G R E E K

L I T E R A T U R E
World Lure
i t e r a t
Table of contents
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 Introduction
The Greeks were a passionate people, and this zeal can be
seen in their literature. They had a rich history of both war
and peace, leaving an indelible imprint on the culture and
people. Greek literature has influenced not only its Roman
neighbors to the west but also countless generations across
the European continent. Greek writers are responsible for the
introduction of such genres as poetry, tragedy, comedy, and
western philosophy to the world
Greek literature has a
rich historical
background that spans
several centuries. Here's
a brief overview:
Historical
events
 Ancient
Greece
Ancient Greece (c. 8th century BC -
4th century AD): This is where
Greek literature originated. It can
be divided into several periods:
Archaic
Period
Archaic Period (c. 8th century BC
- 5th century BC): Homer's epic
poems, the "Iliad" and the
"Odyssey," are among the
earliest and most famous works.
This period also saw the
emergence of lyric poetry by
poets like Sappho and Pindar.
 Classical
Period
Classical Period (5th century BC - 4th
century BC): This is considered the
golden age of Greek literature.
Playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles,
and Euripides wrote famous tragedies.
Herodotus and Thucydides pioneered
the writing of history, and philosophers
like Plato and Aristotle laid the
foundations of Western thought.
Hellenistic
Period
Hellenistic Period (4th century BC - 1st
century BC): After the conquests of
Alexander the Great, Greek culture
spread throughout the known world.
This period produced poets like
Theocritus and Callimachus, as well
as the famous mathematician and
inventor Archimedes.
 Roman
Influence
Roman Influence (1st century BC -
4th century AD): Greek literature
heavily influenced Roman writers
like Virgil and Cicero. Greek
works were often translated into
Latin during this period.
Byzantine
Empire
Byzantine Empire (4th century AD -
15th century AD): Greek literature
continued to evolve in the Eastern
Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire.
Notable writers like Procopius and
Anna Comnena emerged during this
time.
 Ottoman
Period
Ottoman Period (15th century AD -
19th century AD): Greek literature
persisted under Ottoman rule,
with writers like Adamantios
Korais contributing to the Greek
Enlightenment.
Modern
Greece
Modern Greece (19th century AD
- present): The Greek War of
Independence in the early 19th
century marked a revival of
Greek national consciousness
and literature. Prominent modern
Greek writers include Odysseas
Elytis and Giorgos Seferis, both
Nobel laureates in literature.
II. Characteristics of Period

• It originates in Greece
300 years before Christ.

• It is made up of four
stages:
 OCTOBER 2030

Museum
 Timeline

Archaic Classical Hellenistic Greco-Roman

 Arc h a i c
u a g e u s e d i n
h a i s m i s l a ng
Archaic - A r c l d
d t o d a y t o b e o
a t i s c o n s i d e r e
writin g th ' d e r i v e s
a t e d . 'A r c h a i c
d o r o u t d
fashione e a n i ng 'a n c i e n t '.
e e k a r k h a i o s m
from th e G r
 Classical
Classical - Classical
literature, the literature
of ancient Greece and
Rome
 H e l l e n i s t i c
u r i e s o f G r e e k
h e t h r e e c e nt
Hellenistic - T t h e
e d e a t h o f
b e t w e e n t h
history d e r t h e G r e a t i n
n k i n g A l e xa n
Macedon i a i n R o m e
s e o f A u g u s t u s
. a n d t h e r i
323 B.C.E
in 31 B.C.E.
Greco-Roman
Greco-Roman - Literature in
Greek in the Roman period
contributed significant works
to the subjects of poetry,
comedy, history, and tragedy.
 The poetic genre can be
divided into two:

Epic poetry Lyric poetry

used to narrate epics used for singing and

and tales of wars or dancing. This could be
heroic adventures. popular or cultured.
The dramatic genres developed in Greek
literature were: tragedy, comedy and satire.
The use of prose was present in texts that
came from politics or oratory.
The first works of Greek literature were
transmitted orally.

