How The Reign of Alexander The Great and The Hellenistic Period Changed Macedonia and Greece

Introduction

Alexander the Great was the King of Macedonia from 336 B.C to 323 B.C. During this period, he conquered the Persian Empire, spreading Greek culture and language throughout Asia Minor, Egypt, and Macedonia to India (Fiero, 2009, p. 136). The Hellenistic period began with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C and ended in 31 B.C. During this time, the Greeks were dominant throughout the Mediterranean, which is why it receives the name of Hellenistic, derived from the Greek “Hellas,” meaning Greece (Goodman, 1997). The Greek religion, which started in the second millennium B.C, involved belief in many gods rather than just one true god. The Hellenistic period's religion was similar to that of the classical period and later times like Christianity. It was complex, filled with deities and beliefs that evolved based on what people needed or wanted at the time. This constant evolution led to confusion and the rise of new religions or cults, causing many people to change or lose their faith entirely, paving the way for Christianity. As these changes occurred, many aspects of the classical era transformed into something similar yet entirely different, like architecture. Greek architecture underwent several changes between Ancient Greece and the Hellenistic period. In Ancient Greece, there were two types of architecture: the Doric order and the Ionic order. The Hellenistic period, characterized by its theatrical nature, introduced another type of architecture to the Greeks: the Corinthian order.

Origins of Greek Religion

The Greek religion is believed to have started around the time of the Aryan invasion in the second millennium B.C. The Aryan invaders encountered two peoples who had lived in the region of Greece since Neolithic times, fusing to create what is now considered Greek culture. This fusion resulted in what is known as the Minoan-Mycenaean civilization, which flourished between 1600 B.C and 1400 B.C. Before these invasions, the Helladic communities were geographically dispersed. When the Hellenistic period began, foreign attacks pushed everything along its path, resulting in mixed beliefs and confusion, which eventually led to the systematization of religion. The marriage of gods was an attempt at union, even though conflicts existed between them. The classical Greek pantheon was a mixture of gods from many cultures. The conflicts of the classical period put these gods on trial, as people expected immediate and tangible rewards from them, making reality difficult for some. This form of religion catered more to the rich and sophisticated, failing to meet the needs of farmers, who were very superstitious. As these gods were put on trial, the religion of the Greek countryside emerged. People did not trust their gods to help them with daily struggles, prompting a philosophical era where new religious thoughts were introduced. Greek philosophers sought a more rational way to connect humans and nature, rather than relying on mythical vagueness. The dispersion of the Jewish people, a result of Alexander the Great's conquests, also played a role in the dismissal of old beliefs. Many Jews converted to Christianity, which spread throughout Palestine. As Lloyd-Jones (1971) notes, “The religion of the early Greek is startlingly different from Christianity and other monotheistic religions.” The Greek religion was far removed from Christianity, worshipping many gods rather than one. Their views on death and the afterlife were different as well. Rice and Stambaugh (1979) describe how the Greek afterlife involved daimons leading souls to be judged, after which they would go to Hades and later return to life after a long period. This concept of hell was not eternal, as Hades was one of many realms, and souls could move between different realms of punishment.

Greek Architecture

The architecture of Ancient Greece was created by Greek-speaking people. They built large, symmetrical, and aesthetically pleasing structures that served the living rather than the dead. Temples were the most common form of architecture, serving both worship and political purposes. In Ancient Greece, two architectural orders were prevalent: the Doric order and the Ionic order. Doric columns were the simplest, featuring a circular top with a square on top and no base. Despite their simplicity, Doric architecture was powerful, as exemplified by the Parthenon. In contrast, Ionic shafts were taller and more slender, with flutes carved from top to bottom. A unique characteristic of Ionic columns was the entasis, which created a bulge that gave the columns a straight appearance from a distance. The Erechtheum exemplifies Ionic architecture. After Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, Ancient Greek architecture spread throughout West Asia and even into India. The Hellenistic period, following the classical period, saw architecture derived from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Although the Roman Empire's architecture ceased with its fall, the Byzantine Empire developed its distinct style over time. The systematic order of the classical era was no longer followed, and many new styles were implemented during the Hellenistic period in constructing temples, public buildings, and monuments. Theaters and gymnasia, which were places for exercise, were built, and temples were constructed on a much larger scale and with greater complexity. The mausoleum of Pergamum merged space and sculpture by placing heroic statues near a grand staircase. Greek architecture relied on simple post and lintel building techniques until the Roman era, when arches were developed to span greater distances. Greek architects needed more stone columns to support the horizontal beams, limiting the size of interior spaces without adding rows of support columns. The Hellenistic period's theatrical nature introduced the Corinthian order, the third order in classical architecture, characterized by ornate capitals resembling leaves. The Temple of Sybil in Rome is a good example of the Corinthian order, which was more commonly used by the Romans than the Greeks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there were not many changes in religion during Alexander the Great's reign and the Hellenistic period. Religion evolved with the people, adapting to their changing needs and desires, leading to more personal forms of religious practice, such as private cults, eventually paving the way for Christianity. On the other hand, Ancient Greek architecture was centered around two architectural orders used for building temples: the Doric order and the Ionic order. The Hellenistic period introduced the Corinthian order, which was similar to the other orders but slightly modified, reflecting the gradual yet constant movement of change.

References:

• Fiero, G. K. (2009). The Humanistic Tradition. McGraw-Hill.
• Goodman, M. (1997). The Roman World 44 BC–AD 180. Routledge.
• Lloyd-Jones, H. (1971). The Justice of Zeus. University of California Press.
• Rice, E. E., & Stambaugh, J. E. (1979). Sources for the History of Greek Religion. Society of Biblical Literature.