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xmelissaa

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I love learning about Greek history. I think I have a handle on the main aspects of Greek history. For 2023, I would like to delve into some random topics, maybe dive in to some of the major events with more detail, that kind of thing. Here is a list of things I am fascinated about:

- Basic way of life of the Minoans - it seems that they were fairly advanced?
- Delve into some of the aristocratic families in Ancient Athens
- How did Sparta form into the warrior culture?
- The origins of the Greek War for Independence

So far, that is all I have. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
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How about add:
  • The role of women in Ancient Greece (by city-state - note that Spartans treated women differently)
  • Cuisine of Ancient Greece - and influences to modern cuisine
  • Delve into the Athenian navy
 
I love learning about Greek history. I think I have a handle on the main aspects of Greek history. For 2023, I would like to delve into some random topics, maybe dive in to some of the major events with more detail, that kind of thing. Here is a list of things I am fascinated about:

- Basic way of life of the Minoans - it seems that they were fairly advanced?
- Delve into some of the aristocratic families in Ancient Athens
- How did Sparta form into the warrior culture?
- The origins of the Greek War for Independence

So far, that is all I have. Does anyone have any ideas?
I, too, love learning about Greek history, especially the ancient one , and specifically the obviously frequent communications of the various populations [tribes] of the Greek ecoumene from Asia Minor [Ionia etc.] to South Italy [Magna Graecia and Sicily]. A recent good read with illustrations of architecture, painted vases, wall paintings, statuettes, etc.:
The Roman named Paestum was founded as PoseidOnia. One of its extant temples is that of Athena. Obviously her cult was not restricted to the city of Athens.... // It was founded by Sybaris [on the eastern side of the land]. //Long ago I learned that, acc. to Herodotus, there was a sanctuary or a temple to Athena by the nearby Krathis River. Thus I infer that its style must have been like that [Doric] which is evident in Paestum.
Cheers.
 
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How about add:
  • The role of women in Ancient Greece (by city-state - note that Spartans treated women differently)
  • Cuisine of Ancient Greece - and influences to modern cuisine
  • Delve into the Athenian navy
Good suggestions... On this occasion, I searched "the cult of Athena". A good read:
namely: "The Women of Athena's Cult"
 

Themistocles: Hero, Politician, or Master Strategist?

This weekend I met someone named Themistocles, which immediately caught my attention. We ended up having a conversation about the famous Athenian statesman and general, and it got me thinking more about his place in Greek history.

Themistocles is often credited with recognizing the importance of naval power and helping secure the Greek victory at the Battle of Salamis. Without his foresight and strategy, the Persian Wars may have had a very different outcome. At the same time, he was also a politician who made powerful enemies and was eventually ostracized from Athens.

It made me wonder how people today view him. Was he primarily a hero who helped save Greece, a brilliant politician navigating a difficult era, or one of history's greatest military strategists? I'd love to hear your thoughts on his legacy and whether you think he gets the recognition he deserves.

Most forgotten period of Greek history?

I was in Crete once eating at a restaurant and there was a pile of artifacts heaped - broken pottery shards, etc. The restaurant told us that they were going to throw them out. I said, but they are artifacts, why?! They said that no one cares about that time period the artifacts came from - something about an Arabic occupation.

I thought it was interesting and it stayed with me nearly two decades later. This is clearly a forgotten period of Greek history. Does this happen a lot in Greece? Got me thinking about Greek history and what else may be forgotten... Would love your thoughts.

ancient Greek circumflex: tilde vs. inverted breve

Apparently (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diacritics) tilde and inverted breve are equivalent circumflex diacritics, but I have never come across the tilde in online ancient Greek texts. I would like to be able to type the inverted breve. The excellent program https://typegreek.com/ apparently does not allow this. Is there another program or procedure form doing this? Thanks in advance.

Transition from myth to recorded history in Greece?

I’ve been thinking about the transition from myth to recorded history in Greece, and where that shift really begins.

So much of what we associate with early Greek history comes to us through myth, stories of gods, heroes, and epic events that clearly weren’t meant as factual records, yet still carry cultural and historical weight. At some point, though, we start seeing attempts to document events, places, and people in a more deliberate way.

I’m curious how others understand this transition. Do you see myth and history as clearly separate phases, or more as overlapping ways of explaining the world? Figures like Homer, Hesiod, and later historians seem to sit somewhere in between storytelling and record-keeping.

What do you think prompted the move toward written history? Was it political organization, trade, literacy, or something else entirely? And how much of myth do you think still shaped the way early historians understood and recorded their past?

Learning About Ancient Corinth

I’m hoping to visit the ruins of Ancient Corinth on a future trip to Greece, and I’d like to learn more about the history before I go. I always find that I appreciate archaeological sites more when I understand what I’m looking at and know some of the stories behind the ruins.

For those who have visited Ancient Corinth, what would you recommend learning about beforehand? Are there particular periods of the city’s history, important events, or historical figures that help put the site into context? I know Corinth had an important location and a long history, but I’d like to understand more about how the city developed and changed over time.

I’d also love recommendations for books, documentaries, podcasts, or other resources that give a good introduction to Ancient Corinth. What helped you understand the site and its history before or after your visit?
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