Berlin's Pergamon Museum) was
taken from Pergamon, a Greek city-state in modern day Turkey. The
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco recently showed friezes
(carvings on walls) of the incredible Pergamon Altar and set up
this online tour of the Telephos Friezes from the Great Altar.
(Telephos was a son of Hercules and Auge, and the panels depicting
the story of Telephos are presented at this site.) A New York
tourist named Max Ule took these four photographs in the Pergamon
Museum in Berlin: the
courtyard
display,
part
of the altar,
work
in progress, and
friezes
(figures are almost life-size). Hisashi Okamoto, a professor from
Kyoto University, has added these beautiful
pictures
from the Pergamon Museum to the web.
- Looking
at Art of Ancient Greece and Rome (Getty Museum). Compare the
older, formal style of a
Kouros
(young man, about 530 B.C.) and the later more natural pose shown
in a statue of a
Victorious
Youth (325 - 300 B.C.) This change was revolutionary and the
older style died out. A Carteret Community College instructor says
this newer style, first shown in a statue
(The
Kritios Boy) represents humanism, idealism, and rationalism
and a break from the Egyptian style.
Architecture
- 3D
Modelling of Miletus (a project of the Foundation of the
Hellenic World of Athens) includes views of 10 buildings of
Miletus including a stadium, the Bouleuterion (Council House), a
sacred gate, the Altar of Poseidon, and more.
- THE ANCIENT
CITY OF ATHENS is a collection of pictures collected for
Indiana University. [a Top 5% Site]
- Especially useful for teachers and students creating
webpages is the section called
"Sites
and Monuments" which has more than 400 photographs of such
famous sites as the Parthenon, Acropolis, temples, arches, and
parts of the ancient city of Athens. For examples of these
sites, see:
- View
of the Acropolis from the southwest, showing the
Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, part of the
Erechtheion, and the Parthenon.
- The
South Porch or Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion.
"Caryatids" (or "Karyatids") are female figures used as
architectural supports in place of columns -- a feature
associated with Ionic architecture.
- The
Agora: The Commercial and Civic Center of Athens
- Ancient
Sites Walking Tours of Athens offers three "virtual tours of
ancient Athens" with high quality computer graphics and effective
explanations of what you are seeing. One tour (approximately 5
minutes) is of an Athenian home. Another tour (15 minutes) takes
you to the Acropolis with an architect in 415 B.C.E., and the
third tour (10 minutes) takes you to the Acropolis with a
philosopher in 415 B.C.E.
- "Restoring
Virtual Ruins" The Digital Museum site (from Scientific
American Magazine) shows how digital images can create computer
models for reconstructions.
- The
Acropolis of Athens briefly introduces this famous site and
its ruins. (Hellenic Ministry of Culture)
- City of
Knossos (Minoan Civilization) and the Palace of Knossos - This
site includes an artist's conception of the ancient Palace of
Knossos and an Image Gallery with 16 images of the Palace. Minos
is the home of the mythological Minotaur killed by the hero
Theseus, and where Daedalus built the labyrinth and escaped by
learning how to fly - only to lose his son Icarus. The Minoan
civilization flourished early in the history of ancient Greece. An
artist's idea of
The Palace of
Knossos (Dilos Holiday World) is also shown at his site.
- Greek
Temples are presented (in architectural plans and with
photographs) and style (orders of Doric and Ionian columns and
capitals) at this site from Japan entitled Greek Art and
Archaeology.
- Period
and Style for Designers: Greece has images of buildings,
ornamentation and furniture of ancient Greece.
Literature and Drama
- "Ancient Greek
Literature" from Hellas On-Line briefly identifies the famous
writers and story tellers of ancient Greece, including Aesop (an
African who became a slave in Greece), play writers such as
Sophocles, Thucidites, Euripides, and more, and of course, Homer,
the blind poet and story-teller of the Iliad and the
Odyssey. This excellent website has links so that you can read
the fables, plays, and epic poems. [Some literary works require a
download with "ZipIt"]
- The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer about 800 B.C. The Iliad
tells of Helen, wife of a Greek king, who is taken to Troy. This
starts a battle that went on for ten years until the Greeks used a
wooden horse to trick the Trojans. Hiding inside the horse, they
went into the city and the conquered the unsuspecting Trojans.
Learn more about this famous story at
"The
Virtual Iliad", a summary of the Iliad for students, and see
the
background
links. Also see
"The
Virtual Odyssey" and its
background
links. (Available from ThinkQuest.)
- Drama
- Ancient
Greek Theater (part of The History Ring) by Elias
Karayannako is an award-winning site. It tells about Ancient
Greek Theater,
The actors
and the chorus, The organization of the tragic contests,
Clothes and scenic appearance,
Masks,
and more. There are links to specific Greek plays and
playwrights.
