Greek Literature is the basis of modern writing. It was formed over the duration of three thousand years and encompasses a rich variety of subjects including mythology, history, math, and science. Particularly during the golden age of Ancient Greece, philosophy and mythology flourished, giving rise to such texts like the Odyssey and Plato's Republic. New ideas were formed and discussed, such as the value of democracy and autocracy. Plays and greek theatre gained widespread following, leading to the rise of open air theatres, which have remained part of Western culture up to the present. The two greatest Greek writers are discussed below.
| Book | Author | Description |
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Homer | Homer is best known as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. He was believed by the ancient Greeks to have been the first and greatest of the epic poets. Author of the first known literature of Europe, he is central to the Western canon. The importance of Homer to the ancient Greeks is described in Plato's Republic, which portrays him as the protos didaskalos, "first teacher", of the tragedians, the hegemon paideias, "leader of Greek culture", and the ten Hellada pepaideukon, "teacher of [all] Greece". Homer's works, which are about fifty percent speeches, provided models in persuasive speaking and writing that were emulated throughout the ancient and medieval Greek worlds. Fragments of Homer account for nearly half of all identifiable Greek literary papyrus finds in Egypt. The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second oldest extant work of Western literature, the Iliad being the oldest. |
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Plato | Plato was a philosopher and mathematician in Classical Greece, and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, especially the Western tradition. The Republic is one of his most famous works, and discusses the meaning of justice, politics and their relatio to man. Among others, he debated the best form of government. |