Mythology and religious content were

always present in the Greek theme, as was
the theme of destiny.
III. The 12 Great
Olympians
The Twelve Olympians are a group of deities
from ancient Greek mythology who were
considered the principal gods residing on Mount
Olympus and were central to the religious beliefs
and rituals of ancient Greece. Here are the twelve
great Olympian gods and goddesses:
Zeus
Zeus: The king of the gods
and the ruler of Mount
Olympus, Zeus was the
god of the sky, thunder,
lightning, and justice.
Hera
Hera: As Zeus's sister
and wife, Hera was the
queen of the gods and
goddess of marriage,
family, and childbirth.
Poseidon
Poseidon: The god of the sea,
storms, earthquakes, and
horses, Poseidon was Zeus's
brother and one of the most
powerful Olympians.
Demeter
Demeter: Demeter was the
goddess of agriculture,
fertility, and the harvest. She
played a crucial role in the
cycle of seasons.
Athena
Athena: The goddess of
wisdom, courage, and strategic
warfare, Athena was known
for her intelligence and tactical
prowess.
Apollo
Apollo: Apollo was the god of
music, poetry, prophecy,
healing, and archery. He was
associated with the sun.
Artemis
Artemis: Apollo's twin sister,
Artemis, was the goddess of
hunting, wilderness, and
childbirth. She was also
associated with the moon.
Ares
Ares: The god of war, Ares
embodied the violent and
destructive aspects of battle.
He was the son of Zeus and
Hera.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite: The goddess of
love, beauty, and desire,
Aphrodite was born from the
sea foam and was considered
the most beautiful of all the
goddesses.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus: The god of
blacksmiths, craftsmen, and
fire, Hephaestus was the
son of Zeus and Hera and
was known for his skill in
forging.
Hermes
Hermes: Hermes was the
messenger of the gods and
the god of travel, trade,
thieves, and cunning. He was
a swift and clever deity.
Dionysus
Dionysus: The god of wine,
pleasure, and festivities,
Dionysus was known for his
joyful and exuberant nature.
He brought revelry and
ecstasy to mortals.
IV. Iliad and
the odyssey
Summary
The Iliad, which takes place
during the Trojan War, describes
Achilles’ rage. The Odyssey
portrays Odysseus’ journey home
after the war.
Author
The Iliad and the Odyssey, two
incredibly influential epic poetry of
ancient Greece, are thought to have
been written by Homer. If Homer was
the author of the works, he is one of the
greatest writers in history and his
influence on Western values and ideas
may be seen in these poems.
Characteristics
The Iliad places a high importance on honor
and excellence, two fundamental qualities.
We can see these characters still hold their
value in modern day society. Odysseus
possesses the qualities that make a Homeric
leader stand out: power, bravery, nobility, a
desire for glory, and confidence in his position
of command. His keen intellect, though, is
what sets him apart most.
V. Hercules
www.reallygreatsite.com
Hercules
Heracles – or Hercules in Roman
times – is one of Greek mythology’s
most celebrated characters. Son of
Zeus and a demi-god with
superhuman strength, Heracles
became the ultimate symbol of
masculine power and bravery.
 The 12 Labors of Hercules

The Nemean Lion The Lernaean Hydra The Golden Hind

 The 12 Labors of Hercules

The Erymanthean The Augean Stables The Stymphlaian

Boar Birds
 The 12 Labors of Hercules

Cerberus The Cretan Bull The Horses of

Diomedes
 The 12 Labors of Hercules

Hippolyte’s Belt The Cattle of Geryon The Apples of

Hesperides
How Did Hercules Die?
After completing his 12 Labors, Hercules
had a number of other adventures rescuing
the princess of Troy and battling for control
of Mount Olympus but none were as
taxing, or as significant, as the labors had
been.
Later in his life, Hercules married his second wife,
Deianira. When a centaur (a halfman, half-horse)
attempts to steal her away, Hercules shot him with
an arrow that he had soaked in the poison of the
Hydra. As he lay dying, the centaur, realizing that
his own blood is now also poisonous, gave his
blood-stained tunic to Deianira, lying to her that it
will forever bind Hercules to her.
Years later, when Deianira hears a rumor that Hercules
is having an affair, she gave him the blood-stained tunic
to wear, hoping it will bring him back to her. However,
the poisoned blood on the tunic burns Hercules’ flesh,
causing intense pain. Realizing that he has been
poisoned, Hercules builds his own funeral pyre and
burns himself to death on it.

