Greek+Culture

Greece is a country of diverse cultures which are influenced by its location, between the East and the West. Its culture has also been shaped by the history endured by the Greek people. Their culture is based on their religion, education, government and costumes and traditions. **Religion** The Greeks were very religious people. They were polytheist, meaning they worshiped many gods. They believed that their gods appeared in human form but granted with incredible strength and ageless beauty.  The Iliad and the Odyssey, Greek literature, contain stories of men and gods who lived, loved and even fought with one another. While many sanctuaries honored more than a single god, usually one deity such as Zeus at Olympia or a closely linked pair of deities like Demeter and her daughter Persephone at Eleusis dominated the cult place.  They also have various arts of their gods in vases with painted scenes and stone as well, sculptures, etc.  The gods were depicted either by themselves or in traditional mythological situations in which they interact with humans and a broad range of minor deities, demi-gods and legendary characters. **Education **  The Greek’s goal in education was to prepare the children for adult activities as citizens. Mainly, the young boys stayed home, helped on fields, sailing and fishing. It wasn’t until they were about 6 or 7 that they started military school. Most of the boys were forced to leave home at age 7 to join disciplined groups under the supervision of a hierarchy of officers. From age 7 to 18, they underwent an increasingly severe course of training. They were taught survival skills and other skills that were necessary to be excellent soldiers. Even though, these courses were very hard and painful for the children. Still they were taught to read and write even of it wasn’t very important for that kind of life at the time.  The typical Spartan may or may not have been able to read. But reading, writing, literature, and the arts were considered unsuitable for the soldier-citizen and were therefore not part of his education. Music and dancing were a part of that education, but only because they served military ends.  Only fighting was important. The boys were not fed well, and were told that it was fine to steal food as long as they did not get caught stealing. If they were caught, they were beaten. They walked barefoot, slept on hard beds, and worked at gymnastics and other physical activities such as running, jumping, javelin and discus throwing, swimming, and hunting. They were subjected to strict discipline and harsh physical punishment; indeed, they were taught to take pride in the amount of pain they could endure.  Unlike the other Greek city-states, Sparta provided training for girls that went beyond the domestic arts. The girls were not forced to leave home, but otherwise their training was similar to that of the boys. They also learned to run, jump, throw the javelin and discus, and wrestle/strangle a bull. Girls also went to school at age 6 or 7. They lived, slept and trained in their sisterhood’s barracks. No one knows if their school was as cruel or as rugged as the boys school, but the girls were taught wrestling, gymnastics and combat skills. **Government** c.800 BC

The majority of Greek states were governed by groups of rich landowners, called aristocrats; meaning best people. This was a system known as 'oligarchy' the ruled by one powerful family or governer. c.750 BC

Athenian power in the Archaic Period was controlled by Aeropagus, or council. Their policies were delivered through three magistrates called Archons. c.500 BC

Democracy was introduced by an aristocrat, Cleisthenes. Who was from family of the Alcmaeonids in 508 BC, after 2 years of civil war, they used the help of Spartans to secure power. **Costumes and traditions** Traditions in Greece and Greek Islands come from their religious character or paganism meaning a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions. Most of the traditions and festivals still followed and celebrated today are religious. That is why so many religious celebrations are organized in the country, they consist of remembering the saints followed by traditional music and dance in the square of the village.

Greeks are very superstitious people and believe a lot in religion as well as in supernatural or paranormal phenomenon. Some people believe it is bad luck to see a black car, it is 7 years bad luck to break a glass or mirror, while others knock their fingers against wood if they have a bad thought.