1.  The “tyrannos”—a word borrowed from outside the Greek language—was a term applied to a new sort of political actor in Greek poleis: a man who seized control of the state by coup and governed illegally, with the support of “the people” and the army it composed.  Infighting among various aristocratic families in the city led to “stasis”, disruptive conflict that resulted from excessive “stand-taking”.  A renegade aristocrat would then claim to be acting on behalf of “the people” and seize power from the aristocrats.  Under “tyranny” poleis, like Corinth under Cypselus and Periander, could achieve new heights, with lavish building projects, civic improvements, and encouragement to trade solidifying the tyrant’s popularity.

2.  Unhappy aristocrat with internal mesoi support and some external help.  Tells us about aristocratic tension amongst the aristocrats. Opposition between aristocrats called stasis— taking a stand.  Often disruptive and frequently violent—one’s role in genos (clan) was hereditary. Each genos sought support and patrons from other nobles and mesoi.  Often tyrant could intervene and restore civil order. Prevent noble feuds—and aid the middle and lower classes.

3.  Olympic victor—won a stade or foot race in 640.  Married daughter of tyrant of Megara  Megaran and Athenian allies storm Athens.  Athenians returned and attacked—trapped Cylon and his supporters on the Acropolis.  Cylon escaped but supporters trapped inside an altar to Athena.—ran out of food and water, agreed to surrender to archons if lives were spared.  Tied string to Athena—while descending string broke.

4.  Archon Megacles then had them stoned and butchered—only a few escaped by appealing to archons’ wives.  Megacles belonged to Alcmaeonid clan (Alcmaeonidae)—many people thought he had committed sacrilege.  Before long all members of his family group were exiled.  Bodies of dead relatives exhumed and moved outside the city  Curse of impiety placed on entire clan.

5.  First Greek example of a celebrity trying to convert his popularity into political power— Jesse Ventura—Ronald Reagan.  Cylon an aristocrat—example of aristocratic infighting.  Did have internal support.  Failed bid—later Pisistratus tries 3 times to be tyrant—successful on third try.

6.  Support public works  Some patronize culture, learning  Often ally with mesoi  But tyranny usually short-lived—problem is tyrants try to make rule hereditary  Cypseleus of Corinth (657-627)—marginalized, mother married outside of clan  Good military reputation (had been polemarch )

7.  As tyrant put Corinth of the map.  Confiscated land of opponents, gave them to poor  Helped turn it into a commercial center  Aided navigation  Passed luxury laws against rich  Invented black figure pottery—Corinth dominates pottery production—paint a black siloutte on reddish clay, cut the characteristics.  switch from orientalizing pottery.

9.  Under the leadership of the tyrant Cypselus (c. 657- 627), Corinth emerged as the leading commercial center of Greece and dominated the trade in finely painted pottery.  Sculpture also came into its own in the Archaic period, with the innovation of two important types of freestanding stone statuary, the nude “ kouros ” (young male) and clothed female “ kore ” (young female).  Brightly painted and lifelike, the Greek sculptures modified the conventions of their Egyptian models and kouroi and korai figures were often set up by wealthy families, with inscriptions of the dedicators’ names attached to enhance their reputations.

11. LATE ARCHAIC AGE630-480 B.C.

12.  Became mythical and epic  By 550 Athens under Pisistratus mastered black figure and switched to red figure—reversed the Corinthian design.  New designs: athletics, symposia, wooing

14.  Marble/Bronze Statues by 650—inspiration was Egypt  Kouros —young male  Koure—young female  First rigid—arms pressed to side, one foot stepping forward  By 500 increasingly lifelike—natural movement of clothes and facial features—used especially as grave monuments—advertise family’s status within the polis.  Also relief sculptures—usually with mythological themes

17.  Cities become more permanent  Greeks learn from Egyptian how to quarry—now permanent stone structures replace mud brick.  Focus of city was agora or marketplace. Large open space in the center of city—became marketplace, public space, and focus of the city-state.  Conduct business, shop, site for Citizen Assembly  By 500 agora contained collonaded stoas to provide shade and shelter

19.  From twin function of the Agora as a political and commercial space came the two Greek verbs αγοράζω, agorázō, "I shop", and αγορεύω, agoreýō, "I speak in public".  But also: sanctuaries, temples, fountains in polis.  Athletic functions; gymnasion —where men exercised; palaistra —wrestling ground.  Most poleis had marble and limestone buildings—exception: Sparta.

