고대 그리스문명과 인종의식 - 고대 그리스인의 이집트 인식 -

This article aims to review the assertion that the ancient Egyptians were black, to examine the Greeks` views of the Egyptians, and to ascertain if a race consciousness existed in ancient Greece. At the same time, this article intends to find out the truth of the claims of Afrocentrist scholars. In chapter 2, I deal with the descriptions of the ancient Greeks about the Egyptians and their culture. (1)The Greeks described the physical appearances of the Egyptians as `melas`(=black, dark) and `oulotriches`(woolly-headed). But the use of `melas` and `oulotriches` did not necessarily mean that the Egyptians were black. In fact the Greeks applied the words not only to the Egyptians but also to the Greeks. (2)The Greeks thought that Egypt was a very rich country and her land produced more crops than any other land. The Greeks also admired many huge architectures in Egypt, such as Pyramids, temples and Pharaoh`s sculptures. (3)The Greeks regarded the Egyptian culture as superior to their own culture. Herodotos insisted that many customs of the Greeks were derived from Egypt. In general, the Greeks admitted in esteem the cultural achievements of the Egyptians. In chapter 3, I deal with the problem of the division of Hellenes-Barbaroi. The Greeks regarded the Egyptians as different from them. From the fifth century the ancient Greeks showed a tendency to divide all the world into two groups, Hellenes and Barbaroi(the non-Greeks). The Greeks despised all the non-Greeks. They thought while Hellenes were free, rational, civilized people, Barbaroi were unfree, irrational, and uncivilized people. This division was based on the Greek-centric mind. According to this division, Egypt was only regarded as one of Barbaroi. The Greeks thought that the government of the Egyptians was a tyrannical one. They also looked down on some customs of the Egyptians, such as animal-worship. The Greeks were fully aware that they and the Egyptians were, in many respects, different peoples. As said above, the Greeks often had a contempt for the Egyptians. What did make the Greeks distinguish themselves from the Egyptians and even despise them? Race prejudices? Not at all. In ancient Mediterranean world, there were no `races` in a modern term, nor race prejudices. The division of Hellenes-Barbaroi made them so. After all, the ancient Greeks had dual, contradictory attitudes toward the Egyptians. One was positive: they esteemed cultural achievements of the Egyptians, because the Egyptians were prior to them and offer many examples to follow. The other was negative: they despised some customs of the Egyptians, because those customs were different from Greek ones and the Egyptians were Barbaroi. (Ajou University)