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auroracoor1

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This is the description straight from the article. "Still more compelling is the reference to Greek culture in the tomb inscription. The epigraph states that Marcus Venerius Secundio “gave Greek and Latin ludi for the duration of four days”. Ludi graeci were theater performances in Greek language. “It is the first clear evidence of performances at Pompeii in the Greek language, which had previously been hypothesised on the basis of indirect indicators,” says the Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel."

 
This is the description straight from the article. "Still more compelling is the reference to Greek culture in the tomb inscription. The epigraph states that Marcus Venerius Secundio “gave Greek and Latin ludi for the duration of four days”. Ludi graeci were theater performances in Greek language. “It is the first clear evidence of performances at Pompeii in the Greek language, which had previously been hypothesised on the basis of indirect indicators,” says the Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel."

That is an extraordinary discovery because it implies that, if plays were performed in Greek, there must have been a Greek-speaking population for an audience. Since we have no Pompeian literature, scholars have usually assumed that Pompeii was a Roman (resort) city and that, for instance, the innumerable paintings in the city (often on Greek subjects) were not created by local Greeks and were copies of works in Hellas. They even forgot the nearby Oracle of KymE [Cumae in Latin] and the comic Atellan Plays in the same Campanian region, not to mention the books in Greek by Parmenides and the other Eleatic philosophers.
 
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That is an extraordinary discovery because it implies that, if plays were performed in Greek, there must have been a Greek-speaking population for an audience. Since we have no Pompeian literature, scholars have usually assumed that Pompeii was a Roman (resort) city and that, for instance, the innumerable paintings in the city (often on Greek subjects) were not created by local Greeks and were copies of works in Hellas. They even forgot the nearby Oracle of KymE [Cumae in Latin] and the comic Atellan Plays in the same Campanian region, not to mention the books in Greek by Parmenides and the other Eleatic philosophers.
Thanks for the additional context
 
That is an extraordinary discovery because it implies that, if plays were performed in Greek, there must have been a Greek-speaking population for an audience. Since we have no Pompeian literature, scholars have usually assumed that Pompeii was a Roman (resort) city and that, for instance, the innumerable paintings in the city (often on Greek subjects) were not created by local Greeks and were copies of works in Hellas. They even forgot the nearby Oracle of KymE [Cumae in Latin] and the comic Atellan Plays in the same Campanian region, not to mention the books in Greek by Parmenides and the other Eleatic philosophers.
Not a Reply but an Addition to the things scholars have constantly forgotten: Pompeiians had books written in Greek. This is not hearsay, because, through delicate modern techniques, Italians have reconstructed a book (by Epicurus, 3rd century B.C.) by analyzing the charred pages due to the volcanic eruption of 79 A.D. Most of the works written by this hedonistic philosopher from Samos have been lost who advocated Ataraxia [tranquillity; ...] as the good of life.
 
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Not a Reply but an Addition to the things scholars have constantly forgotten: Pompeiians had books written in Greek. This is not hearsay, because, through delicate modern techniques, Italians have reconstructed a book (by Epicurus, 3rd century B.C.) by analyzing the charred pages due to the volcanic eruption of 79 A.D. Most of the works written by this hedonistic philosopher from Samos have been lost who advocated Ataraxia [tranquillity; ...] as the good of life.
So cool to see how we were all connected back then without technology, thanks for sharing
 
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This is an amazing discovery. I read somewhere that Pompeii in its early days was part of Magna Graecia (part of Ancient Greece) but then switched over to Roman control...
 
This is an amazing discovery. I read somewhere that Pompeii in its early days was part of Magna Graecia (part of Ancient Greece) but then switched over to Roman control...
In the 8th century B.C., various Greek trading posts [for pottery etc.] were etablished in southern Italy`. There followed Greek settlements [colonization] and founding of new cities... On a critical occasion, Pericles sent various Greeks to repopulate a city [Thourioi]; the sophist Protagoras and Herodotus were amongst them. Thourioi was attacked by Hannibal, but refugees founded what happens to be my native town. The hellenization was so vast that the Romans called southern Italy "Magna Graecia", which included Pompeii [near Naples/Neapolis and KymE]. For the sake of expansion in the Mediterranean, the Romans took administrative control of Magna Graecia, where they built roads to port-cities and their language became predominant. Pompeii and the island of Capri became Roman resort places, whereas the Sicilian Syracuse (the homeland of the great Archimedes) was conquered militarily. The Romans chased the vandalizing Hannibal off Italy and drove Pyrrhus of Epirus off Magna Graecia, but did not stop the invading Longobards, so that eventually my native town became an "oppidum Longobardorum" [town/fief of the Longobards] and lost its former freedom. Some toponyms and a bunch of words is what is left of its Greek culture. I have analysed the words of my native language: they are Greek and, at least in origin, Latin, and Italian (including some Italianized Longobardic words).
 