21.  C. 630 “Aesop”  Lyric poetry  Poetry accompanied by a lyre or flute—musical instrument.  Solo songs/choral songs  Usually praise heroic virtues—and aristocratic virtues  Wealth, luxury, good dress, wine, love, wooing, fear of growing old.  Alcaeus of Mytilene—power struggles, war, power politics.  Tyrtaeus of Sparta 7th c. be proud in battle, do not flinch, fight well—achieve immortality.

22.  In literary expression as well, the Archaic period was one of innovation.  Moving away from the themes of Homeric epic, lyric poets often took on an individual persona, singing of familiar, intimate topics like drinking, friends and enemies, sexual love, old age and death, politics, war, and morality.  Archilochus, for example, wrote about the advisability of throwing away one’s shield in battle—preserving one’s life for more pleasures and personal glories rather than following a Homeric hero into a publicly glorious death.  The poetry of the period continues to entrance its readers, and remind us of the joys and sorrows of everyday life—and not just in the realms of the gods.

23.  Others; Sappho of Lesbos c. 630-560  Songs about women—finishing school for girls; “lesbian”  Some short poems, some personal discuss everything: war, love, death—human emotion  Good sources—discuss war, political, class  Good source of information about upper-class mores and class consciousness.

24.  In similar terms, the Archaic period was one of tremendous strides forward in terms of philosophical and scientific investigation.  Not constrained by a priestly caste or an overpowering religious authority, intellectuals like Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Pythagoras sought explanations for how the universe functions and the substance of which it is made.  Xenophanes reasoned that we humans have fashioned the gods in our own image, just as horses would have horse gods and cows would have cow gods.  Philosophers would continue to ask the essential questions of human life, wondering what the world “really” is and how we should “best” experience it.

25.  Mocks heroic convention  “One of the tribesmen in Thrace now delights in the shield I discarded  Unwillingly near a bush, for it was perfectly good, But at least I got myself safely out.  Why should I care for that shield? Let it go. Some other time I'll find another no worse.”

26.  Explanations for celestial models—scientific theories for predict future events.  Pre-Socratics—all fragmentary.  6 th c. Miletus  One view: all matter evolved out of one substance.

27. THALES624 BC – C. 546 BC  Thales of Miletus— predicted eclipse and solstices.  Days and movements not divine whim. “All is water.” All gas, solids can be reduced to water—  Flat earth floating on water.

28. ANAXIMANDERANAXIMENES  Anaximander—”The Infinite” or “Boundless” was primary principle. From it all matter derived.  Posited that human life evolved from slime warmed by sun’s heat.  Drew the first map.  Anaximenes—All was air.  Fire, wind, water all reduced to air.  Flat earth that floated on air.

29.  Nature of Matter—one or many substances?  Being and becoming—is all stable or is it change?  Pythagoras of Samos—moved to Magna Graecia— due to tyranny of Polycrates of Samos.  theology—a religious community--vegetarian, transmigration of souls.  But still believed in importance of politics and geometry.  Founding of new cities needed mathematical knowledge to lay out plots, homesteads.

30. PYTHAGORAS OF SAMOS 570 BC – C. 495 BC FOLLOWERS  Believed the arithmetic held the keys to understanding the universe.  Earth a sphere in the center of hollow spheres.  Stars fixed on the outer shell.  Regularity and order in universe—rotations created a heavenly music.

31. XENOPHANES570-475 B.C.  Xenophanes of Colophon— found fossils in mountains— postulated that earth covered in mud and derived an early form of human evolution.  Also mocks aristocrats— those who go to Assembly in purple cloaks, perfume, and styled hair.  Likewise mocks Olympics— who cares who wins? No money for treasury.

32.  Heraclitus of Ephesus (anti-Pythagoras) “You cannot step in the same river twice”. All was change—no order in universe.  World is not what appears to be.

33.  Parmenides of Elea in s. Italy: Change is impossible—if something changes it no longer exists and cannot be.  Greek philosophers struggle with the question what does it mean to say that something exists—or does it simply appear to exist.