ACTIVITY #2

The Classic of the Ancient World: Mirrors of the Glorious Past

• To discuss the classics of the Ancient World and its contribution to mankind.
• To differentiate the Old Testament from the New Testament.

Concept Notes
4-5
Wikipedia
Language in Literature 10

The Classic of the Ancient World: Mirrors of the Glorious Past

The literature is derived from two streams – one coming from Palestine in the East and the
other, from Greece in the West. From the Hebrews of ancient Palestine comes the idea if a
personal God and a moral code inspired by this God. From the Greeks comes man’s tradition of
extolling and glorifying life and nature.

The Bible of the Hebrews is said to be world’s most widely read book. It contains a wide
assortment of literature: songs, parables, riddles exalted poetry, proverbs, history, drama, war,
biography, philosophy, and short stories – imbued with the moral of living. Many ideas for
literary works have been inspired by the Bible. For Christians, the Bible is the Word of God.
On the other hand, Greek literature goes back to the first early millennium BC. Most of the
literary of the Ancient Greece is still regarded as among the greatest achievements of Western
literature.

Roman literature began as translations and adoption of classical Greek literature while
medieval literature began with the epics of the period.
 Ancient Palestinian Literature: Pillars of Faith
Also known as the Holy Land, Palestine was the site of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and
Judah. The great literary achievement of Ancient Israel is the Hebrew Scriptures. Also known as
the Sacred Scriptures or the Bible. This book refers to many events in history of ancient Israel in
the Old Testament and the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New
Testament. Such events include the deed of kings and the journeys of the Apostles.

The Bible is most sacred book of the Jews and Christians who consider it to be the Word of
God. Most of their important beliefs, ceremonies, and holidays are based on it.

PSALMS – are essentially sacred songs or hymns that expresses praise, thanksgiving, penitence,
or supplication.

Book of Psalms or Psalter – is a collection of 150 psalms which sacred songs, religious verses,
or prayers meant to be sang or recited in worship as a form of personal communication with
God.