Example Of The Greek Ideal Of Excellence example essay topic

The Ideals of ancient Greece took the Greeks to cultural, architectural, philosophical, and creative heights and advancements. Two ideals, in particular, Excellence and Concern for Community had Greeks constantly challenging and changing their ways of life to achieve the highest form of each ideal. I will give examples of Excellence and Concern for Community, showing how the Greeks challenged these ideals and developed further due to them. The ideal of excellence is shown in the pursuit of perfection in Greek architecture. This search for excellence took place mainly in the Hellenic Age 479-323 B.C. It is in this time the Greeks took the architecture of the Doric Order temples and created the Ionic Order. "Influenced by the Pythagorean quest for harmony through mathematical rules, the eastern builders had standardized six as the perfect number of columns for the ends of temples and thirteen, or twice the number of end columns, for the sides.

These balanced proportions, along with simple designs and restrained decorative schemes made the eastern temples majestically expressive of Classical Ideals" (Matthews & Platt 72). Temples were now being built in marble, rather than limestone. This enhanced the beauty of the architecture of the temple by the sheen of the marble in comparison to previous temples and the dullness of the limestone. Other aesthetic changes in temples, in the Greeks search for excellence, were the running frieze.

Rather than alternating the me tropes and the triglyph's, the newer Ionic temples had a frieze with continuous sculptures. Also, the capitals on Ionic columns were decorated with a curved top in comparison to the flat tops of Doric capitals. The above alterations and changes in designs of temples are evident in the architectural designs of Ictinus and Callicrates, who "perfected the eastern-style Doric temple in the Parthenon" (Matthews and Platt 72), showing the Greeks search for excellence in architecture. Greek sculpture also pursued excellence. In the developmental changes from the Archaic Age kou rai to the Hellenic Age, we can see the use of contrapposto, the placement of the body's weight onto one foot, then using the other as support. This is a much more natural pose.

The Greeks began to sculpt more realistic images showing motion and balance. An example of this is the sculpture of Doryphoros by Polykleitus. Polykleitus's sculpture used a mathematical equation to depict more accurate proportions of the human body. His proportions for sculptures became the blueprint that others would follow. Spartan society is another example of the Greek ideal of excellence. The Spartan society focused on the excellence of physical ability and military training.

The Spartans, men and women, were required to train extensively in physical education. These physical trainings were then tested in the competitions of the Olympics and those who achieved physical excellence were honored in these competitions. Along with physical excellence, the Spartans were required to be militarily advanced. This is evident in the extensive military training and service required of all men. Another ideal is the concern for community. In Homer's Iliad, we see Hector, show great concern for his community.

Hector is to go to war against Greece in honor of Troy. Although Hector fears his wife and son may be subjected to slavery upon his death, he must fight for Troy. We see his concern in the following passage from the Iliad "All this weighs on my mind, too dear woman. But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy and the Trojan women trailing their long robes if I would shrink from battle now, a coward... ". (Reader Matthews & Platt 41).

In Sophocles' Oedipus the King we see Oedipus display his concern for community. This is seen throughout the play especially in the beginning in his concern for Thebes, which has been subjected by a plague. He seeks help from an oracle to save the city and says "But my spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you" (Reader Matthews & Platt 58). When Oedipus learns he must punish the murderer of the previous king he does all he can to solve the crime to save his community from this plague.

Tragically, he comes to find he is actually the cause of the plague. In living by Greek ideals, Oedipus gouges his eyes out so not to see the destruction he has caused and casts himself out of Thebes for the sake of his people and their salvation from disease and death. Lastly, a concern for community can be seen in the political development of the polis. The communities of Greece were scattered throughout the lands leaving people feeling isolated. The creation of the polis gave the Greeks a sense of community and belonging. To extend this sense of belonging an agora was situated in the center of the polis where citizens could congregate to conduct politics, business and social gatherings.

This united the members of the polis giving all citizens a sense of community concern though connections with others on religion, culture and political issues. Matthews & Platt, 5th ed. The Western Humanities. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003 Matthews & Platt, 5th ed. Readings in the Western Humanities Vol. I: Beginnings Through the Renaissance.

New York: McGraw Hill, 2003.