The Entertainment and Sports of Classical Greece: the Philosophies and the Religious Center - Research Paper Example

Introduction The games and competitions that were held in Classical Greece are now often looked at as entertainment that was used only for leisure. However, when looking at the cultural and social components of this time frame, it can be seen that the games were used for more than leisure activities. More importantly, the entertainment was used as an expression of the culture and lifestyle of the time frame. The different sports and arts that were used in the culture became essential for understanding philosophies, belief systems and ways that individuals were able to relate to their daily lives. When looking at the depth of the games and competitions, one is able to define more than entertainment that was used for those that were in the culture of Classical Greece. Culture of Classical Greece The development of culture in Classical Greece was not only defined by the specific entertainment measures that were used. The identity that was used in society was based on social and cultural values as well as the approach that was a part of the society. The social classes were first divided with the Hellenistic viewpoints of the first century BC. After this time frame, the Aristotle philosophies began to develop in the country. These philosophies were based on ideals of justice, warriorship and mystics. The aristocratic viewpoint that developed from this was divided into the agathos and kakos social classes, both which were based on ethical and moral philosophies. One of the intents behind these two philosophies was to define what goodness was as well as how men could progress within themselves and in the culture that they were affiliated with. The games and entertainment that was in the culture developed with this as a primary consideration, wich gave a philosophical basis to the culture of this time frame.1 The concept of these philosophies was known to dominate the culture of Greece and was given consideration first by the type of philosophies that were defined. Each of the areas of entertainment, such as art, literature and sports were to demonstrate the concept of the Greek gods and goddesses as well as the way of living that was pertinent to this particular set of concepts and philosophies. “Greek art [is] considered as a reflection of the ideals which dominated Greek life from time to time. It is true of Greek art as well as of Greek literature that until late in the fourth century it is principally the expression of the spirit of the community.2” For instance, the hymns of victory were used specifically after different sport events and were used as an image of the gods and to show physical and spiritual perfection. The main question that most asked during this time was whether the social status of man could reach the same perfection as the gods and goddesses that were a part of Greek culture. This was combined with philosophies of how to reach perfection, all which were defined in the several arts that were a part of the Classical Greek definition of culture3. The concept of sports and entertainment as a part of the culture was not only reflected by society and the belief systems of the time. There were specific definitions that created the associations with philosophies of the Classical Greeks. The most common association with sports and entertainment was based on the aesthetics that were a part of this time frame. The concept of aesthetics and beauty that was accepted by the culture was based on philosophies of reaching perfection. However, this was not only based on beauty and the way in which individuals tried to reach perfection through physical strength. More important, was the rise of aesthetics through wisdom and the associations with thought that led to doing. Those who would watch sport and entertainment were interested in the ability to turn intention and thought into physical strength. Analyzing this as a cultural concept of aesthetics became one of the central concepts of sports and entertainment. The ability to practice this was recognized as a virtue, specifically because it took a degree of methods and treatments that were a part of society at the time4. Sports and Society The representation of society and culture in ancient Greece then led to different philosophies that were a part of specific areas of entertainment. One that was defined by specific representations of culture and religion was with the sports that were a part of the culture of the time. The main objective within this was not to demonstrate competition or a sport for entertainment. Instead, the concept was to represent the strength of the gods and goddesses as well as perfection among man. Since this time frame in Classical Greece was based on warfare among other outside tribes and villages, the sport was also to practice for the warfare and to create strength that could dominate throughout Greece. It was expected that the strongest warriors would be able to uphold the competitions and to demonstrate warriorship and power that could protect the nation. Others that were in the race were considered a sacrifice that was not able to provide the same level of competition among others. The concept that was used was a form of identity that was able to show strength, perfection and the most notable among men that were in the community. “Greek sport was enveloped in a series of hierarchies in which events, festivals, genders, nations and other groups were ranged and ranked no less than individuals. As elsewhere, it could be a vehicle of identity, providing people with a sense of difference and a way of classifying themselves and others, whether latitudinally or hierarchically.5” The hierarchy and identity that referred to Greek sport was one that was enveloped in the culture, society and philosophies of the time. It was these several concepts that became the main basis for the sports and competitions, as opposed to leisure activities that were a part of the time frame. Not