- Tragedy -
- Introduction
to Greek Tragedy (from Brooklyn College, N.Y.) This is a
difficult article for middle school students, but will help
high school and college students to understand the forms of
tragedies and early Greek theater. It tells about the
actors, costumes and masks, the use of a chorus, and
introduces several famous tragic plays of the early Greeks.
- More information on
Greek
Tragedy The "first actor" Thespis (from whom we get the
name "thespian" or "actor") is briefly introduced.
- Study
Guide for Sophocles' Oedipus the King (by Robin
Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University) combines an online
version of the play with links to graphics and explanations.
Oedipus is a tragic hero. Before he was born, his father
went to the Delphic Oracle to learn of the future of his
child. The oracle said that the child would grow up to kill
his father and marry his mother. For a short summary of the
story, click [here]. For
a longer explanation of the play for teachers who might want
to produce it with high school students, see
Howard's
Lesson Plan, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.
- Sophocles' play
Antigone
is a critique of absolute power and unenlightened rule. The
play details the disasters that befall a society in the
midst of change, when long-accepted traditions conflict with
interests of a new era, and gives us a view of the thinking
of the people of Athens at that time.
- Aeschylus
(information from Encarta Online), is considered "the father
of the dramatic tragedy", 525?-456 B.C. He is the playwright
of
"The
Persians" (written in 472 B.C., available on-line) which
portrayed King Xerxes as a man destroyed by his own hubris,
or pride. He also wrote Promethius Bound, Seven Against
Thebes, and other plays. See a brief
study
guide with guiding questions by a professor at
University of Idaho. Learn more about
Aeschylus
(Perseus Encyclopedia) which gives more information
about his life, and tells of his importance and influence.
- Comedy
- Aristophanes
448?-380? B.C., (from InfoPlease, Columbia Encyclopedia)
wrote plays entitled "The Clouds" which makes fun of
philosophers like Socrates, and "Lysistrata" in which the
Athenian women boycott their husbands to end a war, "Women
in Politics" in which the women take over the government,
"The Acharnians" which is an attack on the Peloponnesian
War, and more.
"The
Birds" (online from Perseus Project) is widely regarded
as Aristophanes' greatest play. Originally produced in 414
B.C.E in Athens at a time of tumultuous social upheaval and
civil strife, "Birds" tells the story of two ordinary men in
search of a better life as far as possible from the problems
of the city, the choking law courts, corrupt politicians,
and endless war. Our heroes conspire to persuade the Birds
to join them in the creation of a new city .
- Satyr Plays - short, slapstick pieces characterized
by a chorus of satyrs (half men, half beasts) who act as a
farcical backdrop to the traditional mythological heroes of
tragedy.
- Poetry
History & Famous People
- Solon,
the Lawgiver and Reformer of Ancient Athens (c. 600 - 563 B.C.E.)
This is a short biography of the reformer (from Encarta Online).
Solon
(Compton's Encyclopedia Online) also gives a brief introduction.
Also see
Athens and
Solon - Sparta (Tourist Guide of Greece) Solon was written
about by Putarch, the Roman historian
(15 Ancient Greek Heroes from
Plutarch's Lives: Solon). There is an online glossary to help
with difficult words.
- Pisistratus
(information from on-line encyclopedia). Additional information
about
Pisistratus
is found with Encarta Online.
- Homer and the Story of Troy (See "Literature" above)
- Cleisthenes
c. 572 - c. 485 B.C.E was generally regarded as the founder of
Athenian democracy. (Information from on-line encyclopedia).
The
Reforms of Cleistenes is information for more advanced
students, but summarized at
Perseus
Project: Cleisthenes' Reforms.
Aristotle
told of Cleistenes reforms, too.
Democracy on
Line has more information about Cleistenes. Read about the
Government
After the Changes Made By Cleistenes. This short article tells
about how male citizens could participate in the early democracy.
- Themistocles
(InfoPlease Encyclopedia Entry) tells that Themistocles was a
brilliant general and leader of Athens who convinced the Atheneans
to build up their navy to protect themselves against the advancing
Persians. In the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. he won an
tremendous victory. Later, however, he was exiled from Athens.
Also see
The
Importance of Themistocles (an essay by Greg Ong).
- The First
Marathon Run, The History of Phidippides (by Paul Ostapuk)
tells of the messenger-runner who tried to get Sparta's help for a
battle between Athens and the Persian invaders at Marathon and ran
for about 140 miles to deliver the news, return, and then join the
battle!
