Ancient Greece Through the Years

       The world of philosophy, mythology, and architecture that thrived and prospered throughout the years of ancient Greece has ceased to exist for centuries. Or has it? Although the individuals from the time period have long ago perished along with their creative minds and ideas, it is easy to see that the ancient world of Greece has continued to influence our culture today. 
     
       Have you ever seen a building with columns? Or even domes and detailed sculpting. Chances are you have. In ancient Greece these were methods of architecture used with every structure, and in America 2013, these methods are still abundantly used. Columns are most common, and often found on monuments or even everyday houses. Even the white house takes after the stylings of ancient greece.

 

                      The columned structure of the white house in Washington D.C.

        Like architecture, the ancient ways of greek philosophy are also remembered strongly by people today. In my english class, we learned about an extraordinary human being who studied philosophy in these times: Plato. Plato, is famous for his writing of allegory of the den, an interesting story about prisoners chained since birth to the walls of a den. The story has a moral and double meaning that helps english students everywhere to compare other pieces with, and his theories and writings are around today for anyone to read.

A statue of Greek philosopher Plato.

      These cultural influences that ancient greece had  were not only able to exist in modern times, but in several other eras as well including the renaissance which we covered in history.  The renaissance, we learned was a time for knowledge to spread.    So many advances were being made in science, art, music, literature, and architecture and people were learning to let go of the strictness of christianity.  A lot of these advancements were inspired by those they admired most: the people of ancient greece. The dome and column style buildings weren't uncommon in renaissance times, and their art reflected the greeks just as much. They would often depict philosophers and sometimes the greek gods. Raphael was one of the renaissance's most impressive artists, well known for the school of athens. The painting shows a room of scholars in ancient athens greece, with famous philosophers plato and Aristotle talking in the middle of the scene. The greek philosopher's works were greatly admired by renaissance people.

 

 

 

Raphael's painting "The School of Athens."

    Because of the everlasting admiration people have had for centuries for the Greeks, and the fact that their architicture and philosophy works still exist today, we know that the world of Ancient Greece hasn't truly faded yet.

Pictography:

1. "The White House."  Photograph. 1/18/13. Google Images.
https://www.google.com/search?q=white+house+photos+2013&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=MWXPUtmbN-iysQTR-IGgDA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA&biw=320&bih=444#biv=i%7C17%3Bd%7C0IbqmdaIG1_2yM%3A

1/9/13.

2. "Plato." Photograph. Google Images.https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=596&q=plato&oq=plato&gs_l=img.3..0l10.6551.7588.0.7960.5.5.0.0.0.0.201.510.4j0j1.5.0.chm_pq_ffrac%2Chmss2%3Dfalse...0...1.1.32.img..0.5.499.P1M8m9XUqvI#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=hWBMGw5gQKeGvM%253A%3BoHISfXm5aeujXM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ourcivilisation.com%252Fsmartboard%252Fshop%252Fwarnerr%252Fplato.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ourcivilisation.com%252Fsmartboard%252Fshop%252Fwarnerr%252Fplato.htm%3B412%3B462



3. "The School of Athens." Image. Google Images.https://www.google.com/search?q=the+school+of+athens&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=qmfPUtWMIc2-sQSzmICADA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA#biv=i%7C2%3Bd%7CcVBt4-w5ZwKWiM%3A&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=cVBt4-w5ZwKWiM%253A%3BW92teu5QbCR10M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fartchronicler.files.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F04%252Fschool-of-athens2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fartchronicler.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F04%252F06%252Fraphael-and-the-school-of-athens%252F%3B1238%3B830