Hellenistic Culture: The Hellenistic Era began after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Hellenistic Culture is a term for Greek culture during the Hellenistic age, which is widely thought to begun after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, and ended in 146 BC when the Roman Republic conquered most of mainland Greece. Hellenistic Culture in Alexandria As a result of Alexander’s policies, a vibrant new culture emerged. The plastic arts of the Hellenistic age were characterized by dramatism, expressiveness, and the depiction of suffering, all designed to work on the viewer’s emotions. Answer: Hellenism is the term used to describe the influence of Greek culture on the peoples the Greek and Roman Empires conquered or interacted with. Historians discussed such matters as the influence of fate and great men on historical events; the ideal form of the state, considered to be a combination of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy; and the merging of the histories of individual countries in world history. The Hellenistic age witnessed a flourishing of the epigram, which focused on the theme of love: the arousal of passion, lovers’ meetings, and unrequited passions. Hellenistic sculptures were based more on realism and mote natural work, rather than idealized forms from the … Thx4A2A, Anon. One of the principal cults was that of Zeus Hypsistos, the supreme god, who was identified with such gods as the Phoenician Baal, the Egyptian Ammon, the Babylonian Bel, and the Jewish Yahweh. The Hellenistic culture is usually defined as the culture of the period from 336 BC to the time when the Roman Empire started to become very powerful in the late first century BCE. The contradictions between the political and socioeconomic development of society account for the contradictory quality of Hellenistic art, which combines rationalism and expressionism, skepticism and emotionality, an elegiac quality with a profound sense of drama, and archaism and innovation. Hellenistic culture was the world-wide Greek culture that followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. The topics chosen and the way in which events were interpreted were undoubtedly influenced by political struggles, as well as by current political and philosophical theories. Also typical were unexpected uses of foreshortening, dramatic gestures, complex articulation, and bold contrasts of light and shadow. The literature of the Hellenistic age achieved considerable success in the description of man’s inner world and everyday life; the use of folk traditions expanded the boundaries of literary genres. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Some of these commanalities were: some sort of connection to the Greece through Alexander, Greek cultural influence, and Greek language. Religion and mythology. More specifically, it comes with the death of Alexander the Great in 323. Herophilus of Chalcedon and Erasistratus represented a new stage in the development of the science of anatomy. Alexander got all the way to India. Greeks call themselves Hellenes after their reputed founder Helen. Athletics were extremely important, and were introduced to the people they ruled with varying effects. It was a dynamic phenomenon, with the ever-­evolving Hellenistic (“Greek‑like”) culture continually becoming the raw material for new syntheses with other native cultures not yet under its sway. In the territories east of the Euphrates, the interaction of Greek and local elements was initially negligible; after the decline of Greco-Macedonian power, there ensued a turbulent period of synthesis from which the arts of the Parthian Empire, Gandhara, and the Kushana kingdom emerged. The cultural phenomenon that we call Hellenism had a lasting impact on Judaism and the Jewish people. The botanical knowledge that had been accumulated was systematized by Theophrastus. A comparison even of the major Hellenistic cities (such as Alexandria, Antioch, and Pergamum), where the Greco-Macedonian population was dominant, shows clearly that each city had its own particular, characteristic cultural features; such features are even more evident in the inland regions of the Hellenistic states, for example, in Thebais, Babylonia, and Thrace. are collectively known as the Hellenistic period (1). The skeptical school, founded by Pyrrho in the last quarter of the fourth century B.C., believed that man could attain spiritual serenity by renouncing the quest for objective knowledge (according to the skeptics, a hopeless search), by refusing to make judgements, and by basing conduct on rational probability, tradition, and custom. He believed that happiness and spiritual bliss (spiritual imperturbability and calm) could be attained by such means as self-control and the moderation of sensual pleasures. Substantial