The Greek Legacy Democracy Myths Power and Birthplace of Civilization History Documentary

Democracy, the Olympic Games, benchmarks of modern society. Yet their roots go back millennia, all the way to the ancient Greeks. The Romans have given us modern legislature and a sophisticated infrastructure. While the Vikings established elaborate trading networks and discovered America well before Columbus, they've all helped forge a new world. The Greeks, the Romans and the Vikings are the founding fathers of modern Europe. Greece, a Mediterranean world of temple ruins, white marble sculptures of mischievous gods and cramped mountain villages glued to rugged coastlines. Islands dot the sea, many of them barren and uninhabited. Extensive olive groves stretch across the mainland, while oak forests dominate the mountains. This is where, almost 3,000 years ago, the story of the Greeks begins. A collection of city-states scattered across the eastern Mediterranean. The many kingdoms are constantly at loggerheads. The only connection, their language and their gods. They rule from the top of snowy Mount Olympus. From here, they interfere in human affairs whenever they fancy. Only the 12 most important Greek gods live as one big family on Mount Olympus. The Greeks pictured them like modern-day top models. Refined, even features, tall and slender, boasting ideal measurements. But very human traits lie hidden behind the divine facades. Intrigue, envy and deceit. The Greek gods are completely different to the way we imagine gods to be. They aren't omnipotent, they aren't omniscient, they aren't even omnipresent. But what bothers us most, from a Christian, Muslim or Jewish point of view, is the fact that these gods are morally imperfect. That they fight each other, they commit adultery, they steal and they deceive. Despite this, the Olympian gods were considered fair and were revered for at least a thousand years. Revered but also feared, especially when they play with fate. The most colourful character is the powerful father of the gods, Zeus. He can do anything and his many affairs are legendary. His sister is Demeter, a virgin and a mother all at once and in charge of harvest and fertility. Her brother, Poseidon, is the irritable god of the sea and likes to sink ships. Athena is said to be a brainchild and represents wisdom and war. Beautiful Aphrodite takes care of love. Although married, she's rarely faithful. Dionysus loves to celebrate with opulent feasts and raucous parties. And finally, Apollo. He's responsible for all sorts of things, not least the Delphi Oracle. In ancient Greece, the gods are consulted about everything. Getting their advice means travelling to a holy place. Ideally, straight to the centre of the world, Delphi. An imposing temple hosts the most influential oracle of the time. Thousands make the arduous journey, bearing valuable gifts. Because without offerings, there's no divine prophecy. For Drachmas we've handed over for this stubborn beast, Apollo will value it. We'll see about that. Countless ordinary people make the pilgrimage in the hope that fate will take a turn in their favour. Even famous kings like Croesus and Alexander the Great believe in divine prophecy. Profit or loss, war or peace, victory or defeat, it's all down to the oracle alone. That's us through. We really were here first. It's me, Muse, remember? Thanks. Come in. Have you brought gifts for the oracle? Yes, of course, yes. The oracle's prophecies are delivered by a priestess, chosen for her gift of seeing into the future. She can't be addressed directly. The questions go through the priests who pass them on to the Pythia. The ceremony takes place behind closed doors. That's why nobody really knows what happened in the temple's inner sanctum. Legend has it the Pythia falls into a deep trance during the ritual. Only then can she receive messages from the gods. When the priestess finally delivers the prophecy, her language is confused, as if intoxicated. How the women fell into a trance is not clear. They may have breathed in methane and carbon monoxide, which escaped the ground in large quantities. Over time, it can lead to oxygen shortage in the brain. The speculation is that the Pythia breathed in fumes, which emanated from the temple's interior, or that she chewed toxic laurel leaves. It's also possible that she drank from the temple's spring. Gases could also be verified there. What's clear is that the Pythia fell into a divine trance. Mostly, she uttered inarticulate words. The priests then interpreted these and proclaimed them as divine prophecies. So the priests are behind the mysterious prophecies. Powerful men who run a flourishing business in Delphi. Can you tell us what she had to say? It is tough to interpret the words of the gods. But you can tell us something, can't you? Apollo is supportive of you and your plans. And for your generosity, that much I can say. He will reward you well. The more valuable the gifts, the more useful the prophecies. And to ensure that the messages worked for everyone, the priests came up with a clever system. The priests' power came through knowledge. They sent their people right across the world in order to gain insights into what was happening everywhere. And when people came here and asked a question, the priests knew what answer they should give them. And the people who came here sent money. And the priests managed this money and kept it in treasuries. These treasuries and the money that came to Delphi were managed like a modern bank. And because they also issued loans, the priests developed a lot of