The Postcard Race: Round #6 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Vancouver finally wins a round!

Pebbles & Lise reported receiving their postcard Friday the 28th of August and VERY SOON after Filis and Elaine reported receiving their "Gifts of the Greeks" postcard...(the latter reported in verse I might add)

AND so for Round Six, we are awarding a first and a second prize. We will be searching the markets of Naples for something especially for you!

Watch for a package coming your way, enclosed you will find something from another country, "Italy" that is.

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS! and the postal workers of Vancouver , BC!

The Postcard Race Round #6

August on Amorgos “

Gifts of the Greeks”

Heraclitus of Ephesus, an early Greek philosopher, is famous for his doctrine of change being central to the universe, summarized in his famous quote, "You can not step twice into the same river.”

The Greeks democratized literacy by adding vowels to the Egyptian alphabet; thereby giving general access to written language. Formerly the realm of scholars and scribes, written language became a vehicle of poetry, not exclusively used for recording wealth or documenting religion.

In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, a creature that was half man and half bull. So cunningly had Daedalus made the Labyrinth that he himself could barely escape it.

The poet Sappho lived in the sixth century B.C. on the island of Lesbos. In her time poetry was principally used in ceremonial contexts, and to extol the deeds of brave soldiers. Sappho used the first person in poetry and discussed deep human emotions, particularly the erotic, in ways that had never been approached by anyone before. In the ancient world she was, acclaimed as the 'tenth muse'. Before it was all burned, her poetry filled 9 books.

Empedocles (490–430 BC) was a Greek philosopher and a citizen of Agrigentum, a Greek colony in Sicily. Empedocles established four ultimate elements, which make all the structures in the world - fire, air, water, earth. Empedocles is generally considered the last Greek philosopher to record his ideas in verse. Some of his work still survives today, more so than in the case of any other Pre-Socratic philosopher.

Homer composed two of the greatest epics in world literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey. The content, ideals, and style of these epics influenced the course of western literature. They stand as two of the greatest works ever composed for the beauty and power of their imagery, their character development, the universality of their themes, and for their extraordinary stories. Literature--indeed, civilization itself--was still in its infancy when Homer composed his works. He was the world's first great writer.

Thespis of Icaria (6th century BC) is claimed to be the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play. This new style was called tragedy. Prior to his performances, no one had ever assumed the resemblance of another person for the purpose of storytelling: He had a substantial role in changing the way stories were told and inventing theater as we know it today. In reverence to Thespis, actors throughout western history have been referred to as thespians.

Many modern speechwriters have borrowed from the influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens during the city's Golden Age, Pericles (495 – 429 BC). “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.” Sound familiar?

Hippocrates of Kos, was an ancient Greek physician considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is credited with being the first physician to reject superstitious beliefs that credited supernatural forces with causing illness. He separated the discipline of medicine from religion, arguing that disease was not a punishment inflicted by the gods but the product of environmental factors, diet, and living habits.

Euclidean geometry is a mathematical system developed by Greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria. Euclid's Elements is the earliest known systematic discussion of geometry. It has been one of the most influential books in history, as much for its method as for its mathematical content.

Democracy first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought. Originally it had two distinguishing features: the allotment of ordinary citizens to government offices and courts, and the assembly of all the citizens. All male citizens were eligible to speak and vote in the Assembly, which set the laws of the city-state; citizenship was not granted to women, or slaves. Of the 250,000 inhabitants of Athens only some 30,000 on average were citizens.

Greeks regarded mythology as a part of their history. They used myth to explain natural phenomena, cultural variations, traditional enmities and friendships. Greek mythology has exerted extensive influence on culture, arts, and literature of Western civilization. Poets and artists continue to be inspired by Greek mythology and discover contemporary significance and relevance in these mythological themes.