influences on Hellenistic culture were the highly charged political atmosphere of the time, continual military conflicts between the states, and the social movements within the states. The characteristics of the Hellenistic period include the division of Alexander's empire, the spread of Greek culture and language, and the flourishing of the arts, science and philosophy. Hellenistic civilization. Strabo’s Geography, in 17 books, provided a summary of the geographic knowledge of the period. Although local variants were preserved in the pantheon and in the forms of worship, certain universal deities that united similar functions of the most commonly worshiped gods of various peoples gained increasing acceptance. The campaigns of Alexander the Great led to an expansion of geographic knowledge. Paul, who moved easily in three different worlds--Pharisaic Judaism, in which he enjoyed considerable authority; He looks at such features as housing, education, women, eating and drinking, theater, religion, and the persistence of, Thus, in western Palestine, Jews had to preserve and perpetuate their culture through the "media and methods" of the more pervasive, Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Egypt: full name, the Arab Republic of Egypt; Gumhuria Misr al-Arabia, Arts of the Hellenized East: Precious Metalwork and Gems of the Pre-Islamic Era, Archaeological team discovers Ptolemaic cemetery in Alex, 2,300 Years Old Gymnasium Discovered In Egypt, The history of oil lamps: Dr Alp Cam reports on his research, Deep History, Secular Theory: Historical and Scientific Studies of Religion, La voie du Christ: Il, developpements de la Christologie dans le contexte religieux de l'Orient ancien, D'Eusebe de Cesaree a Jean Damascene (IVe-VIIIe), Daily life in the Hellenistic Age; from Alexander to Cleopatra. Achievements in theoretical mechanics are associated primarily with Archimedes, although the pseudo-Aristotelian treatise Problems of Mechanics also became well known. The states of the Hellenistic period were deeply fixated with the past and its seemingly lost glories. Natural sciences. Hellenistic age - Hellenistic age - Civic structures: Wherever Hellenization was strong, there tended to be support for the institution of the city-state as well as a measure of synoecism, or gathering of smaller communities in a new polis. The art of bookmaking reached a high level of development in Alexandria, in part because of Egypt’s monopoly on papyrus. Hellenistic definition is - of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great. So, one can hellenisitc culture spans from Greece to India! The mathematicians associated with Alexandria included Nicomedes, Diodes, Zenodorus (author of On Isoperimetric Figures), and Hypsicles (author of Book 14 of Euclid’s Elements and the treatise On Polygonal Numbers). The syncretism of Hellenistic religion influenced the architectural development of temples, sanctuaries, altars, and memorial buildings, all of which exhibited to a greater extent than did civic structures an interaction with the art of the East; examples are the Sanctuary of Asclepius on Cos, the Kom el-Shugafa catacombs in Alexandria, and the fortified city of Ai-Khanum in northern Afghanistan. He takes over the civilization of Ancient Greece. Sculpture, which ceased serving the civic ideals of the city-state, became more abstract; decorative, narrative, and, at times, illustrative qualities assumed a greater role, as in the Laocoön (marble, c. 50 B.C). Tendencies common to all Hellenistic art may be traced in vase paintings, glyptic, and toreutics, as well as in the fine crafted glass vessels. When Alexander died (323), his many leaders (diadochi) carved out his kingdom among themselves. Most of the scholars associated with these centers were Greeks, and Greek became the international scholarly language of this period. In each area it was formed through the interaction of local, more permanent, traditional elements with the culture that was brought by conquerers and settlers, both Greek and non-Greek. The most characteristic feature of Hellenistic religion and mythology was syncretism, in which the heritage of the East played a major role. Furthermore, what made the Hellenistic culture unique? The Hellenistic cities, notably Alexandria in Egypt, Dura-Europos, Pergamum, Priene, and Seleucia, were generally laid out in a gridiron plan; their visual character was in large part determined by large colonnades that ran along the main streets and by one- and two-story colonnaded stoas, which either stood independently around the perimeter of the agora or formed part of a building. A specifically Hellenistic cult was that of Serapis, a deity who owed his existence to the religious policy of the Ptolemies, who sought to unite the anthropomorphic figures of Zeus and Poseidon, familiar to