43.
Dionysian movement: *
It was the second-most important festival after the Panathenaia. It consisted of 2 related festivals, the Rural Dionysia and the City Dionysia; they were an essential part of the Dionysian Mysteries. It was marked by a great procession to the theatre of Dionysis. During the height of the Athenian Empire in the mid-5th century BC, various gifts & weapons showcasing Athens' strength were carried, along with the bulls to be sacrificed (for the purification of the theatre). The first performance of tragedy at the Dionysia was by actor & playwright Thespis; his award was a goat, a common symbol for Dionysus, and this is the origin of the word "tragedy" ("goat-song"). During the 5th century BC, 5 days of the festival were set aside for performance, 3 full days were devoted to tragic plays. Most of the extant Greek tragedies, including those of Aeschylus, Euripides & Sophocles, were performed here.
​
44.
Renaissance: *
It spread rapidly from its birthplace in Florence, to Venice & the city states of Northern Italy, finally Rome, then to the rest of Italy & Europe. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg allowed the rapid transmission of new ideas. It is known for its artistic developments and especially the contributions as Leonardo da Vinci & Michelangelo. Famous for its new humanism based on Roman Humanitas & rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy ("Man is the measure of all things"- the Greek Protagoras); in oil painting development of linear perspective & other techniques allowing a more natural reality; technical breakthroughs such as how to make concrete & invention of metal movable type. From the 14th-century resurgence of classical sources (credited to Petrarch) came the innovative flowering of Latin & vernacular literature. In society at large it led to educational reform, the development of the customs & conventions of diplomacy and increased reliance on observation & inductive reasoning in science.
45.
Polycletus:*
Polycletus consciously created a new approach to sculpture, writing a treatise (Kanon) and designing a male nude (also known as Kanon) exemplifying his aesthetic theories of the mathematical bases of artistic perfection.
​
His Kanon was named this as it had a precise symmetry of all the parts to one another; his aim was clarity, balance, and completeness; his sole medium of communication the naked body of an athlete, standing poised between movement and repose (K Clark)
​
The Kanon was probably best represented by his Doryphoros (see illustration), but the original bronze statue has not survived. All we have are Roman marble copies & literary references.
​
Spengler views the nude statue as an expression of the prime symbol of Greek civilization.
46.
John Sebastian Bach:*
Goldberg Variations, BWV. 988 - Variation 3. Canon on the unison
a canon is a contrapuntal (counterpoint-based) compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g., quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader (or dux), while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower (or comes).
​
Spengler views the music of Bach as an expression of the prime symbol of Western civilization.