Encyclopedia of Greece, from ancient times to the modern day, focusing on science and technology
July 18, 2008 6:21 AM Subscribe
Hellenica is an encyclopedia of Greek culture, from classical Hellas, through the Byzantine Empire until the modern day, though its focus is on antiquity and especially the science and technology of Ancient Greece. Featuring technical diagrams and explications, there's no better site if you seek information on gigantic galleys, now obscure great Greek mathematicians, the last still working Ancient lighthouse and gears and how they were used by Archimedes and other ancients. This is not to denigrate other sections of the site, such as the page on the Olympics (including a Google Map of the site of the games), biographies of ancient, Byzantine and modern Greeks, the warring and healing of the Byzantines or the overview of Greek literature, taking in antiquity, the medieval era and modern times. That said, Hellenica is at its finest when treating science and technology.
Happy to see this here...thanks, Kattullus!
posted by aldus_manutius at 7:28 AM on July 18, 2008
posted by aldus_manutius at 7:28 AM on July 18, 2008
That last still working lighthouse is Roman, not Greek, but still very cool.
I travel to Greece and Italty today and think "What happened guys?"
posted by three blind mice at 8:48 AM on July 18, 2008
I travel to Greece and Italty today and think "What happened guys?"
posted by three blind mice at 8:48 AM on July 18, 2008
I've used this site to get Greek versions of names, but I didn't realize it was so extensive. (One thing pissed me off: when I clicked on your "modern" link the first thing I saw was an entry for the great singer Rita Abatzi, and I got all excited when I scrolled down and saw a YouTube link until I read the caption: "A modern version of a song first interpreted by Abatzi." WTF, Hellenica? You couldn't find anything with Rita herself singing?)
posted by languagehat at 1:37 PM on July 18, 2008
posted by languagehat at 1:37 PM on July 18, 2008
I had used that site a whole bunch of times before I realized how extensive it was myself. Their modern Greek section is something of an afterthought, it seems, but it's good to see things in a historic continuum.
posted by Kattullus at 2:14 PM on July 18, 2008
posted by Kattullus at 2:14 PM on July 18, 2008
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I've heard it claimed that the disdain the Greeks supposedly had for getting their hands dirty in practicalities is more a projection from Plutarch (and others?) than a reality. It seems pretty clear that Archimedes in particular didn't have much of a problem with real machines, given the defense devices and other practical things he invented. For instance, what purely-cerebral Greek gentleman of intellectual leisure needs to invent a water-raising device? Isn't that what slaves are for?
posted by DU at 6:37 AM on July 18, 2008