Johnson


 * Johnson**

Bull-Leaping http://www.strangehorizons.com/2005/20050124/bull-leaping-a.shtml

Bull-leaping in Ancient Greece was a ritual frequently featured in Minoan art. In it, participants (usually male) would grab a bull by the horns and when it lifted its head to shake them off, participants flew in to the air and did flips or other acrobatic moves. Murals, statues, jewelry and clay sculptures have been found depicting the ritual. The reason for the ritual is unclear, however many have made plausible theories. Some believe it to be religious, others think that it was performed in a coming-of-age ceremony.Some think bull-leaping contributed to the domestication of animals since the bulls were captured and held. The inclusion of bull-leaping in Minoan art illustrates the significance of ritual in Minoan culture.

Delian Empire [|http://www.livius.org/de-dh/delian_league/delian_league.html] http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/greecehellas1/a/delianleague.htm http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/27.html

The Delian League was an alliance to protect Ionian city-states from Persian threat. When King Xerxes led Persia to attack and destroy Athens, the league was created to prevent Persians from returning. The league was made up of poleis around Greece. The Delian league copied many ideas from the Achaemnid Empire (led by King Darius). Since many of the city-states in the Delian League were separated by water, a strong system of naval communication was necessary much like that of the Achaemnid Empire. They also copied the Achaemnid Empire’s idea of essentially taxing nonworking members of the alliance and paying working members. Athens (the founding city of the league) continually demanded money and protection from their allies even when it was not necessary. The treasury, which was originally located in Delos (hence, the “Delian Empire”) was eventually moved to Athens to the displeasure of the rest of the league. The Delian League broke up in about 459 since peace had been made with Persia, and the alliance was no longer necessary. Overall, the league stabilized Greece and gave smaller cities a greater chance of survival.

Thucydides’ Account of the Plague http://www.livius.org/pb-pem/peloponnesian_war/war_t05.html

Thucydides’ account of the plague that killed off two thirds of the Athenian population portrays it as a hopeless tragedy. When the Athenians entered Attica to take over, the plague affected them immediately. No specific cause could be detected, but it was extremely contagious. The disease started with headaches, sore throats and tongues, and turned in to a harsh cough. It then reached the stomach and upset it until it reached the bowels, giving its victims severe diarrhea. The worst symptom of all, however, was the depression, which greatly affected the mentality of the Athenians. One had little hope, and those still alive did not want to see them, for fear of acquiring the disease. Thucydides survived his case of the disease, astonishingly. Those sharing his luck were safe from getting it a second time. While the Peloponnesians brought the disease to Attica in attack, the plague never harmed Peloponnese to an extent worth noticing.

Olympics http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Olympics/

The Olympic Games began in Olympia (Greece) in 700 b.c. in honor of the god Zeus. There was even a 42 foot tall, gold and bronze [|statue of Zeus] in Olympia. The Olympics were the most popular of the Pan-Hellenic festivals and was held by the ancient Greeks every four years. [|Women] were not allowed to watch the games and only male [|Greek nationals] could play. Events included horse-racing (for the wealthier crowd), and a [|pentathlon] including wresting, discus and javelin throwing, races, and long jumps. While the festival started off only lasting one day, today it lasts 16 days and women are allowed to participate.