Department of Classics
Classics 201: Greek Civilization
Final Exam, Winter 1999

I. Identify and briefly discuss the following terms and names (choose 7 of 10; four points each):

1. megaron
2. teleology
3. Delian League
4. kore
5. ostracism
6. Solon
7. Salamis
8. oikos
9. orientalizing style
10. skene

II. Identify the following quotes by author, work and, in the relevant passages, the speaker, and discuss their significance in the works in which they are found (choose 7 of 10; six points each)

1.             The gods desire to keep the stuff of life
            Hidden from us.  If they did not, you could
            Work for a day and earn a year's supplies;
            You'd pack away your rudder, and retire
            The oxen and the laboring mules.  But Zeus
            Concealed the secret, angry in his heart
            At being hoodwinked by Prometheus.

2.             "Then again,' I said, "just consider; if such a one should go down again and sit on his old seat, would he not get his eyes full of darkness coming in suddenly out of the sun."

3.             There they lay in the deep sleep of exhaustion,
            some resting on boughs of fir, others sleeping
            where they fell, here and there among the oak leaves -
            but all modestly and soberly, not, as you think,
            drunk with wine, nor wandering, led astray
            by the music of the flute, to hunt their Aphrodite
            through the woods.

4.             Indeed, if I have dealt at some length upon the character of our country, it has been to show that our stake in the struggle is not the same as theirs who have no such blessings to lose, and also that the panegyric of the men over whom I am now speaking might be by definite proofs established.

5.             Now the floor is scrubbed clean, our hands are washed
            and cups are dry.  A boy loops garlands
            in our hair.  Another passes round a phial
            of redolent balsam. The mixing bowl
            is bubbling with good cheer....

6. "leave your mother to examine me in the palace
            as she will, and presently she will understand better;
            but now that I am dirty and wear foul clothing upon me..."

7.  It chanced that at this time that the Lacedaemonians held the outer guard, and were seen by the spy, some of them engaged in gymnastic exercises, others combing their long hair.  At this the spy greatly marvelled, but he counted their number, and when he had taken accurate note of everything he rode back quietly.

8. Men now coolly ventured on what they had formerly done in a corner and not just where they pleased, seeing the rapid transitions produced by persons in prosperity suddenly dying and those who before had nothing succeeding to their property. So they resolved to spend quickly and enjoy themselves, regarding their lives and riches as alike things of a day.

9.             "My father, I am yours.  You keep me straight
            with your good judgement, which I shall ever follow.
            Nor shall a marriage count for more with me
            than your kind leading."

10. Homer was wrong in saying: "Would that strife might perish from among gods and men!"  He did not see that he was praying for the destruction of the universe; for if his prayer were heard, all things would pass away.

III.  Write an essay on one of the following topics (30 points):

1.  Discuss the role of woman and the female in Greek literature and life with reference to the whole body of material we have studied this quarter.

2.  Discuss the role of religion and the gods in Greek culture making reference to the full range of materials considered in this course.

IV. Bonus Questions (5 points)

Explain what Prof. Pamela Gaber's talk was about, with reference to details which incontrovertibly indicate that you were present at the talk.