power. The priests effectively managed Greece's financial hub. Ironically, the two most important Delphi principles were apparently written above the temple. Know yourself and nothing in excess. Above all, it's imperative to keep the unpredictable gods on your side. All the city-states trust Apollo with their business. Even powerful Athens sends votive offerings to Delphi. Distant Greek colonies are thought to have operated their own oracles and treasuries. These Greek temples and treasuries have continued to fascinate us over the centuries. From painters, architects and writers to countless modern tourists. Including the Temple of Selinunt in Sicily and the Poseidon Temple near Athens. At the time, the old belief systems are still popular. But gradually, some thinkers begin to find other explanations. Their concept, understanding the world through thought. They begin to observe nature in detail. The new-fledged scientists find patterns in the mating behavior of bees and develop new instruments to measure the circumference of the earth. They even design a water clock. Its function? To restrict the speaking time available to politicians. First machines appear. Including an allotment machine to select and appoint officials. Stories of temperamental gods are no longer enough for these scholars. They want to understand cause and effect and develop scientific laws. They call themselves philosophers and friends of wisdom and are seen as the founders of modern science. From the 6th century BC onwards, the thirst for knowledge spreads across Greece like wildfire. Schools of thought become the new temples. Establishments that lay the foundations for the research centers of today. In the 16th century, Rome picks up on these ancient ideas. Pope Julius II even dedicates a fresco to the great philosophers which shows them in the School of Athens. One of them is Socrates, who probes Athens' people with uncomfortable questions and concludes, I know that I know nothing. Plato is the founder of the first school of philosophy in the world. His objective is the search for truth. To his right is his pupil Aristotle who makes history with the invention of logic. There are lots of rumors about Diogenes but few hard facts. But Archimedes is considered exceptional. He's famous for his ingenuity even in ancient times. That's precisely why he's given a special assignment. Archimedes is to find out if the king's crown is made of pure gold or if it's been diluted with a cheaper material. A tough challenge as the precious crown can't be damaged. Legend has it that Archimedes has an idea while having a bath. As he gets into a tub of water filled to the brim, some of it overflows. The learned man realizes the amount of overflowing water equates to the volume of his own body. His conclusion, the volume of an object and its density can be calculated by measuring the displaced water. Archimedes speculates that the crown's material can also be calculated this way. He observes that an object with a lower density than water displaces more water than an object of the same weight but with a greater density. Jubilant at his discovery, Archimedes is said to have shouted, Eureka! I have found it! And run naked into the street. Archimedes now takes the crown and a lump of gold of equal weight. If the crown is also made of pure gold, both objects should displace the same amount of water. But the crown displaces more. It must have been mixed with another material. Archimedes managed to solve many other conundrums. He's still regarded as one of the brightest brains of all time. And his Archimedes principle has never been topped. But his contemporaries are not far behind him. The scholars of ancient Greece design the first world maps with longitudes and latitudes. They discover that the Earth is round. And Ptolemy works out how planets and other celestial bodies orbit the Earth. The first steam engine and a water pump are other notable inventions. And the Greeks developed new weapons like the catapult and protective vests for their soldiers. Archimedes formulates the lever rules and lays the foundations for modern mechanics. But also geometry and algebra go back to the scholars of ancient Greece. Much of what we take for granted today originated with the observations, calculations and conclusions drawn by the great minds of antiquity. Without them, perhaps there would never have been a dome to complete a church. Insights into the building blocks of Earth and nuclear physics might never have developed. The industrial revolution at the start of the 19th century might not have happened. And crossing the oceans could have remained no more than a pipe dream. In the 6th century BC, a reform in Athens changes the lives of all Greeks forever. Around 80,000 Athenians bear witness to a monumental political change. The city-state is in crisis. The common people rebel against the king and ruling classes. They want to have a say in important state decisions. It's the birth of the popular assembly. Every citizen of Athens can take part. At least, almost everyone. The assembly is restricted to men over 18. And to allow even the poor to take part, they're paid a daily wage for their attendance. Who are you? Gapotos, a Gapotos. Okay, come up. The citizens of Athens meet once a month at a place near the Acropolis to discuss politics. Oh, Gapotos, a friend. It was high time. Yeah, I had stuff to do. A popular assembly with regular meetings. It's a first in history. It marks the beginning of a new system, democracy. It puts an end to Greece's autocratic rulers, symbolized by the assassination of