Greek Countryside

1) What do Alcock and Osborne�s introduction 122 – 123 say about archaeologists attitude towards the countryside? Why? How does Alcock point to the importance of the countryside (124)?

Archeologist believe that without the countryside and agriculture, people would have not been sophisticated civilizations like we know now. The countryside and the practice of agriculture helped human to advance their generations otherwise they would still be in a hunter and gatherer nomad populations. 

It is hard to find concrete evidences of ancient sites, statues and temples. Although many sources says that the pillars of Hercules are to be found at the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar, it is almost impossible to accurately accurately identify where exactly both these pillars are. 

Many archaeological findings are coming from Pausanias' souces. But the problem with these is that he was somewhat investigating small clues that would lead him to something and the issue with that is if those cle were reliable or interpreted in the right way. 

Attica




P.134-135

What period starts of around 750 BCE? 

• The "Dark Age"

What changes occur at this time and how are they recorded archaeologically (evidence?)

• The collapse of the Mycenaean palaces.
• A decline in rural areas due to the lack of political activity.

 Finally, how is the tomb cult related to the development of this period?

The Heraion of Argos

            The Heraion of Argos is an ancient temple located in Argos, Greece. It was dedicated to the Goddess Hera and know for one of her favorite one. The temple was build during the Archaic age but was burned in 423 BCE. Later on in 416 BCE, it was rebuild and and still remain dedicated to the Goddess Hera. Around the 2nd century CE, the traveller Pausanias visited the temple. The term temenos is used for a piece of land that is dedicated to a god or Goddess.




Heraion of Delos (Another temple dedicated to Hera in Delos, Greece)

Archeology in the movies



1. Alexander The Great

               This movie  is historically inaccurate because it dramatizes events that are not that important and gives false information about them. In other words, the director of the movie purposely changed big parts of the actual fact to please the audience's expectations. Moreover, almost every place shown in the movie (such as houses, palaces (palace complex  at Persepolis), lifestyle) does not matches with the actual facts and evidences from that era which is again designed/inspired by modern art that the director of the movie allowed in order to fascinate the audience. For example, Pella mosaics decorating the palace walls of Alexandria or  the lighthouse which was made after the reign of the first Ptolemy. In other words, it never existed during his reign so should not have been featured in the movie.

2. 300

Although the Spartans are known for being the most courageous and strong soldiers, it would have been impossible for any soldier to go to battle without wearing any sort of chest protector. Not to mention that the Spartans had their own army "clothing/Uniforms" which they specifically designed for protection.

In the movie


Spartan Soldier Uniform

Spartan Soldier Statue



3. Tomb Raider

Alexander the GReat never built a temple dedicateds to Luna which is the Roman Goddess of moon because Alexander was Greek (Macedonian). As matter of fact the Greek equivalent for this temple would a temple dedicated to the Goddess Selene. But no such temple was made by Alexander the Great. Moreover, there are no evidence that shows a sign of an earthquakes in that area in 330 BC. Evidence shows that there was an earthquake in the city of Helike, Greece, around 373 BC.




Helike is between Delphi and Mycenae

2 Cases studies

Doing Archaeology

Two Case Studies (77 – 86)

a. Historical narratives means telling an event that occurred throughout history in a form of a story with narration. It could be also telling the story of someone's life. In this case, the author is concerned about Tacitus, a text about Roman and British conflicts.

b.

 

d.Tacitus was a senator of the Roman Empire. He wrote two books called "The Histories" where he talks about the campaign Ostorius, and " The Annals". which is about the death of Augustus and its effect on empire. The Annals is also famous due to the presence of Jesus Christ's in some passages.

Case Study 2:

a. Carthage
b. The red point indicates Carthage

 c. List of deities:

-Ba'al Hamon

 

 Chief God of Carthage

-Tanit : Punic and Phoenician Goddess

-Saturn: Ancient Roman God

-Astarte: Reincarnation of Goddess Ishtar, she is worshiped by Syrians

d. Apuleius and Quovultdeus

Apuleius was a Latin language writer

 Quodvuldeus was a Church Father in Carthage.