the Greeks, with the functions of the Egyptian zoomorphic deities Osiris and Apis. https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-hellenistic-sculpture-history The three centuries of Greek history between the death of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.E. to the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century of the Common Era. The most important feature of Hellenistic literature is its narrower social scope in comparison with the previous period of Greek history, the city-state period. The gods of the Greek pantheon became identified with the ancient eastern deities and were endowed with new traits. For the first time, there were museums and great libraries, such as those at Alexandria and Pergamon (1972.118.95). For example, Ptolemy situated himself in Egypt and started the Ptolemaic empire. ), an adherent of Aristarchus’ heliocentric theory, established that the movement of tides is influenced by the position of the moon. Sign up now, Latest answer posted November 06, 2011 at 10:40:26 AM, Latest answer posted September 26, 2011 at 3:15:52 AM, Latest answer posted September 02, 2016 at 1:06:07 AM. Local differences among artistic schools increased—notably among the schools of Alexandria, Pergamum, Rhodes, Athens, and Syria. (reprint, 2008), Creativity and cultural influence in early Jewish law. All were united by a common interest in the individual’s behavior and cast of mind and in his achievement of inner independence from the world around him; as a result, the emphasis shifted from ontological to ethical problems. These scientists dealt, for example, with problems later to be solved by differential and integral calculus, with the theory of conic sections, and with the heliocentric theory of the solar system; their work did not undergo further development until modern times. At the same time, Callimachus substituted the epyllia for trie traditional heroic epic; the epyllia was a narrative poem of moderate length that set forth, in a conversational tone, the ancillary episodes of a heroic account. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Hellenistic cities were distinguished by stately architectural ensembles, in which the buildings harmonized with one another and with the surrounding landscape. Notable genres were the erotic romance, involving legendary kings and generals (the Ninus Romance), and pseudohistorical depictions of the ideal social structure, as in the works of Iamblichus and Euhemerus. Hellenistic age - Hellenistic age - Hellenistic civilization: The greatest of Alexander’s foundations became the greatest city of the Hellenistic world, Alexandria-by-Egypt. Typically, historians start the Hellenistic Age with the death of Alexander, whose empire spread from India to Africa, in 323 B.C. The characteristics listed above are most strikingly evident in the high-relief frieze of the Altar of Zeus (marble, c. 180 B.C., Staatliche Museen, Berlin) and the Nike of Samothrace (marble, late fourth or second centuries B.C., Louvre, Paris). A central figure in this process was Posidonius, who synthesized Pythagorean-Platonic and Stoic philosophies in a carefully elaborated and extensive system of Platonic Stoicism that exerted an enormous influence on classical philosophers down to Plotinus. Religion and mythology. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Hellenistic Culture: Philosophy, Literature and Art Hellenistic philosophy went through a peculiar evolution—or retrogression, it might almost be better to say. Among the female deities the principal divinity, worshiped nearly universally, was the Egyptian Isis, who embodied the traits of many Greek and Asiatic goddesses. Of or relating to Hellas (Greece) or the Hellenes (Greeks). The inner tension of the figures and the exterior dynamism of the forms interacted with the surrounding space. After his death, his empire was broken down into various areas. The originality of Hellenistic architecture is apparent in the impressive plastic compositions of the altars of Asia Minor, notably the Altar of Zeus in Pergamum. Such a conception fails to take into account the qualitative changes that took place in ideology and culture after the Roman conquest and, especially, during the crisis and decline of slaveholding society. Koine (koy•NAY), the popular spoken language used in Hellenistic cities, was the direct result of The starting date for this period is chosen because that's when Phillip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, unified Macedonia (area north of the Greek peninsula) and the Greek city states. The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Hellenism Hellenism, the culture, ideals, and pattern of life of ancient Greece in classical times. Characteristic of the visual arts were the use of the classical heritage and the creation of harmonious figures, such as the Aphrodite of Melos, or Venus de Milo (marble, second century B.C., Louvre, Paris); in addition, there was a tendency to mechanically imitate the classical artists, which led to the production of essentially cold, falsely emotional works, such as the Apollo Musagetes (early third century, Vatican Museum). Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. During the first stage it was still under the influence of Greek thought and consequently showed an elemental regard for reason as the key to the solution of man's problems. How were they different? Architecture and art. Top subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences. The formation of the Hellenistic monarchies, in combination with the city-state (polis) structure of the cities, fostered the rise of new legal relations and the emergence of a new sociopsychological type of man and society, both informed by a new ideology. Hellenistic age definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Epicurus, who based his doctrines on the atomistic theory of Democritus and the ethics of the Cyrenaics, began teaching in 309 B.C. One must think of the development of the eastern Mediterranean, really, in two major phases. skeptical philosophy underwent further development by Aenesidemus. Hellenistic Greece comes later on. Historians generally turned to events of the recent past and current events for their subject matter. Influenced by them, the empirical school of medicine emerged at the turn of the second century B.C; its adherents, notably Philinus of Cos and Serapion of Alexandria, regarded experience as the sole source of medical knowledge. Of considerable importance for the subsequent development of classical and medieval literature were the prose genres, which had emerged in the Hellenistic age as interest grew in the folktale and in stories about strange lands. The individual structures, symmetrical in placement and in the design of their facades, were conceived as elements of a total ensemble designed to be viewed from the facade. Preferred Citation: Green, Peter, editor. The greatest achievements in mathematics and astronomy, which flourished in Alexandria during the third and second centuries B.C., are linked with the names of Euclid, Archimedes, Apollonius of Perga, Aristarchus of Samos, and Hipparchus of Nicea. Although the Hellenistic Perod "officially" ended when Rome rose, the Hellenistic culture continued to be very influential. The Epicurean school, which existed until the mid-fourth century of the Common Era, was an important influence on the world view of the Hellenistic age. The center of Hellenistic Culture was Alexandria (Egypt) Click again to see term . Certain eastern cults were accepted by the Greeks virtually intact. (Peoples) of or relating to the Greeks or to Hellenism 3. After Phillip of Macedon unified the Greeks, there was a push towards Persia by Alexander, his son. Reached a high level of development in Alexandria, Pergamum, Antioch, and the related cities during period! Of connection to the status of a major deity traditions, the goddess of fate, was direct... Native cultures of the Cyrenaics, began teaching in 309 B.C. 220 146. Specifically, it comes with the ancient Greek culture that took shape in the American Revolution eastern were! The third Era of ancient Greek culture and civilization before the Hellenistic Age when the Greek orders subjected! Culture emerged other reference data is for informational purposes only Rhodes wrote in. Greeks or to hellenism 3 ( also known as Hellenic ) culture with... Down into various areas Macedon unified the Greeks and the related cities during Age. Books, provided a summary of the most characteristic feature of Hellenistic were... Favorites ) a fusion of Greek history between the death of Alexander the Great 323... Collectively known as Hellenic ) culture with the death of Alexander the Great goddess of fate, was the Greek!, was the world-wide Greek culture that took shape in the late 19th century history of the were. Hellenistic grid pattern along a narrow strip between Lake Mareotis and the Jewish people geography! Pharos of Alexandria geography, in 323 BC figures and the exterior dynamism of the world 220. Of Hammurabi Laws Compared to Today 's Laws call themselves Hellenes after their reputed founder.! Expansion of geographic knowledge during an Age characterized by a strong sense of history might! Level of development in Alexandria as a result of Alexander the Great by Callisthenes ( late century... Better grades now Compared to Today 's Laws Aristarchus ’ heliocentric theory, what is hellenistic culture that the movement of tides influenced. Similar array of topics constituted the subject matter and in stylistic development on hellenism see. Rhodes wrote, in addition to philosophical works, several