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ATHENS AND ATHENIANS Festivals The Persian War The Peloponnesian War THE RURAL DIONYSIA • December - various parts of Attica • Depended on wealth of district • Fertility rites • Procession around god’s altar • Offerings and revelry • Repeats of works performed at City Dionysia The Lenaia • January • Women with torches, flutes and sacred wands danced • Drama introduced 440BC • Concentrated on comedy • Some tragedy • Audiences smaller than City Dionysia • Seas still too rough for many foreigners Anthesteria • End of February • Involved: • Opening wine jars • Drinking contests • Ceremonies that symbolise union of Dionysus with community The City Dionysia • End of March • Spectators from whole Greek world • Athens’ subject-allies brought tribute • The orphans of those killed in war paraded • Honours conferred on outstanding citizens • Foreign ambassadors • Holiday • Law courts closed and prisoners given bail to attend The City Dionysia • Day 1 • Procession to temple of Dionysus near theatre • The choregoi paraded in splendid robes • Day 2, 3 and 4 • A tragic poet presents 3 tragedies and a satyr play • A comic poet presents comedy • Day 5 • 50-man choirs (each of ten tribes) compete in choral singing The City Dionysia • Day 6 – 50-boy choirs (x10) compete – Immediately after festival – special assembly – Conduct of festival officials was examined – Bad behaviour by spectators was investigated • Equal to sacrilege The Persian Wars • The Battle of Marathon – 490BC • Persians on a field outside Athens • Persians chased back to ships • Persians sailed around the coast to sack Athens while undefended • The Athenian army beat the Persians there • marched 26 miles in full armour • Regarded as Athens finest hour The Persian Wars • The Battle of Thermopylae – 480BC • Courage of the Spartans • King Leonidas and Spartans • The Battle of Salamis – 480BC • Athens used the 3 days Spartans gave them to evacuate Island of Salamis The Peloponnesian War • Pericles – 460 – 429BC was popular • Elected Strategos (general) more than 14 times • 431BC – Peloponnesian War broke out • Everyone summoned into city • 430BC – Plague in city • 429BC – Pericles dies • Cleon takes Pericles’ place • More war-like policy The Peace of Nicias • Treaty signed in 421BC for ’50 years of peace’ • Only lasted till 415BC • Expedition into Sicily • 413BC – lost entire force – men and ships • Led by Alcibiades • Herms vandalised • When Alcibiades recalled to stand trial • Defected to Spartans • Gave advice on how to defeat countrymen End of the Peloponnesian War • 411 – 404 BC • Political upheaval – The council of 400 • Oligarchs • Many democratic politicians murdered • Very repressive • Alcibiades • switched from Sparta to Persia • 407 BC returns to Athens – all charges dropped • 406 BC lost favour – return to Sparta • 406 BC – Battle of Arginusae • Heavy losses – 8 generals condemned ATHENS AND ATHENIANS The Jury System Demagogues Oligarchy vs. Democracy THE JURY SYSTEM • Klepsydra – water clock • Jury Selection – 6000 chosen by lot • Not compulsory • 2 obols – Pericles • 3 obols – Cleon • Courts ran about 300 days per year • Ten courts • No lawyers DEMAGOGUES • Leaders • Play on emotions and prejudices of the people • Even in recent times we have leaders that play on peoples emotions • Can you think of any? OLIGARCHY VS. DEMOCRACY • Oligarchy • Few people have all the power • Dominant class • Democracy • Ruled by the people • voting TYPES OF CHARACTER • Ponerus • Cunning man • Often in trouble – can find a way out • Eg. Philocleon – donkey, flute girl • Bomolochus • Buffoon or clown • Lacks ingenuity and courage of Ponerus • Eg. Dionysus (The Frogs)