Hi folks! As we enter the archaic period we start to get a wider variety of works and more diverse perspectives. What comes across as important to these individuals? Does it feel personal or collective? How does cultural identity come across in more subjective situations?

Please try to include a question in your response. I’ll try to address at least some of these questions during the class meeting.

I chose the first reading because I was interested to learn more about what Greeks did recreationally and how both athletes and viewers interact. Something that had jumped out to me was when I found out that Sparta had started the trend of being naked for the olympics as I had been taught previously that they were always like that. I think the author is trying to communicate both the importance of the game from the societal aspect but also the individual aspect as a win was both for who you represent but also huge for the athlete. I believe that this document supports what we know about citystate rivalries as it shows that these rivalries went beyond war and economics but also sports and things like that. I find texts like this specifically interesting as I am able to connect it with today's world and how we go about sports and our olympics. I would like to know more about what a normal Greeks day in life is like for different age groups. I am curious to know what the quality of life was like and how people went about daily life. 

The reading I selected was On Labor by Hesiod. In this writing, Hesiod is imparting wisdom to his brother Perses on the importance of work. Hesiod tells Perses that without work there is no way to become wealthy and that a man who refuses to do work is a man who brings shame to himself. This document lets us know that the Greek value of work ethic, it is not honorable to be idle. This text also gives insight into how the Greeks view marriage. In this text, Hesiod lets us know what age would be culturally acceptable for a man to find a wife. Near the end of the text, the final piece of wisdom that Hesiod gives to his brother is to find a good wife. He lets his brother know that the right age to find a good wife would be around his late 20s to early 30s. He also advises his brother to find a young wife who lives near because it would be easy for him to teach her. After reading this, I would like to learn more about how the Greeks ran their economy, given that they valued work and labor so much.

For this week’s response, I chose Hesiod’s writing titled “On Labor”. What interested me about this document was its underlying message of hard work, persistence, and self-reliance. These were all values that Hesiod urged all men to practice if they wanted to achieve something greater than themselves. What stood out to me the most about this document was how it gave clear and reliable advice about the importance of hard work and responsibility while also serving as a warning against complacency. I think Hesiod was trying to communicate his beliefs and values of what makes someone a valuable member of society.

While his advice is primarily geared towards men in the context of this document, it can be applied to virtually anyone. In my opinion, this document clearly highlights the state of Greek society at the time. Men were the primary holders of power and estates and, as such, were raised with knowledge on how to build up and maintain such holdings. Hesiod’s advice in this document covers all topics relating to estate planning, such as maintaining a good work ethic, proper agriculture methods, and even commentary on social and familial interactions. Hesiod’s writing seems to relate to many contemporary ideas of hard work as the mark of a strong moral foundation and opposes complacency in one’s life, essentially making it the mark of weak moral character.

I chose Hesiod's On Labor because it shows how work was connected to values and survival in Archaic Greece. The passage that stood out most was when Hesiod compared idle men to “drones who waste the labor of the bees.” This image is powerful because it showed that laziness was not only shameful but also harmful to the community, much like useless bees in a hive. Hesiod seems to be communicating that labor is honorable, while idleness leads to hunger, poverty, and disgrace. His advice to his brother Perses reflects more than a family issue; it represents a cultural belief that hard work ensured survival, earned respect, and pleased the gods. Work was seen as a moral responsibility, not just a necessity. This text tells us that Archaic Greek society valued discipline, responsibility, and respect for divine order. It connects to other readings that stress the importance of living in balance with both community and gods. One question I have is: Did everyday farmers embrace work as a duty to the gods or did they view it more simply as survival?

I picked Sappho. I liked that she had the means to be able to study the arts and shared her work. What jumped out to me was when she wrote:

 “If you forget me, think

of our gifts to Aphrodite

and all the loveliness that we shared”

This stood out to me because in order for a relationship to continue, it must be able to endure hardships. Remembering the good times can help in the moments we feel like quitting. Sometimes people quit the relationship due to temporary hardships. The real test of love is being able to endure through the tough times to be able to get to the other side of it. I think the fact that she was one of the few women who was actually able to study and share her work shows how male dominant her place and time was and adds a different perspective to the other works of art that were common to men. She was able to add something different to it. I would like to know how the men of her time perceived her work of art.

Initially I was interested in reading Selected Poems by Sappho because I’m very interested in poetry and literary arts specially pieces written by women. After reading the poems it was exactly what I expected to be. The poems are incredible. The part that stood out to me the most is “For if she flees, soon she’ll pursue she doesn’t accept gifts but she’ll give if not now loving, soon she’ll love even against her will.” I think this line perfectly encapsulates the reality of human nature in romantic love. My interpretation of these lines is that no matter how much you may try to resist love and affection, the feeling of being in love with someone is too powerful to resist. You will always find yourself pursuing your love, looking for your love, and embracing your love. Sappho came from wealth and it allowed her to study the arts in Lesbos and I think this reading gives me a very visual and personal perspective to Ancient Greece. It helps the culture come to life for me because I can picture this young woman living freely and incredibly passionately. On the other hand, I’m very impressed by how amazing her writing is for the time. It really supports the idea that the ancient Greeks valued advancing, excellence, wisdom, and the Gods. Sappho’s poems are different from other readings from the time because they are more personal and timeless. I am curious of what or who inspired Sappho’s style of writing.

I chose Sappho’s selected poems because they give a very personal view of Greek life, instead of laws or battles. What stood out to me was how she writes about love and longing, often in a way that feels vulnerable and emotional. For example, when she describes the physical feelings of seeing someone she desires, it shows how openly she expressed human emotions. This was different from what I expected, since most of what we read about Greece focuses on politics, war, or philosophy, not personal feelings.

