Seeking the Lost Civilization: The Vanished Ancient Greece

Author: Su Mengwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Blue sky, brilliant sunshine, the constantly twinkling Aegean Sea, small houses with white walls, green forests—this is the picturesque Greece, a place one yearns for. In the twilight, the Acropolis is solemn and peaceful. The ancient heroes and mythical figures left behind by the ancient Greeks give every brick and stone of this civilization a mysterious charm, attracting,ing, and soothing you. In Athens, from any direction, you can see the Acropolis, which stands 156 meters above sea level. Perched at the highest point of the Acropolis, the Parthenon Temple is its most dazzling gem and one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Despite the passage of time, its grandeur can still be felt from these magnificent columns. In the history of world civilization, ancient Greek civilization is renowned for its unique charm and outstanding achievements, to the extent that there is a saying, "Everything must be referred to the ancient Greeks." Shelley once wrote in a poem, "We are all ancient Greeks." Ancient Greece is the cradle of European civilization. Without ancient Greece, it is hard to imagine what European civilization would be like. Today, the Western world is permeated with the traditions of ancient Greek civilization. Here, there are many mysterious elements that attract people to explore. Moreover, the emergence of ancient Greek civilization was quite sudden, which is one of the many mysteries that many scholars and enthusiasts have long studied. Ancient Greece is located in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the modern Greek Peninsula, it includes the Aegean Sea, Macedonia, Thrace, the Italian Peninsula, and Asia Minor. The splendid civilization of ancient Greece likely originated around 5,000 BCE. From then on, ancient Greek civilization gradually progressed, but after 2,000 years, it suddenly transformed into a bronze-based metal age. However, these civilizations mysteriously disappeared around 1,200 BCE. For the next 400 years, ancient Greece was in the so-called "Dark Age," at the lowest point of its civilization. After four centuries of the Dark Age, by the 8th century BCE, ancient Greek civilization suddenly reappeared in an ultra-developed form, and its level of civilization far exceeded people's imagination. In music, art, literature, philosophy, mathematics, medicine, physics, chemistry, and many other academic fields, the origins of these disciplines almost entirely come from ancient Greek civilization. Without ancient Greek civilization, these fields would not have achieved their current accomplishments. Behind this highly developed civilization, what kind of power lies hidden? Did the highly knowledgeable and skilled ancient Greeks really act according to the instructions of the gods? Why did such a highly developed civilization suddenly appear after the Dark Age? Civilization does not leap suddenly to such heights; it should develop gradually step by step. However, ancient Greek civilization cannot be explained by ordinary common sense. Perhaps this is because there was an intervention of a "certain object" with highly advanced knowledge and technology, which could create high-level results in a short period. In other words, it adopted a special method that was not ordinary, such as the "instructions of the gods." In ancient Greece, everything, from losing small items to the fate of a nation, had to be consulted with the gods. The actions of ancient Greeks were generally guided by the instructions of the gods. Archaeologists have discovered in ancient Greek ruins that ancient Greece was a mystical land filled with a spiritual aura. In ancient Greece, there were many "oracles" where messages were received. The famous Apollo Temple was not only a sacred site for ancient Greeks but also a mysterious place with a remarkably high accuracy in prophecies. Of course, the habit of seeking divine guidance during major accidents was common in both ancient East and West, so there is no need to be surprised. However, ancient Greece had many unique aspects. On one hand, they developed a highly scientific civilization, while on the other hand, they relied entirely on the gods, which was contrary to science. Such behavior was indeed strange. Perhaps the "instructions of the gods" are the true key to unlocking the mysteries of ancient Greek civilization! This book will delve deeply into the various periods of ancient Greek civilization, including its ruins, labyrinthine temples, and eternal mysteries. It will reconstruct the once-glorious chapters of the "Aegean Civilization" for the readers, offering both aesthetic enjoyment and answers to the mysteries of this enigmatic world.