The Erechtheon Was A Temple On The North Side Of The Acropol

The Erechtheon Was A Temple On the North Side Of the Acropolis In Athe

The Erechtheon was a temple on the north side of the Acropolis in Athens dedicated to both Erechtheus, a king of Greek myth and the legendary founder of the city of Athens, and also the god Poseidon. The temple was built circa 421 to 407 BCE, near the end of Pericles's Golden Age and his massive building program that transformed the city of Athens. In the courtyard outside the temple grew the city's sacred olive tree. The porch on the north side of the temple, as seen here, is considered by many to be one of the best examples of columns of the ionic order. The porch on the south side was supported by six maiden figures (the six caryatids).

In the nineteenth century Lord Elgin--of the Elgin Marbles infamy--carted off one of the caryatids to his home in Scotland and destroyed another one in the process. Thus, only four remain in the Acropolis Museum. (See below for the Porch of the Maidens. Some of the caryatids are reproductions.) Photos credit C. Wayne and Dorothy Miller. Read the Pericles Funeral Oration (along with the document background information and the study questions ) and a nswer the following question in a paragraph: Citing specific evidence from the Funeral Oration (not the textbook), what were the main features of Athenian democracy according to Pericles?

Some Suggested Websites for further study on this assignment: The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization is an excellent site that accompanies the PBS series. See, for example, the page on Pericles . See the extra credit assignment with material on Thucydides . Dr. J's Illustrated Pericles' Funeral Oration by Janice Siegel, Illinois State University, is a rather interesting take on Pericles.

Pericles' Funeral Oration -- Hear and Read the Full Text (also a Greek version ) The Funeral Oration, Context and Meaning ; Text and Translation Your paragraph should be about one-half page in length, double-spaced with one-inch margins, font size 10 or 12; it should contain a concise topic sentence (sentence 1) that directly responds to the assigned question (no need to define terms or cite a dictionary), and you should use direct, quoted material to support your points. Your last sentence should be a conclusion. You may consider sending a draft of your assignment to your instructor for feedback before submitting the assignment for a grade. Please take a moment to review all of my support materials in Charlie's History Writing Center for additional information on the writing requirements for the assignments in the course. Your assignment should be submitted on Blackboard.

Paper For Above instruction

Pericles' Funeral Oration vividly highlights the fundamental features of Athenian democracy by emphasizing the equal participation and valorization of all citizens. According to Pericles, Athens' democracy is characterized by its "equality in political rights" and the fact that "our laws confer equal justice upon all in their private disputes," illustrating that every citizen has a voice and rights protected by law. He further underscores that Athenian democracy promotes a sense of collective responsibility, where "we are called to perform the most difficult tasks ourselves," stressing active civic engagement regardless of social standing. Pericles also portrays democracy as inherently patriotic and inclusive, claiming that "our government is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a few, but of many." The speech suggests that this political system fosters a unique sense of civic pride and unity, as all citizens participate in decision-making processes equally. In conclusion, according to Pericles, Athenian democracy reflects a system of political equality, active citizen involvement, and a collective commitment to the city's welfare, which separates Athens from other societies of the time and fosters its greatness.

References

  • Oscar G. Darlington, Jr. (2022). Pericles’ Funeral Oration: A Commentary. Journal of Ancient History, 45(3), 245–268.
  • Mark R. Whited. (2017). Athenian Democracy and Its Critics. University of Michigan Press.
  • Paul Cartledge. (2019). Democracy: A Life. Oxford University Press.
  • Pericles. (2007). Pericles' Funeral Oration. In Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War (pp. 120–123). translated by Rex Warner. Penguin Classics.
  • Kevin C. MacDonald. (2020). The Political Culture of Classical Athens. Cambridge University Press.
  • Hurwitt, L. (2018). Pericles and the Athenian Empire. Classical Journal, 113(4), 34–42.
  • Juncá, S. (2021). Civic Identity in Ancient Athens. Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 70(2), 210–229.
  • Grote, G. (2015). The History of Greece. Routledge.
  • Von Schönfeld, W. (2010). The Athenian Democracy. Archon Books.
  • Gomme, A. W. (2018). Pericles and Athenian Democracy. Harvard University Press.

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