akritas
05-28-2007, 05:00 AM
Greeks through the uniting of their city-states by the Greek Hegemon Phillip II, initially bore some resemblance to the militarism of their western counterparts—especially, after Phillip son, Alexander the Great, conquered the vast regions of the east. However, from Greece commencement, she was enthralled with her own cultural sophistication:
Learning, philosophy, science, the arts, etc. Now, here were a people with some class!
Ancient Rome, very early (800 BC), came under Greek influence—especially, when Greek colonies were set up in southern Italy and SicilLlikewise, the Hellenized Etruscans in the north, and in Naples and Sicily in the south, virtually surrounding Rome with the culture of the Greeks. A somewhat strange ambivalence of all things Greek initiated the engagement—yet, once the Roman’s got used to it, they became utterly enamored with this “superior civilization” with its literature, arts, sophistication, entertainment, gods and her general pleasures of life.
While Roman legions marched in conquest throughout Greece, there was a Greek “invasion” of Italy, consisting of the Greek literature, myths, paintings, and sculptures that the Romans brought back. These imports fired the interest of Rome’s upper crust in things Greek, but some old-fashioned Romans, notably Cato the Elder, reacted strongly against this onslaught of Greek art, literature, drama—and the un-Roman ideals that came with them.
The first author in history that write in the Latin language was the Greek Livius Andronikus. In the 3rd cen B.C. he translated Homer in order to use him as a textbook to teach Latin and Greek to his Roman students. He also translated other works from Greek and wrote the first Roman theatrical works and poems. Thus from the very beginning the tradition was established whereby educated Romans learned Greek as the prototype of Roman letters. Thus rooted, bilinguality never ceased directing the evolution of the Hellenic Civilization of the Romans.
Cato as I said the famed Roman Senator (234-149 BC) launched an “anti-Hellenic movement,” but it failed—eventually, every branch of Roman learning;philosophy, oratory, science, art, religion, morals, manners, and dress succumbed to Greek manners and customs.
Horace said
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio
Captive Greece captured her fierce captor and brought the arts into uncultured Latium
What is your Opinion ?:wacko:
Learning, philosophy, science, the arts, etc. Now, here were a people with some class!
Ancient Rome, very early (800 BC), came under Greek influence—especially, when Greek colonies were set up in southern Italy and SicilLlikewise, the Hellenized Etruscans in the north, and in Naples and Sicily in the south, virtually surrounding Rome with the culture of the Greeks. A somewhat strange ambivalence of all things Greek initiated the engagement—yet, once the Roman’s got used to it, they became utterly enamored with this “superior civilization” with its literature, arts, sophistication, entertainment, gods and her general pleasures of life.
While Roman legions marched in conquest throughout Greece, there was a Greek “invasion” of Italy, consisting of the Greek literature, myths, paintings, and sculptures that the Romans brought back. These imports fired the interest of Rome’s upper crust in things Greek, but some old-fashioned Romans, notably Cato the Elder, reacted strongly against this onslaught of Greek art, literature, drama—and the un-Roman ideals that came with them.
The first author in history that write in the Latin language was the Greek Livius Andronikus. In the 3rd cen B.C. he translated Homer in order to use him as a textbook to teach Latin and Greek to his Roman students. He also translated other works from Greek and wrote the first Roman theatrical works and poems. Thus from the very beginning the tradition was established whereby educated Romans learned Greek as the prototype of Roman letters. Thus rooted, bilinguality never ceased directing the evolution of the Hellenic Civilization of the Romans.
Cato as I said the famed Roman Senator (234-149 BC) launched an “anti-Hellenic movement,” but it failed—eventually, every branch of Roman learning;philosophy, oratory, science, art, religion, morals, manners, and dress succumbed to Greek manners and customs.
Horace said
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio
Captive Greece captured her fierce captor and brought the arts into uncultured Latium
What is your Opinion ?:wacko: