Sacrifices In Athens

Democracy is a system of government where the people equally run a country. For example, America practices a form of government where the people have the right to elect those who are in power when they become eighteen years of age. In addition, a citizen of this country can practice a religion of their choice along with several other freedoms. In my opinion, Athens was not a democratic society by today’s standards.

Kate Chopin’s book The Awakening published in 1899, provides a snapshot of Creole society through a neutral point of view. The male dominated French-Louisiana society provides a challenge for the main character, Edna Pontellier to adapt to. Through the character of Edna Pontellier, we the audience, see both an emotional and physical awakening. After awakening, Edna tries to combat the societal structures of motherhood which define her as the wife of motherhood and force her identity as the wife of Leoncé and the mother of Raoul and Etienne instead of her own self-defined individual. Chopin’s concentration on two other principal females outlines Edna’s options; either

Democracy, the form of government in which there is a rule by the people, is said to have originated and thrived in the classical period of Athens, from 500-350 B.C.. Democracy inherently gave all that were considered citizens power to participate in politics. That being said, it is highly debated as to how much power the people, also known as the demos, exercised in this democracy. Many practices and informal institutions can be said to have limited the power of the demos. The democracy in Athens could be said to have been a democracy in theory yet not in practice, as can be proven through a variety of primary sources recounting Athenian political institutions and practices. Such primary sources that can demonstrate this include Herodotus’ History, Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War, and Demosthenes’ Oration Against Eubulides.

Pericles’ Funeral Oration by Thucydides, and Sophocles’ play, Antigone, both illustrate cultural values that are crucial in understanding the dynamic of Ancient Athens. In these two pieces of literature, the cultural values are explained and understood through death. Pericles delivered the Funeral Oration as part of a public funeral for some of the Athenian fatalities in the first year of the Peloponnesian War. In Antigone, Sophocles is able to encompass values and conflicts through the death of Antigone’s brother. Pericles connects the death of soldiers to the importance of community, trust, personal freedoms, and social order that was essential in the success of Ancient Athenian Culture. Sophocles addresses the values of family, religion, and loyalty in his play, Antigone. The values highlighted in each of these works are very similar as they institute the importance of the patrioi nomoi (Athenian constitution) to the success of the Athenian state.

When evaluating the government of ancient Athens, some might say that it was a democracy, however, it can be better described as an oligarchy: a form of government in which a small group of people has the power and control (Doc. D by Mogens Herman Hansen). A democracy takes all the citizens’ opinions and thoughts into account, unlike an oligarchy that only takes the male citizens’ opinions and thoughts into account. Thus, Athens is more similar to an oligarchy than a democracy. The people of Athens also decide as a whole what the best government for their city-state was, as opposed to a democracy where the people elect representatives to make decisions for them and their city-state. Athens could be seen as not a true democracy because of the lack of basic democratic rules and methods such as what they define democracy as, who is able to vote, and how they vote.

I think that the ancient Athens was a democratic city. The reason that I believe that it’s a

Ancient Athens was built on a democratic government. A democracy is when a government allows all of its people, no matter what class and how wealthy they are, to vote and agree on their own laws. There are many documents and resources that can prove that Ancient Athens was truly built to be a democratic government.

The Acropolis (Athens, Greek) is a city on the hills with four magnificent buildings around. The city built 495-425 BC near the Athens, city of Athens. The meaning of the Acropolis is come from an Acro means highest point and the polis means city. Persians in 490 BCE and again in 480-479BCE destroyed the city in the early Classical period and Athens becomes the dominant political power in that time and a great see and trading power. The Acropolis is a proof of human and Greek ancient who they were created, these huge architectural buildings with a lot of work and creativity this city is a great example of architectural ancient Greek history.

One of the major rituals in the Greek religion was to sacrifice an animal. Sacrifices were important as they showed the relationship between gods, humans, and animals as they should be. The Gods, were on the top and were more significance than the humans and animals. They asked of sacrifices and the humans had to provide it. The humans were as important, but under the gods as they had to follow the requests of the gods. The animals, had not power, and were disposed of whenever a sacrifice. Animals were created to be sacrificed by humans in their worship of their gods. Sheep and goats were the most often sacrificed animals as they were common and easy to kill. Specific animals were related with specific gods; Hecate for instance was commonly