After he died, Athena carried him to Olympus on her

chariot. According to legend, he will spend the rest of
eternity with the gods.
VI. Greek Dramatists
and Poets
The Different
Types of Greek
Drama and their
importance
The Ancient Greeks took their
entertainment very seriously
and used drama as a way of
investigating the world they
lived in, and what it meant to
be human.
The three genres of drama
were comedy, satyr plays, and
most important of all, tragedy.
 Comedy
Comedy: The first comedies were
mainly satirical and mocked men in
power for their vanity and foolishness.
The first master of comedy was
theplaywright Aristophanes. Much later
Menander wrote comedies about
ordinary people and made his plays
more like sit-coms.
 Tragedy
Tragedy: Tragedy dealt with the big
themes of love, loss, pride, the abuse of
power and the fraught relationships
between men and gods. Typically the
main protagonist of a tragedy commits
some terrible crime without realizing how
foolish and arrogant he has been. Then,
as he slowly realizes his error, the world
crumbles around him. The three great
playwrights of tragedy were Aeschylus,
Sophocles, and Euripides.
 POEMS BY
GREEK
DRAMATISTS:
 Photo Photo Photo Photo
The Battle of Cassandra's Wild The Chariot Race Chorus of Birds -
Salamis - by Marriage-song - - by Sophocles by Aristophanes
Aeschylus by Euripides

POEMS BY GREEK DRAMATISTS:

RELATED WEBSITES
Presentations are communication tools
that can be used as demonstrations,
lectures, speeches, reports, and more.
Most of the time, they’re presented
before an audience. Presentations are
communication tools that can be used
as speeches, reports, and more.
 Aeschylus
Aeschylus - A biography of
the "Father of Greek drama."
 Aristophanes
Aristophanes - A biography of
the Greek comedy writer.
 Crates
Crates - A very brief
biographical note on the
Athenian actor and writer
of Greek comedies.
Followers of the Great
Poets - A brief overview
of those poets who
attempted to follow in
the tradition of the great
dramatists of Athens.
VII. NOTABLE
WRITERS AND
THEIR WORKS
(HOMER)
 HOMER’S BIOGRAPHY
Homer is the presumed author of the Iliad and the
Odyssey, two of the most influential works of literature
in history. However, very little is known about his life,
and much of what is known is based on speculation
and legend. Here are some key points about Homer's
life and work:
BIRTH AND DEATH
Historians place Homer's birth
sometime between the 12th
and 8th centuries BC, possibly
somewhere on the coast of
Asia Minor. The date and
place of his death are
unknown.
AU T H O R SH I P
Homer is credited with composing the Iliad and
the Odyssey, although it is unclear whether he
actually wrote them down or whether they were
passed down orally. Some scholars believe that
the name "Homer" was actually a commonly used
term for blind men who wandered the
countryside reciting epic poetry
 STYLE AND THEMES
Homer's style falls more in the category of
minstrel poet or balladeer, as opposed to a
cultivated poet who is the product of a fervent
literary moment. His works are designated as
epic rather than lyric poetry, which was originally
recited with a lyre in hand.
 LEGACY 50

For thousands of years, the 40

Iliad and the Odyssey have

been the standards by which 30

poets of all languages have

measured themselves. Homer is 20
considered one of the greatest
literary artists of all time 10

0
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5
VIII. NOTABLE WRITERS AND
THEIR WORKS (AESCHYLUS)
 VIII. Notable
Writers and their
works (Aeschylus)
[Aeschylus’s Life & Contributions]
• Aeschylus, (born 525/524—died 456/455 BC), was one of the great

writers of Greek Tragedy in 5th century BCE Classical Athens.

• Known as 'the father of tragedy'

• He wrote up to 90 plays, winning with half of them at the great

Athenian festivals of Greek drama.

 [Aeschylus’s Life & Contributions]
• He fought with the Athenian army at Marathon (490) and in 484 achieved the first of his

many victories at the major dramatic competition in Athens.

• Other snippets of biography, which have survived from antiquity, reveal that Aeschylus

was once prosecuted for revealing details of the secret Eleusinian mysteries cult but

managed to prove his innocence.

• Sometime after 458 BCE Aeschylus travelled to Sicily, visiting Syracuseat the invitation of

Hieron I, and around 456 BCE he died on the island in the town of Gela.
[Aeschylus’s Life & Contributions]
•Aeschylus was, according to Aristotle, responsible for adding a second actor

for minor parts and, by including more dialogue into his plays, he squeezed

more drama from the age-old stories so familiar to his audience.

• Aeschylus is also credited as the first to use the ekkyklema, a wheeled

platform used to change stage scenery, and the mechane, a crane device used

to lift actors.

