1.1-The Significance of Homer and Hesiod for ideas about the gods

Question 1

Homer

Answer 1

Iliad and Odyssey
Eighth Century BC

Question 2

Hesiod

Answer 2

Theogony - origin of world and gods
Works and Days - human life, gods guardians of justice
Seventh/Eighth Century BC

Question 3

Homeric Hymns

Answer 3

33 Poems
c.700 BC
Attributed to Homer

Question 4

KEY SOURCE
Herodotus
Significance of Homer and Hesiod

Answer 4

2.43
Fifth Century BC
Greeks didnt know when the Gods came into being, how they looked, until about 400 years before with Homer and Hesiod

Question 5

Homeric/Hesiodic Evidence
Physical Anthropomorphism

Answer 5

Homer: Iliad 5 - Diomedes gets wounded by Diomedes
Hesiod: Theogony - Zeus’defeat of Typhoios, ‘seized’, ‘leaped’, ‘beaten’, ‘whipped’

Question 6

Evidence of Later Impact
Physical Anthropomorphism

Answer 6

Panathenaic Amphora (333 BC): Athena physically like a woman
Parthenon Sculptures (mid 5th. BC): A,P etc. physically human in appearance
Herodotus 2.43

Question 7

Homeric/Hesiodic Evidence
Behavioural Anthropomorphism

Answer 7

Homer: Iliad 1 - God on Olympi, talking, laughing, eating, drinking, making music
Hesiod: Theogony - Zeus and Typhoios

Question 8

Evidence of Later Impact
Behavioural Anthropomorphism

Answer 8

Gods depicted sitting/standing/acting in art
Panathenaic Amphora (333 BC)
Ninnion Tablet (c.370 BC)

Question 9

Homeric/Hesiodic Evidence
Divine Power

Answer 9

Homer: Iliad 18 - Ares and Athene are depicted as tall and beautiful (as gods should look) rising above the warriors
Hesiod: Theogony - Zeus defeating Typhoios

Question 10

Evidence of Later Impact
Divine Power

Answer 10

Panathenaic Amphora (333 BC): Athena’s size as a symbol of power
Tyche’s Leg (1/2 Century AD): Thanksgiving offering for divine healing

Question 11

Homeric/Hesiodic Evidence
Reciprocal Relationship Between Gods and Mortals

Answer 11

Homer: Iliad 24 - Zeus is inclined to favour Hector, because he always showed devotion to the gods
Tyche’s Leg (1/2 Century AD): Thanksgiving offering for divine healing - expensive

Question 12

Evidence of Later Impact
Reciprocal Relationship Between Gods and Mortals

Question 13

Homeric/Hesiodic Evidence
Divine Attributes

Answer 13

Homeric Hymn to Athena (11): ‘Protectress of cities… that
fearsome goddess who care with Ares for warlike works – the
sacking of cities.’
Hesiod: Theogony - Description of the birth of Athena, mentioning her divine attributes as ‘the awesome, battle-rousing, army-
leading, untiring Lady, whose pleasure is fighting and the metallic din of war.’

Question 14

Evidence of Later Impact
Divine Attributes

Answer 14

Panathenaic Amphora (333 BC): Athena’s
warrior attributes.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia (fifth BC):
Zeus’ kingly authority emphasised.