Annually, the Robert Morris University Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council co-sponsor the “Robert Morris University Greek Week” for all university affiliated chapters. Essentially, Greek Week is a designated week in the spring academic semester full of planned activities and events for chapters to compete against one in a rather surprisingly friendly environment. Altogether, coordinating the events and activities associated with Greek Week is the Greek Week Committee composed of two representatives from each of the four Panhellenic chapters, seven Interfraternity chapters, and three National Pan-Hellenic chapters, totaling 28 representatives. In turn, the Greek Week Committee is headed by an Executive Board composed of the

Ancient Athens was a highly polarized society in which citizenship meant everything. Citizenship permitted individuals to not only participate in the democratic

To begin, in "Oedipus Rex" the gods appear cruel because they have inflicted the people of Thebes with many afflictions. The story commences with a priest of Zeus informing Oedipus of the poor state of his city saying, "The fever-god swoops down on us, hateful plague, he hounds the city and empties the houses of Thebes. The black god is made rich with wailing and funeral laments." (pg. 3, lines 2-5). The fever-god, better know as Apollo, has sent a plague upon the city of Thebes and the plague is killing myriads of people. This shows the cruel nature of the gods because they are more than willing to inflict hardships upon their worshipers. Furthermore, the black god, Hades, seems to benefit from this brutish behavior as well. The gods also have a tendency to twist people's fate in cruel ways. It is revealed by Apollo to Jocasta that, “…Laius was fated to die by the hand of his son, a son born to me.” (pg. 50, lines 11-12) When Oedipus was born Jocasta gave her baby to a Shepard with the orders to kill the baby. The Shepard did not kill the baby but gave it to a messenger bound for Corinth. Oedipus was then given to Polybus and Merope (king and queen of Corinth) to be raised as their own. Later, it was revealed, through the power of Apollo, to Oedipus that he was destined to kill his father. Believing Polybus to be his true father, Oedipus set out for Thebes. At the crossroads of three cities, Oedipus attacked and killed a band of men, one of which was his true father Laius. The tragic fate of Oedipus, and by extension Laius, was brought about by Apollo. His way of exposing only some information while keeping other crucial information hidden is cruel and usually, ends in

Oedipus’ dedication about fighting the plague and controlling fate demonstrates that he is heroic. After the priest lets Oedipus know about the plague on the city of Thebes, Oedipus says, “ I sent Menoeceus’ son Creon, Jocasta’s brother, to Apollo, to his Pythian temple, that he might learn there by what act or word I could save this city” (Pg.13, L.69-73). Oedipus’ full attention is about finding information about the plague. Oedipus displays commitment in helping the citizens in his town by doing everything in his power to defeat the plague. Oedipus’ commitment is presented clearly and the citizens respect him for his actions and view him as a hero. Next, after Oedipus talks to an oracle and learns his fate about killing his father and marrying his mother, he says, “ when I heard this I fled” (Pg. 45, L. 794). Oedipus left Corinth to try to change his destiny, and entered the city of Thebes. As Oedipus entered Thebes, a Sphinx was eating the citizens and to win the hand of Jocasta, he answered the riddle. Soon after the Sphinx left, Oedipus was crowned king and was known as the hero of Thebes because he saved them from the vicious Sphinx. Lastly, after Oedipus finds out he is the cause of the plague, he says “ Take me away, and haste-to a place out of the way! Take me away, my friends, the greatly miserable, the most accursed, whom God too hates above all men on earth” (Pg.69, L. 1340-1343). Oedipus is asking Creon to exile him from the city. Oedipus feels really guilty and does not want to be seen by anyone so he wants to leave. Also Oedipus asks Creon to exile him so the plague will stop harming the city because he cares

Teresias, a messenger of the foods, tells Oedipus he is the reason his state is in ruins. The people of the land are religious and live there lives according to what messengers and oracles tell them. For Oedipus religion is pushed aside and he believes more in himself. The city of the Thebes is also considered to be a scientifically advanced city and science rejects religion which is another great factor in the downfall of the city. These factors lead the state and the household of Oedipus into contamination which will only be cleansed by the gods and fate.

While the plague was affecting the people of Thebes, various Priests, priestess, and citizens were praying to the gods. The priest said, “Praying to Zeus and Apollo for divine aid!”(2) This proves that people, including priests believe that the gods are capable of immense power, by giving divine aid to help against the plague. While they were praying, the priest also said, "Hoping that the gods will show us kindness on our darkest hour."(2) The people of Thebes believe that gods are capable of power, providing kindness and aid to support the people of