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Show Fiwtnan explains that until recently vie knew t irtually nothing about the Greeks as fanners. 3ut 'Ninety percent of Greeks made their Its mg on the land and it was their surpluses which under" pinned city life He discusses the close between town and country. relationship There is no sense of an urban elite who use the countryside pntnarily as a leisure source and look dow n on the more ignorant country dweller. Such an idea comes only in Hellenistic times w hen piems about the countryside are written by urban poets who clearly see the countryside as something to enjoy or use as a backdrop to tales of lose and seduction in shady groves." There is a fascinating discussion of the intense interest in the place of Us hero" that began in the eighth century Who was the hero? How limited were his powers? Alongside heroic behas hit comes the idealization of the heroic male body The search for perfection in the human form was to prose one of the driving forces of Greek art." Homer's epics are not concerned only with glorifying the hero. "The greatness of the Iliad and 0J ssev as literature lies arguably in the way they illustrate the difficulties inherent in the heroic role. The greatest glory for the hero comes from activities which court death and yr death brings nothing but a shadow y evidence in the underworld. Here is the ultimate and inexplicable human tragedy " This rich overview points out the flaw of the Greek political system was that it never developed a theory of human rights. Rights and duties were assigned not on a universal basis but on the gnninds of status and sex. The author also notes that a major point to remember is the resilience of the Greek culture. As he surveys the Greeks from 1550 B C. to A D. 6tX). from Mycenae to the Byantine Empire, their influence spreads to other lands, other culturev THE GREEK ACHIEVEMENT The Foundation of the Western World By Charles Freeman Viking, $34.95 BBI M706S5150 REVIEW BY ROGER BISHOP The legacy of the ancient Greeks is so overwhelming in so many areas democracy, literature, philosophy, science, mathematics, mythology, drama, icl. an, the Ohmpic.amcwj-vs-cw- v idealize them. As Charles Freeman writes. A popular image of Athens has survived in which the marble is always shining, the streets are clean, and there is a lot of time for passionate philosophical discussions about art. theater, and the meaning of life." But Freeman is keenly aware of the human reality behind the reputation and the paradoxes that accompanied the towering accomplishments. His magnificent The Greek Achievement: The Foundation of the Western World often the general reader an excellent introduction to the subject. The author uses the best of recent scholarship and excerpts from the works of many classic sources such as Homer, d Plato. Aeschylus, and Sappho, in a narrative that covers almost 2.(XX) years of cultural, diplomatic, and milifast-pace- tary history. Greek society had a rich spiritual tradition" that involved a complex mythology. For example, "It was typical for a new city to find a protecting god. Athena at Athens. Apollo in Corinth, for instance, and sacred areas, both inside and outside of the city were set aside for in which to worship them. temples After her victory in the Persian wars, for 75 years Athens became the most important force in the Greek wcakl. "Democracy was sustained by empire; drama was an essential part of democratic participation, philosophy fostered by the experience of intense debate within a city setting. The citys pride was enhanced by the magnificent building program on the Acropolis. But Freeman notes. "Athens' democracy depended on slavery and the fruits of empire Democratic government did not necessarily mean benign government. The Athenian assembly could order the massacre of the entire male population of another Greek island and llie enslavement of its women and children. Women were segregated and marginalized m almost every area 19997 Lonn 365 Zen Roshe, Pb D. Read this book and learn the secrets that all successful meditators have learned the hard way...I give it my highest recommendation.' BARBARA DE ANcE US. PH D , author of Reel Moments EJLied by Jean Smith The Invitation Orteh Mountain Drrumer If you want to live more deeply, honcsily, and passionately, you RICHARD must read this book. CARLSON, author the Smell Srx'f.. The popular formal. v $aM A Hessian fir the Possible imi wr Who Sold f. cc Hb Ferrari 4. fij I flilit mevltuiton-a-da- Koala 1 it MOW of Zen of Don't Surat 'Wonderful1 A feast of life to nourish the hungry seeker.' JEAN HOUSTON, author of SPEED TRAP collection first-ev- koans, stories, and savings in the T9 Of mi out OcM TSf tut fas? UM JOSEPi BA1LET The Speed Trap Joseph BatUy The Monk Who Soto His Bailey can help you discover a place within yourselt where life doesnt seem so rushed or so much like an emergency RlQiARD CARLSON. PH D author of ion't Sure! tin Smell Sluf.. Robin a Charmed liitwrw Mown Creating Ldf 'Strategics ior calm and happiness m a world that often seems to spin 7he Drnirr too fast. lt Ferrari 5c Sburma 'A captivating story that teaches as it delights. rutOCOl LHO. author of Ter AL benust 5 I LirpcrSanFrancisco 4 TVwoa of i iirwC |