- Biography
of Political Leaders of Athenian Democracy includes
Cleistenes, Themistocles, Cimon, and Pericles. (This information
was prepared by students at Portland State University for middle
school students.)
- 15 Ancient
Greek Heroes from Plutarch's Lives: Pericles gives a
comprehensive biography of this famous leader. There is an online
to help with difficult words.
- Pericles and the Golden Age of Athens
- Pericles
- A biographical home page from Portland State's Greek Civ
for Kids
- Pericles
also from Portland State's Greek Civ for Kids
- Democracy
On Line has more information of Pericles (495 - 429 B.C.E.)
- Pericles'
Funeral Oration (a famous speech during the war with Sparta
reported by the historian Thucydides). In this speech he tells
his confidence in Athenian democracy which helped to create its
Golden Age. (From the World Civilizations site by T. Hooker,
Washington State University; The
Funeral
Oration is also found at Westminster College in Salt Lake
City, Utah.)
- See his
bust
(statue) and learn more about him at this site from Westminster
College.
- Asphasia
- (Perseus encyclopedia) She was the intelligent consort of
Pericles, praised by Socrates for her rhetoric (ability to speak
and argue well) and her logic.
- Athens
vs. Sparta (in the Pelopponesian Wars) is a full and rather
difficult to read history of the conflicts between Athens and
Sparta. (The reading level is for high school and beyond.)
- Thucidides
(c.460 - c.400 B.C.) is called the creator of objective
historical science because he wrote his 'History of the
Peloponnesian War' arguing that victors in war were not determined
by the gods, but by man-made natural causes. During the
Peloponnesian War, he commanded part of the Athenian fleet. He
lost a battle and he was exiled for 20 years. During this time, he
visited all parts of Greece and wrote his history. (See more
information from the Perseus Project.)
- Socrates
is introduced as Athens' critic, for which he was condemned to
death. (Evansville University site.)
- Philip
of Macedon - father of Alexander the Great. This is a one page
biography of Philip with links to Alexander. The father and son
never got along very well.
- Alexander the
Great - one of the world's greatest conquerors who also
studied with Aristotle! This site gives much information about the
life and legend of Alexander the Great.
- Alexander the
Great (from ) gives information about this famous man.
- Another
Alexander
the Great site (project by John J. Popovic) is well
illustrated with maps, photographs of artwork.
- Sappho's
Poetry - six of Sappho's poems are here after a brief
introduction to her life. Twelve more are presented here at
Athena
Nike's Pages: Poetry of Sappho. Most of Sappho's poetry is
either lost or fragmented. She was deemed the tenth Muse by Plato
nearly two decades after her death. She was from the Greek Isle of
Lesbos.
Greek City States and Places
- Sparta
(written by Jennifer Taylor, Minnesota State University, Mankato)
is a good introduction and includes further information at
The
Culture of Sparta and
Women
of Sparta
- Athens
(written by Jennifer Taylor, Minnesota State University, Mankato)
is a good introduction and includes further information about
classes
of Athens and
women
of Athens.
- Enjoy the reenactment of battle by Spartan hoplite warriors at
The Ancient
Greeks (BBC)
- Learn more about the city states and the development of
democracy. Visit
Bouleuterion:
Birthplace of Democracy (produced by the Foundation of the
Hellenic World, 1996). This site includes a map from which you
choose a place in which Greek City States developed. [StudyWeb
Award Winning Site]
- Compare Sparta with Athens! See
Athens and
Solon - Sparta (Tourist Guide of Greece) and
Sparta
(World Civilization by Richard Hooker, Washington State
University) is rather difficult to read, but very complete.
Spartan
Stories and How
Lycurgus
(king around 885 B.C.) set up the militaristic society.
An
Interactive View of the Peloponnesian War (by Simon Frank)
presents background information on the two enemies: Sparta and
Athens.
Daily
Life Ancient Greece by Mr. Donn (written for middle school and
young students) allows you to compare city-states: Sparta, Athens,
Corinth, Argos, and Megara.
- Everything
Spartan, Lakonian and Messenian (by Holly, award winning site)
has much information of Spartan women, art, poetry, photographs of
Sparta, and more.
- Delphi,
in central Greece, was home of the celebrated Delphic Oracle which
supposedly could predict the future. (By Simpson) See images of a
priestess
and of
Oedipus
solving the riddle of the Syphx. The priestess of the Delphic
oracle in ancient Greece may have delivered her prophecies under
the influence of petrochemical fumes, says a geologist. The
oracle's priestess, a woman called the Pythia, sat over
the
chasm and breathed this "divine afflatus", from which she drew
powers of prophecy. Learn more about
the
priestess at Albany's site.
