The history of Greek culture is vast, having traces of different cultures that once existed on different islands in the Mediterranean Sea over the course of history. However, the most influential culture of all is the Greek civilization, which traces its origins to the fourth century B.C. This culture, known as Phocaean Greece, was mostly centered on art, religion, architectural development and the producing of pottery. As a result, there are many artifacts, including the ubiquitous Hypokalyne handkerchief, that are evidence of Phocaean pottery. The influence of this pottery is still very much evident today. The influence of the Greeks on architecture is particularly clear in the Parthenon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Greek language, although it was written down around forty years after the death of the great philosophers Hippocrates and Aristotle, and around three hundred years after the start of the Common Era, is still one of the most well spoken languages on the planet. This is in part due to the great contribution made by Greek authors such as Aristotle and Plato. The influence of these two Greek great minds is still seen in the works that they wrote, in particular the dialogues, which are the foundation of modern philosophy. Other notable philosophers who lived during the classical period and whose writings are still widely read include Seneca (the Younger) and Marcus Aurelius (the stoic Roman author).
Speaking of Greek philosophers, one of the most influential ones who wrote extensively on the philosophy of his day is Plato. He is considered by many scholars to be the father of modern philosophy, because his works, which focus on how knowledge and argument can be shaped and used to achieve a particular goal, are considered to be a precursor to the modern scientific method of thought. In fact, his treatises are among the first works of science and have had a profound effect on how future generations approached problems in science and space travel. Another of the great Greek philosophers who had an enormous impact on philosophy is Aristotle. His involvement with the Academy, and his writings on natural philosophy, have had a significant effect on European and American Philosophy.
One of the most influential figures in ancient Greece was none other than the birthright hero, Hector. Born to a wealthy family in Italy in the first century BC, Hector became one of the most beloved characters in the classical story of the Greeks, famed for his victories over the Trojan prince, Paris. He was known not only for his achievements in war, but also for his kindness and hospitality towards all of his fellow soldiers. After his untimely death, however, he was eventually buried with full military honors, a tradition that still holds true for countless military funerals.
One of the most important fields in ancient Greece was drama. The earliest examples of drama are the epics of Homer, set during the golden age of the Greeks. These sagas are recognized for their unique structure, and many scholars believe that they were written around the same time as the Iliad and the Odyssey. The drama of the classical period often included elements of mythological and religious incidents. A number of these stories have survived to the present day, long after most of the ancient Greece and Rome had been forgotten.
The plays of Seneca the Younger are widely regarded as some of the most thoughtful and beautiful philosophical works ever produced by ancient Greeks. Although much less known than those of Plato and Aristotle, his work is still important today. It is also worthy of mention that nearly all of the tragedies of the third century BC have been discovered. The discovery of the tragedies by the Roman poet Ovid seems to be the first moment when philosophy and tragedy began to be understood as separate fields. Later that same century came about the development of tragedies by the Latin poet Virgil.
One thing that the ancient Greeks had in common in their theater is that they used masks. Masks as a form of drama had been used extensively before the appearance of the modern drama in Athens, and the use of masks was more widespread among the ancient greeks than anyone else. From the playwrights Ovid, Sophocles and Euripides to the poet Seneca, every one of the great dramatic writers used the masks as an element of their story.
Of course the theater masks were not the only things used in the Greek theater. The costumes of the actors, musicians and other people in the plays and other activities of the ancient Greeks were equally elaborate. The most elaborate costumes were worn by the soothsayer or the medium who predicted the future. The mediums who could do this work either had to be extremely skillful, or had to have incredible powers of perception. Most often the Greek mythology had something to do with these powers and the ancient Greeks found it very easy to connect the myths they were reading to the future actions of their characters.