two noblemen, the tyrannicide. It's a different story in mighty Egypt and the Middle East. Here, regents still rule with godlike authority. Here, the law is always on the side of the despots. The people have no rights, but are expected to give their lives in battle. In fact, democracy is the product of a crisis. First, the Greeks fight each other. Then they have to defend themselves against the Persians. Everyone from noblemen to simple farmers is needed to mount a serious defense against the advancing enemy. The city-state's armies make up many thousands of soldiers. Poor and rich fight shoulder to shoulder in closed ranks. After all, their independence is at stake. Athens also builds a new fleet. They need thousands of rowers to keep it moving, recruited from the poorest of society. Together, the Greeks are strong. They beat the Persian aggressors in two decisive battles. But there are political consequences. In return for risking their lives for the state, the soldiers now request more rights. In particular, those from the common population. After all, they all contribute to victory or defeat, whether they're farmers or day laborers, noblemen or simple citizens. Now, they all want to have a say. It takes around 200 years before they reach their goal. The collective battle experiences of the citizens of Athens and the attempt to find common solutions during the preparations for war were a decisive contribution to the emergence of democracy. The citizens of the other city-states had similar experiences. But in Athens, the idea of democracy emerged particularly quickly. The new mantra is rule of the people. But that only includes adult male citizens of Athens. The opinions of women, children, slaves and foreigners are immaterial. They're excluded from everything. The wealthy nobility has the greatest influence on politics. Lower-ranking officials come from the second and third classes of merchants, craftsmen and rich farmers. The fourth class is made up of day laborers. But they can all contribute to the people's assembly. We're standing here where the Athenian people's assembly congregated, the pneus. The remains of the speaker's podium are in the background. This is where the people of Athens used to come together to make decisions. Ah, there he is. You all know that our fleet is the biggest and strongest in the world. It's just as well. And yet our peace remains fragile. What if one day the access to the harbor is cut off? It is high time to build a protective wall from Athens to Piraeus. Listen up. The rich will get an extra tax for the building of the wall. The orators formed a central role in the people's assembly. They were also known as demagogues because they led the people. The word first had a positive meaning, later a more negative one. Because a demagogue could also lead people to make a wrong decision in his own interest and against the good of the people. Citizens of Athens, I ask you, do you want to live in prosperity and defy our enemies? Then vote to build the protective wall. Say yes, say yes, just say yes. Does anyone want to say anything? Now is the time. He should come forward and talk to all of us here. Now listen up. Whoever is against the wall of Silenus's proposal, raise your hand. Right. All those in favor, raise your hand now. It's the voice of the ordinary man that counts. Whether a law is passed or not depends on the majority. And that usually lies with the common people. The result is clear. It has been decided. The wall will be built. Special taxes for unusual expenses are only paid by the rich. The ancient Greeks left more stone tablets behind than any state before them. Thousands of decrees chiseled into stone. They refer to all sorts of decisions, building projects, whether Athens should go to war or spend money on festivities. The most important decisions of the people's assembly were recorded on steles such as these. They were then erected in public places such as the Acropolis or the Agora, the market. This stele, for example, bears two tax decrees. Firstly, who will collect the taxes of Athens' allies, and secondly, how the monies should be collected. On this stele, there are images of receptacles, sacks and coins. These simple symbols mean it's time to collect taxes. Everyone could see and understand them immediately. The word foroi, or taxes, appears frequently. But they were only issued when needed, as one-off payments. When the people's assembly passes a law, it's effective immediately, and everyone can read about it on the stone tablets. Anyone unable to read can ask a municipal reader to recite it for them. Official duties in ancient Greece are allocated randomly by sortition. Although no qualifications are needed to become a market policeman, a commissioner for epidemics or a judge, a good reputation is essential. Leonidos Linos, you are elected. And here we have Gregorios Panakos. And also Kalamas has been elected. The Greeks invented the allotment machine especially for this purpose. Two are positioned at the entrance of the place of assembly. Slots on the front are divided into five columns. Each column relates to a letter in the alphabet, and every letter represents a group of candidates. The candidate's nameplates are inserted at random into the slots of his particular group. Black and white marbles are then thrown into the allotment machine to select names. White means elected, black, not elected. The sortition system was a basic principle of Athenian democracy. All citizens were to have equal rights, and they should all have the same opportunities to hold a public office. Only