Mythology / Religion
- The Ancient Greek World - Religion and Death from the
University of Pennsylvania Museum presents the religious practices
of the ancient Greeks, including sacrifices, games, festivals, and
burial practices.
- Ancient Greek religion is explained at
"The Ancient
Gods", part of Hellas On Line. This site includes a "family
tree" and introduction to the Titans, the Olympian Gods, and Other
Gods and Semi-Gods.
- Herakles
(or "Hercules" to the Romans) is part of the Perseus Project:
"Hercules: Greece's Greatest Hero". This excellent site gives the
biography of Herakles, tells of his labors, his adventures, and
more! For an interesting chart
comparing
Walt Disney's Hercules with Greek Mythology, see Greek
Mythology Link. Learn more about
Hercules at
the Greek Mythology Link.
- The Greek
Mythology Link is a collection of the Greek myths being
written and published on line by Carlos Parada, author of the book
Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology. The material provided in
the Greek Mythology Link includes texts, images, tables and maps.
This site gives brief biographies of 117
Individuals
(from Achilles to Zeus) and tells of an equally large number of
mythological characters such as monsters (from Abraxas to Xanthus)
and more! Information is in a grid format (not told as a story);
Also see their
Places
and Peoples site to learn more about such places as the
underworld, Troy, Athens, and more. Searching for relationships is
easily done at this great site because of the links design.
- Other mythological characters and their stories:
- Pegasus
from Flights of Fantasy - Pegasus, the Flying Horse - Advanced;
a simple retelling of the story of Bellerophon and Pegasus for
kids; also available with simpler text with illustrations for
young children.)
- Phethon
and the Chariot of the Sun - a simple retelling of the
story about the son of Apollo who longs to drive his father's
chariot across the sky (from Flights of Fantasy) with
illustrations.
- Daedalus
the Inventor (from Flights of Fantasy) is a simple
retelling of the story of Daedalus and his son Icarus who try
to escape from Crete by inventing wings for humans. This site
includes illustrations.
- Jason
and the Argonauts has several sections which explore the
question "Was Jason's trip Fact or Fiction?" (for high school
or higher)
- Calendar
of Sacrifices of the 4th century BCE. Sacrifices were
important in Greek religion. Look at a calendar of sacrifices to
see what should be sacrificed to which god, and when.
- Windows
to the Universe (University of Michigan). Text is available at
beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Many of the Greek
and Roman gods and goddesses were associated with the heavens, the
sun, moon, planets or stars. (Modern scientists have continued to
use Roman mythology as they name newly discovered planets and
moons.) Learn more about
Classic
Mythology associated with the earth or heavens, which include:
- Bulfinch's
Mythology, 'The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes'
presents an online form of this popular book. You can search the
text for key words, or find information by going to the index of
the stories.
Sports and Recreation
- The Olympics - from the
Perseus Project offers
- An
Introduction to the Ancient Olympics giving its history and
descriptions all the events: Boxing, Equestrian events, Chariot
racing, Riding, Pankration, Pentathlon, Running, and Wrestling.
- A Tour of
ancient Olympia (the original site of the games which
started over 2,700 years ago)
- Context of
the Games and the Olympic Spirit tells of the athletes from
all over the Mediterranean, the truce during the games, the
spectators, and more.
- Stories of
the Athletes
- Portland
State University's Greek Civilization for Kids: The Ancient
Olympic Games
- Olympics
Through Time (from the Foundation of the Hellenic World) tells
of Greek sports in prehistoric times and in antiquity, as well as
the modern revival of the Olympic Games.
- The Olympic Games - Events
- Wrestling
and Pankration (an "anything goes" style of fighting which
may include kicking, boxing, wrestling) For a gallery of images
see Olympic
Pankration
Gallery showing statues and paintings on pottery of
fighters
- Discus
throwing is shown in a famous statue of Myron (4th century
B.C.)
- Dartmouth University's
"The Olympic Games
in the Ancient Hellenic World" offers a "virtual museum" of
the sports, history, athletes, a slide show, and more about the
ancient Olympics. Their links to
"The
Location of Ancient Olympia" and
"The Site of
the Games" have good information and some photographs of
Olympia.
- A brief history (or retelling of the legend) of the first
marathon is told at the bottom of
History of the
Ancient Olympics (Australian site)
- Beyond the Olympics, there were
"Other
Games" (from ThinkQuest)
War, Warfare and Weapons
- Ancient
Greek Infantry (Portland University's Greek Civ for Kids)
tells of tactical warfare, armor and weapons, military hierarchy,
military pay, and military duty.
- Portland
State University's Greek Civilization for Kids: War (written
by college students to assist middle school students in research
reports) tells briefly of the Greek army and navy, the Persian
Wars, the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta, and
Alexander the Great.