• He was also noted for his extravagant costume designs and use of striking

imagery.
[Aeschylus’s Family Background]
• Aeschylus' father was Euphorion, and ancient sources claim the
family belonged to the aristocracy.
• His brother Kynegeiros was killed in the battle at the Marathon.
• His other sibling Ameinias fought at the battle of Salamis.
• His son Euphorion and nephew Philocles both became noted
dramatists in their own right.
 “
Aeschylus’s
Notable Works
“
The stories of Aeschylus' plays illustrate that
there is no escape from the bad deeds of
one's ancestors and divine retribution. Other
themes which appealed to Aeschylus were
the conflict between the individual and the
state, between humans and the gods, and
against the old enemy Time.
The Persians
The Persians (472 BCE) - set after the
Greek victory (less than a decade
earlier) over the Persians at Salamis
and Xerxes' return to Persia
Seven Against Thebes
Seven Against Thebes (467 BCE) -
about the cursed Labdacids and the
siege of Thebes. It is the third part of a
trilogy which included Laius (part I)
and Oedipus (part II).
Suppliants
Suppliants (unknown date but after
Seven Against Thebes, possibly c. 463
BCE) - about the Danaids myth. First
in a trilogy, now lost, known as The
Danaid Trilogy, part II being The
Egyptians and part III The Danaids.
Oresteia
Oresteia (458 BCE) - a trilogy about
the aftermath of the Trojan War
comprising Agamemnon, The
Libation Bearers (Choephori), and
The Furies (Eumenides). Proteus, the
accompanying satyr play, does not
survive.
Oresteia
Prometheus Bound (c. 457 BCE) -
this play is disputed by some
scholars as the work of Aeschylus
and it may have been staged by
Euphorion in his father's name.
IX.

N ota bl e Writers
p h o c l e s )
& the ir w o r k s ( S o
Sophocles
Sophocles was an ancient Greek dramatist
who lived from about 496 to about 406
BCE.
He wrote over 100 plays and was one of the
three famous Greek tragedians along with
Aeschylus and Euripides Sophocles.
He was the younger contemporary of
Aeschylus and the older contemporary of
Euripides, Sophocles won his first victory
at the Dionysian dramatic festival in 468,
however defeating the great Aeschylus in
the process.
This began a career of unparalleled success and longevity. In
total Sophocles wrote 123 dramas for the festivals.
Since each author who was chosen to enter the competition
usually presented four plays, this means he must have
competed about 30 times.
Sophocles won perhaps as many as 24 victories, compared to
13 for Aeschylus and four for Euripides, and indeed he may
have never received lower than second place in the
competitions he entered.
Only seven of Sophocles’ tragedies survive in their
entirety, along with 400 lines of a satyr play, numerous
fragments of plays now lost, and 90 titles.
All seven of the complete plays are works of Sophocles’
maturity, but only two of them, Philoctetes and Oedipus
at Colonus, have fairly certain dates.
Ajax is generally regarded as the earliest of the extant
plays.
Some evidence suggests that Antigone was first
performed in 442 or 441 BCE.
Philoctetes was first performed in 409, when Sophocles
was 90 years old, and Oedipus at Colonus was said to
have been produced after Sophocles’ death by his
grandson.
Writers
X. Notable

& their works

Aristophanes
Life & Contributions
Aristophanes (born 450 BCE died 388 BCE)
The greatest representative of ancient Greek
comedy and the one whose works have been
preserved in greatest quantity.
Known for “old comedy” (extant
representative)

Theme
Comedy
Notable Work
Clouds (423 BCE) Greek “Nephelai”
The play depicts attack on modern education and morals
of intellectual philosophers. (Morality and Violence)
Leading Characters Socrates and Strepsiades
(“Twisterson”),
According to Britannica (2023) Clouds centers on the
character of Strepsiades and his ill-conceived attempt to
learn sophistry, or fallacious arguments, from Socrates so
that he can avoid paying his debts.
XI. NOTABLE
WRITERS
& their works
 Euriprides
Life & Conributions
Euripides (born 484 BC, Athens [Greece]
died 406 BC in [Macedonia]),
One of the three great tragic dramatists
following Aeschylus and Sophocles.
Associated with Protagoras
Battle of Thermopylae known as “300”
(Famous Film Adaptation)
Theme
Tragedy
(Dramatic Poetry)
 Notable Work
‘Medeia’
According to Britannica it is one of Euripides' most powerful and
best known plays, is a remarkable study of the mistreatment of a
woman and of her ruthless revenge.
Medea, who becomes to some extent a representative of
women’s oppression in general.
Misogyny
XII. Noticeable
Writers & Their
Works
(SAPPHO)
Sappho
Sappho of Lesbos was a popular lyric
poet in ancient Greece, known for her
prolific work and lyric poetry. She was
regarded as one of the greatest lyric
poets and was given names like "Tenth
Muse" and "The Poetess." One example
of her work is "Hymn to Venus," which
tells about Sappho's heartache and
request for help from Venus, the Greek
goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure.
XIII. GODS &
GODESSSES
 PRIMORIDAL GREEK GODS

