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Magna Grecia and Greece
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Imperatore Dario I View Drop Down
Shogun
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Posts: 204 		  Quote Imperatore Dario I Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Magna Grecia and Greece
    Posted: 17-Aug-2004 at 10:27
What was the difference of culture between Greece, and Magna Grecia (Greater Greece)? I mean, I heard that Magna Grecia added the influences of some Italic tribes in Italy with her culture.  How much? Did they really? Did Magna Grecia ever replace Greece proper as the center of Greek civilization?

Let there be a race of Romans with the strength of Italian courage.- Virgil's Aeneid
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Posts: 2329 		  Quote Yiannis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-Aug-2004 at 07:54

Generally speaking, when 2 cultures meet they both influense one another. Of course the more advanced one has a greater impact. E.g., Etruscan and Roman alphabet originate from the Greek one. Literature, sculpture and art in general was also influenced by the Greek style etc.

But Magna Grecia usually followed the traits that were formed in Greece proper. Philosophers, artists and playwriters were lured to Sicily and Southern Italy by the gold offered to them. Some others (e.g. Pythagoras) went to Magna Graecia to escape pursecution and of course some have been born and flourished in Magna Gracia e.g. Archimedes in Syracuse.

 

 

 
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Imperatore Dario I View Drop Down
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Posts: 204 		  Quote Imperatore Dario I Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-Aug-2004 at 09:47
Originally posted by Yiannis

Generally speaking, when 2 cultures meet they both influense one another. Of course the more advanced one has a greater impact. E.g., Etruscan and Roman alphabet originate from the Greek one. Literature, sculpture and art in general was also influenced by the Greek style etc.

But Magna Grecia usually followed the traits that were formed in Greece proper. Philosophers, artists and playwriters were lured to Sicily and Southern Italy by the gold offered to them. Some others (e.g. Pythagoras) went to Magna Graecia to escape pursecution and of course some have been born and flourished in Magna Gracia e.g. Archimedes in Syracuse.

No no, I meant, I saw in a book on the Roman Empire that Magna Graecia also used the influence of Italic styles to blend them with Greek styles in some things.

Let there be a race of Romans with the strength of Italian courage.- Virgil's Aeneid
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Yiannis View Drop Down
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Posts: 2329 		  Quote Yiannis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-Aug-2004 at 03:05

Oh, well then the first part of my previous reply applies as well. When 2 cultures meet, one influences another... but I'm not aware in what particular way Italic styles influenced the Greek ones. Do you have any examples?

 
The basis of a democratic state is liberty. Aristotle, Politics

Those that can give up essential liberty to obtain a temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
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Rebelsoul View Drop Down
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Posts: 73 		  Quote Rebelsoul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-Aug-2004 at 04:46

Mainly when two cultures meet, the influence goes from the more civilized/advanced part to the less advanced one.

In our example, the Greeks of southern Italy influenced heavily the locals, but got very little in exchange.

A funny thing: the Greeks of Greece proper considered the Greeks of southern Italy to be particularly lustful and prone to loosing the measure ("metron").  Syvaris was mentioned mostly as an example of that tendancy of the Greeks of Megali Hellas. Hence the term "Syvarite", used even today.
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Imperatore Dario I View Drop Down
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Posts: 204 		  Quote Imperatore Dario I Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-Aug-2004 at 12:30
Originally posted by Yiannis

Oh, well then the first part of my previous reply applies as well. When 2 cultures meet, one influences another... but I'm not aware in what particular way Italic styles influenced the Greek ones. Do you have any examples?

 

There was an ancient Magnian (Magna Grecian) painting which I found a book of the Roman Empire. Now, the painting had a slave or servant handing over a gold cup of some sort to a king seated on his throne.

Let there be a race of Romans with the strength of Italian courage.- Virgil's Aeneid
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Imperatore Dario I View Drop Down
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Posts: 204 		  Quote Imperatore Dario I Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2004 at 15:43
Was there even any difference between the civilization of Magna Graecia to the one in Greece proper at all?

Let there be a race of Romans with the strength of Italian courage.- Virgil's Aeneid
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