- Hellas:Net tells about
Warfare
in Hellas (the Greek World) with many links describing
weapons, battles, strategies, including
naval
warfare, and important battles in Greek history. Learn about
the use of
hoplites
(heavily armed and armored foot-soldiers). Learn about the
Battle
of Marathon in 490 B.C.E.and the important
Sea
Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.E. against the Persians. Learn
about the
use
of elephants by Alexander the Great , and more!
- An
Interactive View of the Peloponnesian War (by Simon Frank)
presents background information on the two enemies: Sparta and
Athens.
- Ancient
Greek Boating and Shipping tells of the importance of boating
and shipping to the ancient Greeks for trade, warfare, and
colonization of other lands.
- History
of Warfare (from the University of Pennsylvania Museum)
briefly tells of the use of chariots in war, armor, and weapons as
shown on pottery and through artifacts.
- Enjoy the reenactment of battle by Spartan hoplite warriors at
The Ancient
Greeks (BBC)
Science and Medicine
- Portland
State University Greek Civilization for Kids Site: Environment
(written by college students to assist middle school students in
research reports) tell of geology, geography, weather, plants and
animals, and more.
- Portland
State University Greek Civilization for Kids Site: Science
(written by college students to assist middle school students in
research reports) tells of astronomy, biology, boats and ships,
mathematics, numbers, metal, water supply, and medicine.
- Hippocrates
(c.460-380
B.C.) is
considered the "father of medicine". Learn more about him at Greek
Physicians from Hellas On-Line. After a brief introduction, there
are samples of his writings about health and disease, and his
famous oath still taken by doctors today. He was a member of a
group of physicians which traced its origins to Asclepius, the god
of healing. Hippocrates was the most famous physician and teacher
of medicine of his time. Over 60 medical treatises that have
traditionally been attributed to him. They look for natural
explanations and treatments of illness and reject sorcery, magic,
and interference by gods. See a
bust
of him and read a brief biography.
- Greek and
Roman Surgical Instruments are shown at this Indiana
University site and
Surgery
of Ancient Rome (from University of Virginia) also displays
classical surgical instruments.
- The Plague
in Athens During the Peloponnesian War is explored at this
Indiana University site. The author concludes that the plague may
have been typhus. The plague was described by Thucydides, the
famous Greek historian who survived the plague and described the
growth of Athens up through the plague. A modern scientist
compares
the Athenian plague with the modern Ebola Virus (article from
the U.S. Center of Disease Control, 1996) and quotes from
Thucydides' history. The plague and the Peloponnesian War brought
an end to the Golden Age of Athens according to the authors.
(difficult - cut?)
Medicine
in Mythology and Literature (from the University of Virginia)
tells of the the arrows of Apollo and Artemis as a plague against
a woman who bragged about her own 14 children, and the healing
arrows and practices of Apollo and Asclepius. (Apollo was father
of the healing god Asclepius.)
- Archimedes
is introduced at a site from Drexel University. (difficult )
- Ancient
Greek Science Resources. A very extensive site for important
Greek scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers. Unfortunately,
many links have expired or are not available.
- Aristotle's
life is described and there are links to his scientific and
philosophical works, part of Hellas On-Line.
- Democritus
proposed the theory of atoms which were microscopic and could not
be seen. He also thought the Milky Way was a vast system of stars
in an unending universe. (This is from a series of articles on
Greek scientists from the University of Michigan. The information
is presented at three reading levels for beginning, intermediate,
and advanced readers. The sites include graphics and links to gain
more information.)
Mathematics
- Euclid
(brief introduction from Encarta Online Encyclopedia) lived about
300 B.C., is known for his work in mathematics and geometry.
Advanced students can explore
Euclid's
Elements (Clark University site for high school students) and
Generalizing
Euclid's Proof of Prime Numbers (Mathematical Musings of Mr.K.
F. Kuhn)
- Pythagoras
(580-520 B.C.) was known for his work with mathematics, astronomy
and music (acoustics). (University of Michigan site for kids)
- Thales
(624 - 546 BC). - first known Greek philosopher, scientist and
mathematician. Also see
Thales
Materialism for a brief biography.
- Zeno of Elea - calculus
- [Teacher site:
The
Early Greeks Contribution to Geometry from Yale-New Haven
Teachers lesson plan site] This site has links and activities to
introduce students to geometry (use of the protractor, postulates,
angles, etc.) and how the ancient Greeks contributed to these
areas of geometry.
Philosophy
- Greek
Philosophy (Portland State University's Greek Civilization for
Kids, written by college students for middle school students)
includes an introduction to Greek Philosophy, and highlights
Socrates,
Plato,
and
Aristotle.