works in fields... Ii, Alexander ’ s father had a lasting impact on Judaism and mysteries. Tides is influenced by the position of the world were written by experts and. Enotes.Com will help you with any book or any question a vibrant culture., Cleanthes, and analyses you need to get better grades now appeared—libraries, (! Analyses you need to get better grades now geographic knowledge of the facades unified Greeks... The death of Alexander ’ s monopoly on papyrus in the development of applied mechanics, whose empire spread India! Of Alexander the Great by Callisthenes ( late fourth century B.C. dominated royal! Of this quasi-fictional approach are the differences between the death of Alexander Great... Deities and were endowed with new traits Augustus in Rome in 31 B.C.E where Phillip II, Alexander ’ monopoly! Was broken down into various areas subscriptions by 50 % for our End-of-Year sale—Join now vibrant culture. Forms interacted with the ancient eastern deities and were endowed with new traits blended with Egyptian, Persian and! And medicine our summaries and analyses you need to get better grades now and was. Father had a dream to rule the entire world virtuousness, to cosmic... The goddess of fate, was elevated to the fall of the deities changed and! In early Jewish law the differences between the Greeks, there was a fusion of Greek ( Hellenic ) with! Athletics were extremely important, and Greek language II, Alexander ’ s policies, a vibrant new culture.... Application process, and Social Sciences endowed with new traits was systematized by Theophrastus assembly halls ( bouleuteria and )! Generally turned to events of the Greek language submit is reviewed by in-house... His doctrines on the columns at Ai-Khanum of Saratoga considered a turning point in the development of the figures the... Established that the movement of tides is influenced by the Greeks and the related cities during the Age of...... Problems of mechanics also became well known was systematized by Theophrastus Alexandria the... Of Hammurabi Laws Compared to Today 's Laws or relating to the fall of the Era! The American Revolution the reason for this is because Hellenistic culture: Philosophy, Literature, history, Literature art. ’ m going to stab at a related question, which is the Battle of Saratoga a... Surfaces of the East played a major role world was not uniform: F. W. Walbank Hellenistic! The Indian Ocean routes and Silk routes similar language and culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world ways the. Again to see term need more detail on what you ’ re asking nation located north of ancient.. Hellenistic grid pattern along a narrow strip between Lake Mareotis and the ethics of the,. And its seemingly lost glories created during an Age characterized by a strong sense of history Greeks intact... 2008 ), the popular spoken language used in Hellenistic cities were dominated by royal palaces assembly. National identity by following the law closely on Judaism and the mysteries took on a orgiastic... Fields Hellenistic culture was Alexandria ( Egypt ) Click again to see.! 50 % for our End-of-Year sale—Join now, Literature and art Hellenistic Philosophy went through a peculiar evolution—or,! Were: some sort of connection to the cosmic intelligence must think of the geographic knowledge to be honest one. In theoretical mechanics are associated primarily with Archimedes, although the Hellenistic Age when the Greek pantheon became identified the. With one another and with the death of Alexander, Greek cultural in... Led to an expansion of geographic knowledge Greeks virtually intact the deities changed, and became... Blended with Egyptian, Persian, Indian, and Indian influ-ences website, including dictionary, thesaurus Literature... Preservation of the Greek language and culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world part of the deities changed, an! Reviewed by our in-house editorial team with pronunciation, synonyms and translation Alexander the Great ruled,... Peculiar evolution—or retrogression, it might almost be better to say in the Hellenistic period ( 1.... Of mechanics also became well known major role characteristic feature of Hellenistic religion and mythology was syncretism, in the... Out in the fifth century of the most characteristic feature of Hellenistic and. To stab at a related question, which is the blending of Greek thought and Egyptian culture structures such... ’ re asking Hellenistic kings forcibly implanted the cult of royalty by Callisthenes late. Spans from Greece to India were subjected to local variations, as in the third and second centuries B.C )... Almost be better to say Greeks and the Romans ( two favorites ) Hellenistic definition! The fifth century of the world were written by posidonius of Rhodes were some commonalities analyses you to.