only was there a representation of the athletic figures through the sports, but also different philosophies behind each of the games. These became the staples for the games and allowed one to carry the specific god-like and warrior attributes that were a result of the games. For instance, the Panathenaic games occurred as a basic competition on a yearly basis. Gymnastics and equalitarian events were the basis of these different events, all which were based on showing levels of strength, dexterity and sportsmanship. The winner of the games was important not for the competition, but instead of showing the attributes that were reflective of the gods of Greece. The reward for winning this game was a black vase filled with oil and was representative of the Greek goddess, par excellence, a sacred goddess of Athens. The concept with this particular game was to heighten the levels of excellence that were a part of the community. More importantly, there was the desire to raise the civic consciousness that was defined, specifically by representing the political and athletic goddess of excellence through the winners. The sports became a reflection of not only the concepts of the individual, but were also reflective of the philosophies and politics that were a part of the Classical Greek society at the time6. Another representation of the sports during Classical Greece that showed the same representation of philosophies and culture was the Olympics. Today, the traditions of the Olympics are based on sport, competition and the ability to show different levels of strength and dexterity through the sports. However, in ancient Greece, the significance of Olympia and these sports moved beyond the basic competitions and into a different level of symbolism of the games. The beginning of the Olympics took place before the Trojan War and was invented at the height of the Greek era. The founders were considered to be superhuman, specifically with Hercules, who represented the power of the Olympics. The myth that was related to this was that the gods used the Olympics as Poiseidon tricked the king of Pisa into a chariot race. The challenge led to the first Olympics to challenge the gods of Poiseidon against humans. During the more peaceful times of Greece, these were restored, as ordered by the Delphic Oracle7. The myth that created this specific game as well as the belief that the ancient Greeks had with these games shows that the symbolism and the relation to the gods were primary in the games. The showing of dexterity and strength was secondary to this and was formed around the myth and religious philosophies that were a part of the Classical Greek era. It was not only the mythology and the representation of different games that formed the events to be more than a competition. More importantly, were specific roles that the athletics had in society at different times. Political, cultural and social components of this were combined together to create a more thorough understanding of how this worked. The main frame of this was based on philosophers such as Pythagoras who created philosophies that the human body and art represented a perfectly symmetrical form. This main philosophy was important not only for the participants in the event, but also for those that would form the audience. Those in the audience were not there for entertainment, but instead for observation of how the perfect body could be formed. After this was done through the sports, they could also reach this sense of perfection with their own practices and form. The ability to do this made those that were watching not only a part of an audience, but also allowed them to become philosophers that were interested in the perfection of an individual. The concept of gaining intelligence and wisdom through observation became the central activity, as opposed to being a part of the games only for entertainment and a leisure event8. The Fine Arts as More than Entertainment The competitions and the sports that were used within Greek society were only one of the components that were used among the culture. The festivals and events would also incorporate different artistic works within each of the entertainment areas. Choruses, plays, theatrical events and literature were often intertwined with the events as a form of expression and to compliment the games and competitions. At other times, these were separate from the main games and competitions as a form of expression. Like the sports events, the fine arts that were used in Classical Greece were a representation of the entertainment as a philosophy, religion and cultural event in society. The fine arts were able to present different concepts that were associated with society. Rather than being a form of entertainment and leisure, the arts were able to create a stronger presentation of society, culture and the religious presentations of the time. The basic concept associated with the arts as entertainment was one that was based on the religious and philosophical belief that the gods should be honored and respected. The different presentations of the fine arts were based on specific gods that could be used with the fine arts and with an association to different festivals and events. For instance, to honor the god Dionysia, individuals would hold an event in the city of Dionysus, all which presented different fine arts aspects. At other times, the god of Apollo was the main presentation, which would have fine arts based on dancing and music. This aspect was known as khoregia, which was known as honoring the gods through song and dance, which then led into rites of passage and a presentation of warfare. It was believed that whoever could present this in perfection also would serve better in combat and could reach a level of perfection and organization within the community9. The festivals as well as the associations with the gods and religion of the time then led into specific rituals and beliefs that were a part of the time frame. Some of these were based on religious beliefs