- Thales
(624 - 546 BC). was the first known Greek philosopher, scientist
and mathematician. Also see a
more
extensive site also from Drury University.
- Socrates
(469 - 399 B.C.) (from Encarta Online) was a philosopher who was
condemned to death for his political views. His student, Plato,
wrote about him and his philosophy.
- Plato
(428?-347? BC) ( from Encarta Online) introduces Plato, a pupil of
Socrates, famous as a philosopher whose writings we can read
today. The Portland State University's Greek Civ for Kids site for
Plato
for the Young Inquirer has biographical information, his ideas
and conclusions, how he impacts us today, a visit with a Plato
expert (Professor Moor), and more! Professor Suzanne at Evansville
University has written a summary of
Plato and
His Dialogs appropriate for high school and university
students.
- Aristotle's
life is described and there are links to his scientific and
philosophical works, part of Hellas On-Line. Aristotle is known as
a student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great. [Also
included at this site is Epictetus, the Stoic Philosopher, whose
philosophy resembled Christianity in its love of good and hatred
of evil.]
Music 
- History
of Ancient Greek Music (from a school in Greece) tells about
the development of Greek music and the musical
instruments
used in ancient Greece.
- Ancient
Greek Music - you can hear fragments of ancient Greek music
over the computer!
- Homeric
Singing (part of the Perseus Project)
- Ancient
Greek Music (from Infoplease - Encyclopedia Entry) give some
basic information about Greek music.
- Greek
Gift of Music (Portland State's Greek Civilization for Kids)
introduces Greek music which is further explained at
Music
Theory,
Music
and Religion, and
Musical
Instruments. [Examples of student research?]
- Image of a
musical
contest between Apollo and Marsyas (by Praxiteles, circa 320
BC)
- Musical instruments: legends about their invention. flute and
double flute
(aulos),
pipes of Pan, lyre
[kithara]
of Apollo. The god of music and harmony was Apollo. He was the
leader of the
nine muses (or "fairy" daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne) which
include music, dance, poetry, comedy, history, etc.
- Musical education (importance of)
- Music in myth - Orpheus
vase
scene
- Dance
The Greek Alphabet (ancient Greek)
- The
Greek Alphabet (from ThinkQuest) and
The
Greek Alphabet (University of Washington) shows the Greek
alphabet by letter name in Greek, the letters (capital and small),
and the sound.
Everyday Life
- The
Ancient Greek World - Men's Life Index from the museum at the
University of Pennsylvania tells about daily life of the men.
- The
Ancient Greek World - Women's Life from the museum at the
University of Pennsylvania tells about daily life of the women.
- The
Ancient Greek World - The Greek House from the museum at the
University of Pennsylvania tells about typical Greek homes.
- Portland
State's Greek Civ for Kids: Everyday Life (written by college
students to assist middle school students in research reports)
tells of social classes, getting food, friends, family and
marriage, women, clothes, education, and commerce.
- Learn about the ancient Greek money at
Denominations
of Ancient Greek Coins at F.J. Wagner's site.
- Daily
Life Ancient Greece by Mr. Donn is written for middle school
and young students. It addresses such topics as schools, family,
food, houses, pets and toys; a section on the Olympics. You may
also compare city-states: Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Argos, and
Megara. [Also included are
classroom
lesson plans]
- Slavery
in Ancient Greece (by Kirsten Brown of Portland State's Greek
Civ for Kids) tells of slavery in everyday life.
- Women,
Children and Men (by Marilyn A. Katz, from the Cambridge
Illustrated History of Athens) was put on-line for college
students at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. "The inhabitants
of Athens included, besides its male citizens, a large number of
male and female slaves, a population of male and female resident
aliens or 'metics' roughly equal in number to citizens, and the
wives and children of citizen men. Citizens' wives shared in
citizen status, but this entitled them principally to bear sons
who would become citizens or, daughters who would become the wives
of citizens. Secondly, there were other areas of civic and
communal life in the ancient polis besides the political one, and
women, non-citizens, and even slaves played important parts in
many of them: the religious and economic spheres, for example, as
well as the various aspects of community in the demes or villages.
And finally, the social ideal which consigned men to the public,
and women to the private realm, was no more than that: an ideal.
It figures very prominently in much of Greek art and literature,
but when we examine more closely some of details of ancient Greek
social and cultural practices, the reality looks quite different."
Food of Ancient Greece
Clothing, Hair Styles, Jewelry, and Make Up
- Portland
State's Greek Civ for Kids: Clothing and Costume in Ancient
Greece tells of the common fabrics used in Greek clothing, and
the styles of clothing worn by the Greeks. There are links to
Greek Costumes.