very high-ranking positions, such as commander-in-chief of the army, weren't allocated at random. The allotment machine was also developed to avoid corruption. Lots were drawn for the position of judge on the very day of the hearing. The selected person had to go to the trial immediately, so it was completely impossible to influence or bribe a judge. The Roman regents are not impressed with the Athenian model, and the great European monarchs also managed to oppose the rule of the people successfully. Across Europe, the population has to forcefully fight for their rights over the course of centuries. Eventually, democracy returns with the French Revolution in 1789, 2,000 years after the Greeks invented it. Women finally get to vote in the 20th century. Today, the political power of the people is a basic principle in the Western world. But in ancient Greece, anyone wishing to become a politician also needs to be a good warrior. Physical fitness is compulsory for young men. In educational establishments, they learn a little about rhetoric and grammar, but their main discipline is sports, in the nude. In fact, the word gymnasium simply means naked place. The demands are extremely high. Anyone showing real talent during training receives support to compete in big sporting events as an athlete. Having a honed body is now important. The ancient Greeks are the first to drive the cultural round body image to the max. Their beauty ideals are carved in stone for all to see. For the first time in history, statues look lifelike. Their flawlessness still stands as an idea of absolute beauty. The Renaissance period picks up on these ideals, and new works of art are created after ancient models. But for these artists, it's less about immaculate beauty than about the perfect reproduction of the human anatomy. And no Renaissance man would ever have put his own body through such tough training. Greek sculpture uses the human body as a theme. It can show a god, or it can show an athlete. It's not really your average body. Just like today, there is a search for ideal bodies, and they're reproduced in striking detail with athletic nuances, showing all the muscles with pronounced ribs and in beautiful poses. These 2,000-year-old beauty ideals are still current, even if today few take such care to keep their bodies in shape. Greek youths were very different. Their fitness is both for battle, but also for competitive sports. There are around 300 sporting events every year. The participants are ambitious. Winning brings in money and career prospects. And the old disciplines have endured the test of time. Discus has been around since the very beginning. Javelin, too. Both require strength and a superior technique. Fist fighting was also introduced by the Greeks, although the rules have become much stricter. And in the 21st century, the thrill of the race still fascinates. The Greeks' biggest sporting event takes place once every four years in Olympia. Messengers are sent throughout the land to announce the start of the Games. All the city-states are invited, even those at loggerheads. The competition is marked by an armistice throughout the Greek world, the Olympic Peace. Originally, the spectacle is held in honour of Zeus and regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The facilities are remarkable. Sports halls are at the athletes' disposal for training. They are to have everything they need. And just like today, the sportsmen are superstars. If they win. The winners receive a laurel wreath and secure eternal fame. Mylon of Croton is a legend. A wrestler, also known as Fatty, he devours eight kilos of meat every day. Theogenes, a fist fighter, he claims 1,300 victories and his statue is said to have healing powers. And there's the notorious wrestler Arachion. Even as he lies dying, he's said to have dislocated his adversary's toe. But there are also some famous losers. Apollonius is excluded for being late for the competition. Eupolus is shown to be corrupt. And a different Theogenes is punished severely for boring the audience. But in the 5th century AD, the peaceful competitions come to an abrupt end. The Christian emperor Theodosius forbids heathen cults, including the Olympic Games. The venue disappears, first beneath a new city, then under metre-high rubble. Archaeologists rediscover the ruins in the 19th century. Olympia becomes famous once again. And in 1896, the first modern Olympic Games take place in Athens. Soon, women are also allowed to take part. Later, it is opened up for other races too. And in the globalised world of the 21st century, the Olympic Games have become a staple. They stand as an eternal symbol for peaceful communication between people. Theatre is just as important, although less of a mass event today. In ancient Greece, every little town has its own theatre, an object of pride for its inhabitants. The theatre has its origins in religious rites. Ritual dances in honour of the god Dionysus played a central role. These so-called satirical dances then developed into drama with roleplay. The special thing about Epidaurus is that sick people were sent here to the theatre for therapeutic reasons. Performances follow strict rules, and every piece is performed only once. There are no more than three actors on stage, all of them male. They wear masks to play many roles, old, young, even women. What counts are big gestures, a loud voice and precise pronunciation. They're accompanied by a choir to drive the performance and explain its background. Why are they not ready? The performances. Most important are the commissioner, a