while others were incorporated as a part of culture. The fine arts were strongly associated with communicating the symbolism of the fine arts. More important than the theatrical displays, music and the fine arts were direct associations with the rituals that were used to begin the communication. Rituals of communication, consecration and with honors were able to move within the philosophies and traditions. The association with these was to ensure that the public could associate the fine arts with the mortals and immortals. There was also an association with the communication between politicians, rulers, the masses and the elite, and citizens and foreigners. Theatre rituals, through these different focuses, became one of the central means of the traditions of the Greek. The Classical Greece culture began to demand that several forms of ritual were included in the main presentations of the fine arts. More importantly than the association with entertainment and performance, was the communication through the rituals and the associations that were outside of the theatre presentations10. The expressions of rituals and theatre presentations, as well as other forms of fine arts, were not only for the understanding of the religions that were a part of the Greek culture. The audience was just as important in the presentation of the theatrical events, as it was the theatre that needed to be communicated to others that were in the audience. Tragedy and comedy were first known for the emotional burden that they carried and which was communicated to the audience. However, more important than this was the representation of specific philosophies through each of the plays. The theatre practices that were used always were based on philosophies of the time period as well as religious and mythical beliefs and viewpoints. These would be aligned with the different festivals and time frames to create a stronger association with the festivals as well as the mythical figures that were presented. The spectacle of fine arts and entertainment then became important with the ability to reach the audience and to remind them of lifestyle practices based on morality and the accepted culture of the time period11. Building Meaning through Festivals The concept of sports in Classical Greece was only the first representation that was a part of the competitions that occurred. Those in ancient Greece were also interested in the festivals that could be built around the culture and society in which each individual was in. This made a difference in the type of competition and the events that would be held. Different festivals that were used throughout this time frame were not just for a representation of entertainment and competition. More importantly, the festivals were associated with the philosophies and the concepts that were a part of this time frame. The festivals that were used in Classical Greece were able to create a different representation and set of symbolic meaning for those that were competing in the different arenas. More importantly, these each would represent an attribute of the philosophies of the time, as opposed to having several competitive sports that were used only for gaming. The first representation of festivals was one that was inclusive of sports and literature as well as other art. The festivals were used as a way to affiliate with the political and cultural development of the time. Most of the sports, as well as other forms of entertainment, were able to reflect the politics as well as the cultural philosophies that were pertinent to each time frame. The concept was to communicate to the community what was most important at the time, as well as what would change in society as the progression of festivals continued. “Shared experiences and communication between ritual performers and audiences were essential to community formation and civic consciousness because people related to historical continuity and change by visual or physical memories.12” To portray what was occurring in the Greek culture and politics was the use of festivals. This allowed individuals to come together as a community and to associate with what was occurring through entertainment and events. The communication that was used was then able to keep the community closer together while providing insight into the events that were occurring among the political and cultural leaders. While the festivals were often associated with the cultural and political affiliations, they also served a purpose with the way in which the festivals were placed together. In earlier Athens, the festivals would fall on dates that were representative of concepts such as funeral games and cult games. Festivals that honored the major deities, seasons, fertility and rites of passage were also used13. The combination of political, cultural and philosophical events became integral to the festivities and the approach that was taken with each. The most central focus at the height of Classical Greece was based on the affiliations with different myths as well as the combination of philosophical components that were associated with the individuals of the time that were considered to have the wisdom of lifestyle and culture14. The culture of the festivals was not only used for communication as well as philosophies. More importantly were festivals that were based on different types of sports and expressions within the arts. For instance, combat sports were used only at specific festivities in the ancient world as opposed to sports that were competitive but were based on individual strength. Different festivities would focus on combat sports, which would create battles between individuals, such as gladiators. The athletes that trained for these skills were measured by their ability to maneuver and time different aspects of the fight that was displayed. The combat sports are then associated with different ideals, such as rites of passage. When one is able to win in combat, then they are also linked to fulfilling destiny by overcoming different