- Ancient
Greek Costume Links includes images of jewelry, hair styles,
clothing for men, women, soldiers, and more.
- Greek
Jewellery - 5000 years of tradition - Ancient Greek Jewelry
provides excellent photographs of necklaces, bracelets, belts,
earrings, and more.
- Slide
Shows of Classical Images. The first show has 38 photographs
of people dressed up like ancient Greeks (even though some are
wearing glasses or shoes and socks with their costumes!); the
second show has 111 drawings of Greek costumes for women; the
third is of Roman mosaics.
- Ancient
Greek Women's Dress and Hair (The Costumer's Manifesto) has
some pictures.
Maps, Travelers and Geography
Important Animals
- Horses
were used in war, for transportation and other activities. This
site is from the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
Teacher Lesson Plans for Units on Ancient Greece & Examples
of Student Work
- See webpages created by sixth grade students in a San Jose,
California school telling of
"Everyday
Life in Ancient Greece: Life as a Kid, a Father, A Mother, A
Slave" and more.
- Wonderful
World of Ancient Greece (ThinkQuest) has student reports on
Arts, Battles & Heroes, Everday Life, First Olympics,
Government, Religion and more. (By students grades 4-6.)
- Ancient
Greek Olympics shows student work with tips from the teacher
on setting up learning centers with computers. This is part of
"Nuestra Tierra" Educational Technology Project.
- SCORE
(Schools of California Online Resources for Education) has
Resources and Activities for teachers at each grade level prepared
by teachers. World History and Geography: Ancient Civilizations,
6th Grade.
Resources
for ancient Greece are rated on a scale of 1 (high) to 5
(low).
California's
sixth Grade Standards are also identified for teachers.
Eight
activities are found in the Greek section of SCORE including
games, WebQuests, a model of a student created virtual museum, and
more.
- Greek
Travel Brochure project by Kevin Deutsch, teacher at Lux
Middle School, Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Mr.
Donn's Daily Life in Ancient Greece includes a few
Ancient
History Lesson Ideas by Mrs. Donn for elementary school
students and
Lesson
Plans by Mr. Donn which include a simulation which asks
students to
compare
the judicial system in ancient Athens and an American court
(for students in grades 8 - 12), units on the Olympics (for sixth
grade students?), mythology, and more.
- Lesson Plans from
Yale-New Haven Teachers
Institute. Search for more. Some are better developed than
others, but here are some appropriate topics:
- "Remember
the Time: An Exploration of History Through Drama" spends
one week on Greek drama before moving into medieval drama.
(Lesson Plan by Perrault, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.)
- "Euripides'
Alcestis" Lesson Plan by O'Neil, Yale-New Haven Teachers
Institute. Student read, discuss, and act out parts of the
tragic plan, and are involved in other activities. (The unit is
designed for the middle school student of varying reading
levels. It is a six week course.)
- "Greek
and Roman Mythology in the Classroom" by Garcia, Yale-New
Haven Teachers Institute. (Purpose is to supplement the
curricula of social and urban studies classes at the secondary
level, by introducing Greek and Roman mythology and its
influence in contemporary society. Designed for high school
students, varying time periods required according to selected
objectives.)
- "Hercules:
Super Hero" by McGuire, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.
(Drama class in conjunction with social studies class, with
recommendations for elementary, middle and high school
classes.)
- "The
Origin of Life: A History of Ancient Greek Theories" (by
Puglia, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute) deals with science
and philosophy (the love of knowledge) - giving background
information on Aristotle and others as the students observe the
development of frogs from eggs.
- "The
Iliad - A Practical Approach" by Lesson Plan by Taylor,
Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, for high school students.
- "The
Grouch (Dyskolos) by Menander: An Example of Greek New
Comedy" Lesson Plan by Polio She developed this for limited
English speaking students in the middle school.
Teacher Web Resources
- THE ANCIENT
CITY OF ATHENS is a photographic archive of the archaeological
and architectural remains of ancient Athens (Greece). It is
intended primarily as a resource for students of classical art
& archaeology, civilization, languages, and history at Indiana
University as a supplement to their class lectures and reading
assignments and as a source of images for use in term papers,
projects, and presentations.
http://www.indiana.edu/~kglowack/athens/
- Especially useful for teachers and students creating
webpages is the section called
"Sites
and Monuments" which has more than 400 photographs of such
famous sites as the Parthenon, acropolis, temples, arches, and
parts of the ancient city of Athens. For examples of these
sites, see:
- View
of the Acropolis from the southwest, showing the
Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, part of the
Erechtheion, and the Parthenon.
http://www.indiana.edu/~archaeol/kglowack/athens/images2/17.001.JPG
- The
South Porch or Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion.