nobleman who pays for everything. And of course, the writer of the piece. Something amusing and light might also be nice. Something to laugh at, huh? But listen, I write tragedy. Yes, I know, but I want to see something different this time. Do you understand? No, I don't. Euripides, I mean it. A little more lightness wouldn't be wrong. Think on it. I'll come back tomorrow. The epos are tragic hero's tales, written in verse form and rather long-winded, like Homer's epics. The main characters usually try to escape their fates, but it almost always ends in their deaths. The comedy is a little easier. An enjoyable piece, often a little coarse, with a guaranteed happy ending. As Aristotle says, theatre cleanses the soul. The stories originate from the myths. They deal with conflicts which not just the gods but also people can solve. The message that there are solutions for all conflicts brings on the healing process. As long as the audience can actually hear the director's message, Greek theatres could hold up to 14,000 people. It has to be bigger. Your gestures have to be much bigger. Understand? It's about life and death. You there, hurry up instead of gawping. Carry on working, you too. We don't have much time. You have to speak more clearly so you can be heard in the last row. So, you look at each other. You don't recognize your brother. Not so close. Good. Come on out. Don't be shy. Come on. The hair looks good. Stop laughing. That's not so good. That has to look better somehow. Tell the tailors to do the whole thing again. In the theatre of Epidaurus, every single word can be heard right up to the last row. The structure is famous for its exceptional acoustics. Two things in particular create the good acoustics here. On the one hand, the incline of the entire theatre. On the other, the ratio between seat and backrest. It's perfect. That's why the audience in the last rows can also hear the voices very clearly. The frequencies increase from bottom to top. It's typical that the echo concentrates here. When we move away, we notice that the sound changes because the symmetry of the echo changes. Epidaurus has perfect acoustics, but we don't know if the Greeks had a plan. Did they make exact calculations or was it just experience? That will remain their secret. The theatre as a cleanser of the soul and a mirror of human conflicts has survived the millennia and found new forms of expression. Not just the famous stages of the world, but also cinemas show happy or sad stories every night. When the moving image takes over, film becomes more popular. The studios produce blockbusters and reach an audience of millions. Over the course of the centuries, new heroes conquer the big screen and stage. But their stories follow an old pattern. There are comedies and tragedies. Greek culture spreads through the known world in ancient times. Responsible is Alexander the Great, the king of Macedonia. In the 4th century BC, the young ruler sets off to conquer the world. He forces the Greek city-states to unite under his rule and creates an empire. He introduces Greek language and education to the conquered territories. A new epoch begins, Hellenism. The Greek conqueror takes his inheritance from his hometown of Pella all the way to India. But the golden age of Athens has already ended. After Alexander's early death, his empire falls apart and a new power emerges, Rome. The Romans specialize on conquering land and people. They're strictly organized in contrast to the constantly warring Greeks. Their commanders have no trouble in overrunning the small city-states once and for all. Compared to the ambitious Romans, the Greeks always remained what they had been at the beginning. Too different and too disunited to put up a fight against Rome. The Romans are attentive pupils and very consciously take on the Greek inheritance. They spread Greek culture further throughout Europe because the Romans understand the Greeks' unique contribution, whether it be education, literature or theater. That means many Greek accomplishments were taken up by the Romans and passed on. For example, much of the Roman legislative systems were of Greek origin. So the Romans preserved the inheritance of the Greeks for posterity. And their inheritance is impressive. Their tireless search for explanations leads the Greeks to uncover the universal laws of nature and lay the foundations for modern science. They influenced modern technology more than anyone else and even prepared the ground for progress. Thanks to their research, we can today survey not only the world but also space. Their art of telling stories gives rise to the great works of world literature and inspires the film industry. Their theaters are the models for huge arenas which accommodate tens of thousands of people for mega-shows. The idea to bring many peoples together for peaceful competitions is still celebrated every four years during our modern Olympics. Around the globe and across all borders. But the most important influence of ancient Greece today is the idea that the citizens rule their state and control it through laws made by the people. Many members of the European Union would probably not be democratic today without the reforms of the ancient Greeks. And not just Europe. The democratic thought of government of the people, by the people, for the people was formulated by Abraham Lincoln. The accomplishments of the ancient Greeks have survived millennia. Even today, they continue to shape life and thought in the Western world substantially. There is no doubt, ancient Greece is the cradle of Western culture.