The Primordial Greek Gods, also known as the Protogenoi or Primordials,

were the first divine beings in Greek mythology.
They emerged at the dawn of creation, and they were the fundamental
forces and entities that shaped the universe.
CHAOS
The god of the void.
He was the
beginning of all life.
According to most
versions of Greek
myths, Chaos pre-
existed all.
EROS
The god of love and
procreation.
TARTARUS
The god of the
darkest and deepest
part of the Underworld
- the original god of the
Underworld.
GAIA
The goddess of the
earth (Mother Earth).
She is the mother of
all - the primeval
mother.
EREBUS
The god of darkness and
shadow.
He symbolizes the
silence and the depth of
the night together with
his sister, the goddess
Nyx.
NYX
The goddess of night.
She was a sovereign,
primordial and cosmogenic
entity, respected and feared
by most gods.
She is the sister of Erebus,
the god of darkness and
shadow.
URANUS
The god of the
heavens.
He soon became ruler
of the world and father
of the Titans.
THE TITANS
Titans were the pre-Olympian gods.
Their parents were Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus
(God of heavens).
They had two other species as siblings, born also
from the union between Gaia and Uranus: The
Hecatoncheires (meaning "hundred-handed ones")
and the Cyclops (meaning “circle-eyed”).
CRONUS
Symbolized the passage of time
and was often associated with the
harvest.
Leader of the Titans
Youngest son of Gaia and Uranus.
He is best known for overthrowing
his father Uranus and later being
overthrown by his own son Zeus.
RHEA
Associated with fertility and
motherhood.
Cronus's sister and wife.
She was the mother of the
Olympian gods, including Zeus,
Hera, and Poseidon.
OCEANUS
Represented the river or the
ocean that encircled the world.
He was married to Tethys and
was considered the source of
all rivers and bodies of water.
HYPERION
Associated with the sun and
light.
He was the father of Helios (the
sun), Selene (the moon), and
Eos (the dawn).
THEMIS
Personified divine order, law,
and justice.
She was often depicted as a
wise and impartial counselor.
HOW DID THE TITANS
BECOME RULERS OF
THE WORLD?
The Titans did not become rulers of the world in Greek
mythology; rather, they were overthrown by the
Olympian gods who subsequently became the rulers.
HERE’S A BRIEF SUMMARY OF HOW
THIS TRANSITION OF POWER OCCURED:
1. Origin of the Titans: The Titans were the children of Gaia (Earth) and
Uranus
(Sky), and they were the first generation of divine beings in Greek
mythology.
2. Uranus and Cronus: Uranus was a cruel and oppressive ruler, which
led his son Cronus to rebel against him. Cronus castrated Uranus with
the help of his mother, Gaia, and took power as the ruler of the Titans.
3. Golden Age: Cronus established his rule during a period known as
the Golden Age. However, he feared a prophecy that his own children
would overthrow him, so he devoured his offspring, including Zeus,
Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia.
4. The Rise of Zeus: Zeus, one of Cronus's sons who managed to
escape being devoured as an infant, grew up in secret and eventually
led a revolt against Cronus. With the help of his siblings and the
Cyclopes, Zeus overthrew Cronus and the Titans in a ten-year conflict
known as the Titanomachy.
5. Imprisonment of the Titans: After their defeat, many of the Titans
were imprisoned in the depths of Tartarus, a dark abyss beneath the
Earth. Some Titans, like Prometheus and Atlas, were treated differently
due to their individual roles and punishments.
6. Olympian Rule: With the Titans defeated, Zeus and the Olympian
gods became the new rulers of the cosmos. They divided the realms
among themselves, with Zeus becoming the supreme god and ruler of
the sky, while the other gods took charge of various aspects of the
world.
In summary, the Titans ruled the world after
Cronus overthrew his father Uranus but
were subsequently overthrown themselves
by Zeus and the Olympian gods in the

Titanomachy, marking a significant shift in

power and the establishment of the
Olympian reign in Greek mythology
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