These poems tell us that Greek culture also valued beauty, relationships, and emotions, not just strength or power. It makes me think that life in ancient Greece had more variety than the usual image of warriors and leaders. Because Sappho was a woman and a poet, and not the kind of figure usually remembered in history, it’s possible that what we know of her is filtered through how others preserved her work. I’d like to learn more about how her poems were received in her own time, and whether people saw her as important then, or only later.

The reading that I choose to do was the Selected Poems made by Sappho, the reason why I went with this reading is because I really love reading poems and reading the ways I’m able to understand the poems. When it comes to poetry I love how it tells a story through a short amount of words and especially since it’s telling stories about the Greeks in a female perspective. The poem starting “To me it seems” really stands out. It vividly describes how desire feels physically, your heart races, you struggle to speak, your ears ring. This experience seems fresh now, like something many people can connect with. This writing shows how Sappho explored love, wanting, yearning as deep, total feelings. She believes the greatest beauty in the world isn't soldiers or ships, it’s simply what you want. The poems let us see her life in ancient Lesbos, showing a close group of women who connected through art, songs, religious devotion to gods like Aphrodite. They saw Aphrodite as a friend, someone they could talk to directly.

The reading I selected for this week’s Discussion Response was from ‘Various Writers’ on the ‘Accounts of Religious Beliefs.” It came as no surprise that the Greeks, like many other cultures, would have a number of their beliefs and practices centered around their worship of gods (i.e., Zeus or the Great Mother), and sacrifices to them. From praying for the success in battle to the providing for or blessing of a meal to eat, it is interesting to learn of these practices and gain a deeper understanding on the mindset of the Greeks, relating to both their culture and history.  

Additionally, some of the ‘stories’ around the lives and worship of the gods seem rather similar to other ‘stories’ found in the biblical records through prophets and other writers. For example, in Apollonius of Rhodes: Argonautica, c. 200 BCE, it highlights the blessing from “the Mother…and the stormy blasts shall cease.” Something about this reminds me of the record of Jonah who calmed the sea when he was thrown into the sea to be eaten by the great fish. Another example that stood out to me was the story of the “sturdy stump of vine that grew in the forest, a tree exceeding old” and then was cut down. The similarities between this “sturdy stump” and the prophetic vision from Daniel of the symbolic tree being cut down, with a stump remaining behind seems well-connected.  

Perhaps the author's writing of these texts was not just to promote the sacredness and worship of the gods to receive their favor and blessing, but also to share a story that could be passed down the generations to provide guidance in everyday life. Various literary works were vital assets to generate community awareness in not just the belief of a superior being, but to help guide people on the right path.  

On a side note, what really stood out to me was the reference to “tablets” Lysias: Against Nichomachos, c. 400 BCE. Although in Greek religion there was no priestly class or sacred texts, were there perhaps individuals who ‘acted’ as representatives to communicate the ‘direction’ or commands from the gods? Was this really the case? What are these “tablets” that they refer to that would ‘direct’ the people through “regulations” and other decrees? (Perhaps similar to that of the Ten Commandments from the biblical records.)

I chose On Labor by Hesiod because I was really interested in how it combines practical advice about farming with lessons about morality and responsibility. One passage that stood out to me was when Hesiod criticizes his brother Perses for being lazy and trying to gain wealth without working. This part really highlights the contrast between someone who works hard and someone who relies on unfair means to get ahead.

I think Hesiod was trying to communicate that hard work, discipline, and honesty are essential for both personal success and the well-being of society. He seems to suggest that effort and careful planning are morally important, not just economically necessary.

This document tells us a lot about early Greek society. It shows that work was highly valued and seen as a moral duty, and it also reveals how family conflicts and concerns over fairness were important social issues. In relation to other readings, like Homer, it supports the idea that responsibility, honor, and ethics were central values in Greek culture.

What intrigues me most is how intensely personal the poems are, yet they describe much about the broader aspects of ancient Greek life-emotion, social relationships (particularly those among women), religion, and aesthetic sensibility. Sappho's voice is indeed very intimate-there's longing, love, absence-but also the way she frames this through ritual (Aphrodite), nature, adornment (garlands, myrrh, etc.), and through music. It is a wonderful combination of the personal and the social/spiritual. The speaker calls to mind how Aphrodite has repeatedly been invoked, especially in the lines that request her remembrance of him and everything loveliness shared (garlands, flowers, perfume, young women, song). Sappho appears to be contemplating desire, loss, memory, and longing. Gone from her are the days of beautiful languor when the world opened to her, full of pleasure, and something disappeared into sweet sensory experience: flowers, perfumes, song. It was no longer a simple matter of separation. For the more she thought of Aphrodite, the pain and conflict of her longing took on form and meaning. These poems could indicate that women lived rich interior lives, possibly sharing close friendships or relationships with other women, longings and loves that are either outside or perhaps within socially conventional bonds. Emotional expression has been made the mainstream, not the marginal.

From my understanding of the reading the Greeks/grinus were in conquest to settle in libia, but I'm having a hard time understanding why they wanted to go there to settle considering they had better amenities in the native hometown, not sure if this was a quest with the Libyans to control and Conquer them, when the short read also explains they went to them in friendship. Although rainfall did not fall in thera for 3 years it's still a little mind boggling knowing the son traveled in Search of land he did not know of , they had no devices but a oracle to give sound advice, why even trust it?