trials. This is associated with the specific myths and stories that were used in Classical Greece. The different combat sports would then align with the festivals that were specific to rites of passage. The combat sports that were used would then become a symbol of rites of passage from the festivals and the communication that was linked to these specific events15. The importance of festivals in Greek culture was not only significant because of the specific events as well as the associations with religious rites. More importantly, was a specific association with the audience and the way that they were allowed to interact with the sports. The community and society that was able to come to the festivals were based on elite classes that had a hierarchical structure to it. Slaves were not allowed to go into the festivals because of the position that they held in society. It was believed that this would take away from the sacredness and the rites that were held in the community. More importantly, were several associations with the Greek cultures and the cults that were allowed to come to the festivals. Many would create separations between the types of festivals and the cults that were a part of Greek history. Different individuals would be interested in specific types of festivals and would use these in association with the overall philosophies and religious beliefs. The combination of hierarchical structure and the association with the structure of society was used to show an identity with not only the athletes and the concepts of religion. More importantly, the festivals were used to show identity and class structure that was a part of the society and culture at the time16. There were several components that linked to the social status and the changes of festivals over time. At the foundational level of the festivals were associations with myth and the Greek gods that were a part of culture. These were accepted by each of the individuals in society and were the larger festivals used all which did not create as strong of an association with the division in class. These festivals were considered the most prestigious in defining aesthetics and in relating to the cultural and social aspects that linked to philosophy and religion. However, the classical periods created some division in the religious beliefs, which led to different associations with the festivals. For instance, the Archaic and Classical periods had several divisions in the festivals. While some of the Archaic festivals continued to serve a purpose in community, this was often associated with those who were considered traditional and elitist in the community. Traditionalism in the fine arts and in the sports was included in specific festivals while others were based on the newer aspects that related to different parts of philosophy. These aspects of the festivals were essential in defining the purpose of the festivals, sports and entertainment used. The division in traditional and modern sports and entertainment that was based on the festivals and rituals were able to create a sense of identity within Classical Greece, specifically which linked to philosophies and the expressions used within the entertainment17. Conclusion The concepts that were a part of the entertainment and sports of Classical Greece held several layers of expression. The basis of this was related to the philosophies and the religious center that was a part of the lifestyle of the time. Classical Greece continued the expressions of fine arts and sports through the association with the cultural and social affiliations. These were divided by class and specific expressions used in the community. More importantly, were political affiliations that were used as a sense of expression among the community. The result of this was a different understanding of what was occurring within the community on a political and social level. The relation to this led into the philosophies of the time, which were specifically associated with aesthetics and the understanding of reaching and observing perfection within the individual. The aesthetics were able to define the accepted attainment of reaching a specific identity in the culture and provided a stronger basis for those that were interested in the rise of culture in Classical Greece. Instead of an entertainment base, Classical Greece was able to provide philosophy, culture and political affiliations with the sports and fine arts associated with entertainment of the time. Works Cited Ashby, Clifford. Classical Greek Theatre: New Views of an Old Subject. University of Iowa Press: Iowa, 1999. Beardsley, Monroe. Aesthetics from Classical Greece to the Present: A Short History. University of Alabama Press: Alabama, 1950. Donlan, Walter. The Aristocratic Ideal and Selected Papers. Bolchazy – Carducci Publishers: Illinois, 1999. Golden, Mark. Sport and Society in Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press: UK, 1998. Jaeger, Werner, Gilbert Highet. Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture Volume 1: Archaic Greece: The Mind of Athens. Oxford University Press: New York, 1967. Kyle, Donald. Athletics in Ancient Athens. Brill Publishing: Netherlands, 1987. Kyle, Donald. Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World. Blackwell Publishing: New York, 2007. Miller, Stephen. Arete: Greek Sports from Ancient Sources. University of California Press: California, 2004. Phillips, David, David Pritchard. Sports and Festival in the Ancient Greek World. The Classical Press of Wales: Ireland, 2003. Poliakoff, Michael. Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence and Culture. Yale University Press: Connecticut, 1987. Sansone, David. Greek Athletics and the Genesis of Sports. University of California Press: Berkley, 1988. Wilson, Peter. The Athenian Institution of the Khoregia: The Chorus, the City and the Stage. Cambridge University Press: UK, 2000. Wilson, Peter. The Greek Theatre and Festivals: Documentary Studies. Oxford University Press: New York, 2007. Read More