1 - 8 of 8 Posts

efhernandez_

Active member
Drop them in the thread below!! Mine is Oxi day of course!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: xmelissaa
Oxi Day is a great one! I would say the Greek War of Independence, I love learning about it
 
  • Like
Reactions: cf_fraiser
I agree 100% OXI Day has to be the best moment in Greek history!

186102612.jpeg
 
Of course OXI day❤️🙏🙏🙏
 
Drop them in the thread below!! Mine is Oxi day of course!!
There are so many important moments! As I take "history" as "Universal (not simply Political) History", my favorite moment is the moment when the Ionian Anaximander started thinking Peri Physeis (About Physis), these words being the title of a book he wrote and were later translated into Latin as De Natura, Natura (Nature) being the realm of whatever is born, emerges, or develops. This was the moment when philosophy was born, namely the search for true knowledge, whose history will include science (or Galileo's "Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences" -- bodies of true knowledge -- today known as Physics and Science of Materials). The Anaximandrian Physics, which was not experimental, is rather a cosmo-genesis that was prompted by his teacher Thales. Thales held that things are born from water [the fertile Sea] but held that the world is full of [causative] gods, whereas Anaximander's world is autonomous -- a concept that will held by all the Greek philosophical physicists. // Anax. did not invent Physis, which was already in his language! SO, my view: philosophy cannot arise in any culture, since it is pursued through language, rather than in a vacuum or by contact with that which is being investigated. The entities of a language make a whole difference. [This is Value # 1 of the Greek Language; I'm omitting the other values, besides the normal/obvious Communication.] [Sorry, Aristotle: Anax., not Thales. is the first philosopher. You, too, are a physicist.]
 
Last edited:
There are so many important moments! As I take "history" as "Universal (not simply Political) History", my favorite moment is the moment when the Ionian Anaximander started thinking Peri Physeis (About Physis), these words being the title of a book he wrote and were later translated into Latin as De Natura, Natura (Nature) being the realm of whatever is born, emerges, or develops. This was the moment when philosophy was born, namely the search for true knowledge, whose history will include science (or Galileo's "Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences" -- bodies of true knowledge -- today known as Physics and Science of Materials). The Anaximandrian Physics, which was not experimental, is rather a cosmo-genesis that was prompted by his teacher Thales. Thales held that things are born from water [the fertile Sea] but held that the world is full of [causative] gods, whereas Anaximander's world is autonomous -- a concept that will held by all the Greek philosophical physicists. // Anax. did not invent Physis, which was already in his language! SO, my view: philosophy cannot arise in any culture, since it is pursued through language, rather than in a vacuum or by contact with that which is being investigated. The entities of a language make a whole difference. [This is Value # 1 of the Greek Language; I'm omitting the other values, besides the normal/obvious Communication.] [Sorry, Aristotle: Anax., not Thales. is the first philosopher. You, too, are a physicist.]
A philosophy fan I see, which Greek philosophers do you recommend reading?
 
A philosophy fan I see, which Greek philosophers do you recommend reading?
More than a fan, I spent years studying it (and more time on my own). What I liked most was a graduate course on the ancient Greek philosophy. I recommend "The Presocratics", a collection of the fragments of the philosophical writings before Socrates, which are mostly quotations by other authors, It includes Anaximander, the Pythagoreans, Heraclitus, Parmenides, etc.) Then: any or all of Plato's "Dialogues", some of which are called Socratic since they are conversations in the style of the historic Socrates (who never wrote anything) and inquiries about subjects [virtues, love (in the "Symposium"), the soul, etc.] dear to him, while others represent Plato's own inquiries: the "Republic" [Politeia] and, in addition to others, my favorite, the "Theaetetus" (on perception and true knowledge). I love also many works written by the Stoics and their Roman followers, especially Cicero. Aristotle and the Stoics for the creation of Logic! [Logic is he art or science of correct/rational reasoning and argumentation. Related: the study of fallacies -- blunders of the mind, many of which, says Aristotle, are due to the misuse of... guess: language.]
 
Last edited:

What did the Ancient Greeks eat?

I am fascinated by the Ancient Greeks. I have a feeling that some of our modern Greek recipes are similar to the ancient ones. Like spoon sweets. It think that seems like something that was developed a long time ago as a way to preserve the fruit harvest.

So, I have been researching this. What did the Ancient Greeks eat? I wanted to share this video because I thought it was interesting.

My Top Favorite Greek Philosophers

There are too many philosophers to count, but these are the ones I am studying at the moment. It's fascinating to me how influential the Greek philosophers are. Here's some things I am learning:

#1 Socrates

If philosophy had a poster boy, Socrates might very well be it. The father of Western philosophy, Socrates was a gadfly to Athenian society, questioning everything and Master to Plato. Known for the Socratic Method and his unflinching commitment to truth, Socrates' influence is immeasurable despite never having written a word.

#2 Plato

Rightly succeeding his mentor on this list, Plato's Academy saw him birth the first "university" of its kind. His unabashed idealism, immortal Forms, allegories like the Cave, and the pursuit of 'The Good' in moral philosophy set the stage for much intellectual discourse.

#3 Aristotle

Aristotle, another of Plato's students, had a more grounded approach to philosophy than his predecessor. With establishing principles of logic and reason, and contributions to virtually every field of academia, from poetry to physics, Aristotle's body of work remains foundational.

#4 Heraclitus

Heraclitus, famed for the idea that "change is the only constant," viewed the cosmos through a lens of process, flux, and an everlasting Logos that governs the world. Although little of his work survives, his influence on ancient and modern thinkers is profound.

#5 Epicurus

Known for his eponymous philosophy, Epicurus taught that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility, freedom from fear (ataraxia), and absence of bodily pain (aponia). Often misunderstood, Epicureanism is starkly different from the modern use of 'epicurean' - it's much less about a luxury lifestyle and more about ethical considerations regarding personal fulfillment.

Question about Greece during WWI

I am trying to learn more about Greek history. This is a family project! What I am learning about now is Greece's involvement in WWI. From what I've gathered, Greece had a rather complex and interesting stance during World War I, but I'm looking for more in-depth information.

Could anyone here provide insights or point me towards resources that detail:

  1. Greece's political climate leading up to its involvement in WWI.
  2. The significance of the National Schism and how it affected Greece's participation.
  3. Key battles or military campaigns that Greek forces were involved in.
Thanks so much!

Interesting Greek History Topics I Like

The Persian Wars: The wars fought between Greece and the Persian empire in the 5th century BC were some of the most consequential conflicts of ancient times. Learn about the key events, such as the Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Thermopylae, and the strategies that allowed the Greeks to repel the Persian invaders.

The Rise of Athens: Arguably the most influential city-state in ancient Greece, Athens was the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the arts. Follow the rise of Athens from a humble village to a powerhouse of trade and culture.

The Peloponnesian War: The decades-long conflict between Athens and Sparta was a turning point in Greek history, leading to the decline of Athens and the rise of Macedon under Philip II and his son Alexander.

The Life of Alexander the Great: The young conqueror who led his armies across the known world, Alexander the Great is one of the most famous and admired figures of ancient history. Learn about his upbringing, his conquests, and his legacy.

The Olympic Games: A tradition that continues to this day, the ancient Olympics were a celebration of sports, culture, and political power. Explore the origins of the games and the events that took place.

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.
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top