"Caryatids" (or "Karyatids") are female figures used as
architectural supports in place of columns -- a feature
associated with Ionic architecture.
http://www.indiana.edu/~kglowack/athens/images/08.013.JPG
- The
Agora: The Commercial and Civic Center of Athens
http://www.indiana.edu/~kglowack/athens/images/05.002.JPG
- Greek
Mythology Link Catalogue of Images, by Carlos Parada. This
site is a great resource for teachers and students who are trying
to find images of mythological characters for student reports.
There are photographs of classical and modern statues and
paintings. For example, see paintings of
Theseus
Slaying the Minotaur or
Thetis
dipping Achilles into the River Styx to protect him from
death, or a statue of
Athena
springing from the head of Zeus, or a classical statue of
Athena
from the Parthenon. [Warning to teachers of younger
students: several of the paintings and statues will present
characters in the nude. If that is a problem for your classes, you
might want to go through the list and bookmark those which are
appropriate to your students. Teachers should also read the
copyright notice at the top of the page which prohibits using the
images for publication on the www.]
- Portland
State University Greek Civilization Home Page was prepared by
university students for middle school students to assist them in
researching the following topics: Religion, Politics, War, Sport
and Daily Life, Science, Philosophy, Arts, and more. Under each
topic there is information presented by the university students.
- Timeline:
The
Ancient Greek World - Land and Time Index from the University
of Pennsylvania
Timelines
Chronological
History of Greece in the Vth and IVth centuries B.C. (long and
linky)
General History
of Greece (also see intro to art, archit. etc. in part 2)
NM's Creative
Impulse..Greece good links, general info.
Links in Spanish for Bilingual Classes
Páginas
en español, Greek Mythology Link (based on Genealogical
Guide to Greek Mythology by Carlos Parada) includes stories such as
Medusa,
Pandora, Afrodita, Perseo, y más.
CD's and Videos
The
Magical Walk of Curious Julius at Delphi - Archaeology, Knowledge and
Adventure
CD-ROM "The magical walk of Curious Julius at Delphi". This
CD-ROM, aimed at over-11s, familiarizes them with the science of
archaeology and gives them some idea of the history of Delphi, one of
the principal sacred places in Antiquity. The leading hero, Curious
Julius, a cartoon character of about the same age as the children
using the CD-ROM, has a thirst for information, and his companion,
the archaeologist Hector Excavator, conduct the user on an adventure
of knowledge and entertainment.
The
Odyssey - The Discovery Channel has a half-hour video (airing on
TV and for sale at $34.95) with online lesson plans and activities
related to U.S. National Standards.
Cut - Suggested topics for follow-up lessons:
|
Possible Lesson #1:
Look at the Government under Pericles. What are the
fundamental differences and similarities between how the US
President governs over the USA?
|
Possible Lesson #2:
How did the political reforms of Pericles enhance the
cultural lives of the people of Athens?
|
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Possible Lesson #3:
How was Socrates important in changing the way we think
today?
|
Possible Lesson #4:
How important were the Battles of Marathon, Salamis and
the Peloponnesian war in shaping the history of the western
world?
|
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Government under Pericles
|
U.S. Government
|
Your city
|
|
How was the ruler chosen?
|
1a. Pericles was chosen by ___
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1b. President of the U.S.
|
1c. Mayor or City Council?
|
|
Who else rules?
Are there other "branches" of government?
|
2a.
|
2b.
|
2c.
|
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How big was the area ruled?
|
3a. The city-state of Athens was with a population of
about 120,000. [Link to Greek Multimedia Project - BP 32]
|
3b. The United States has an area of
with a population of about
|
3c. Area of your city
with a population of about
|
|
What if the citizens don't like the leader?
|
4a. Citizens in council can ostracize leader, strip him
of power, or exile him.
|
4b.
|
4c.
|
|
What qualities were the citizens looking for in a leader?
|
5a.
|
5b.
|
5c.
|
|
How long did the ruler serve? (What was the term of
office?)
|
6a.
|
6b.
|
6c.
|
Let's Compare! [Completed Chart could be an "answer sheet" to what
is asked of 6th grade students] at time of Pericles
|
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Sparta
|
Athens
|
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Form of Government
|
Oligarchy (rule of the few); two kings
|
Limited democracy:
|
|
Other governing bodies
|
|
Council of
|
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Social structure
|
|
|
|
Military strengths
|
Strong army
|
Strong navy
|
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Allies
|
|
Delian League
|
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Contributions to history
|
|
Philosophy, art, music, drama, architecture, etc.
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