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In the 8th century B.C., various Greek trading posts [for pottery etc.] were etablished in southern Italy`. There followed Greek settlements [colonization] and founding of new cities... On a critical occasion, Pericles sent various Greeks to repopulate a city [Thourioi]; the sophist Protagoras and Herodotus were amongst them. Thourioi was attacked by Hannibal, but refugees founded what happens to be my native town. The hellenization was so vast that the Romans called southern Italy "Magna Graecia", which included Pompeii [near Naples/Neapolis and KymE]. For the sake of expansion in the Mediterranean, the Romans took administrative control of Magna Graecia, where they built roads to port-cities and their language became predominant. Pompeii and the island of Capri became Roman resort places, whereas the Sicilian Syracuse (the homeland of the great Archimedes) was conquered militarily. The Romans chased the vandalizing Hannibal off Italy and drove Pyrrhus of Epirus off Magna Graecia, but did not stop the invading Longobards, so that eventually my native town became an "oppidum Longobardorum" [town/fief of the Longobards] and lost its former freedom. Some toponyms and a bunch of words is what is left of its Greek culture. I have analysed the words of my native language: they are Greek and, at least in origin, Latin, and Italian (including some Italianized Longobardic words).
I love the Roman Empire, one of my favourites for sure. Thanks for sharing
 

Documentary about Ancient Greece

I love to watch documentaries about Ancient Greece. I find a lot of content on YouTube but some of it was just created by users and I am not sure the credibility of the sources.

I watched this one recently and wanted to share - it is from the History Channel:

History of the tradition of decorating boats for Christmas

One of the most interesting Greek Christmas traditions to me is the one where people decorate boats. So, I started to research the history. Here's a bit of what I discovered:

The roots of the tradition of decorating boats in Greece for Christmas can be traced back to the country's longstanding ties with the sea. In Ancient Greece, people would often looked to the sea for both sustenance and inspiration, and it was not uncommon for ships to be adorned with religious symbols and decorations.

It also has ties to early Christianity in Greece. According to Greek Orthodox beliefs, Saint Nicolas (aka Santa Claus) was a sailor, and he is the patron saint of sailors. Decorating boats is often seen as a way to honor him.

Over time, this practice became associated with the Christmas season, and the boats began to be decorated specifically for the holiday.

People also make paper boats to decorate. Some call these the "yule boat" or karavaki. One of the most famous examples of this practice is the Yule boat, or karavaki.

The earliest known evidence of decorating boats for Christmas in Greece dates back to the 19th century. During this time, sailors would deck out their boats with lights and tiny boats. These tiny boats were often placed inside the larger boat, symbolizing protection from harm while at sea.

Does anyone have anything to add?

Learning about Greek Independence Day

March 25th marks a significant celebration in Greece, but I realize my knowledge on its historical context is quite limited.

From what I understand, this day commemorates the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821, where Greece sought to end several centuries of Ottoman rule. However, I'm eager to learn more about the intricacies of this period, the key figures involved, and how the struggle for independence unfolded over time.

Additionally, I'd be interested in understanding how this day is celebrated across Greece today and whether any particular traditions are tied to it. For example, are there specific ceremonies, parades, or family traditions that uniquely mark this day in Greek culture?


Greek-flag.jpg

Studying the Trojan War - Was it Real?

Did the Trojan War really happen? I am doing a bit of research and wanted to know what you guys thought:

The war is believed to have happened around 1200 BCE, and while there is no concrete evidence to support its occurrence, it is widely accepted as factual.

What is confusing me is how prevalent it is in Greek Mythology. In addition to the gods' involvement in the conflict, various stories and legends were added over time to give the tale more depth and drama. For example, the character of Achilles was said to be invulnerable except for his heel, which led to the phrase "Achilles heel" being used to describe a person's one weakness.

While some scholars once dismissed the Trojan War as pure myth, modern archaeological evidence has suggested that it may have been a real event. Excavations at the ancient site of Troy have revealed evidence of a long period of conflict and destruction, and historians have found similarities between the tale as it is told in ancient texts and what is known about the region's history at the time. While many details of the Trojan War are still shrouded in mystery, it seems increasingly likely that it was not just a legend but a real event that has been passed down through the ages.

Athens and the creation of democracy

I've been thinking about Athens and how it's the birth of democracy. I wondered if other societies had experimented with the concepts or if Athens was unique? Does anyone know? I know that there's been some evidence that other societies experimented with community leadership, but none had a true democracy like what Athens developed.

It was unique in developing a system where a significant portion of its inhabitants could participate directly in decision-making processes. This early form of democracy was largely initiated under the leadership of Cleisthenes in 508/507 BC. His reforms reorganized the population into ten tribes based on their residence rather than lineage, promoting a broader and more inclusive political engagement.

In this Athenian democracy, citizens had the right to attend the Assembly (Ekklesia), where they could speak and vote on legislation and executive decisions. The Council of Five Hundred (Boule), selected by lot for each of the ten tribes, proposed legislation and handled daily affairs. This lottery system for public office sought to prevent power monopolies and encourage civic participation.

I know that this work truly influenced other democratic governments through the world!

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts- I find this stuff interesting.
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