Exam 1 Flashcards
What is myth?
A traditional (passed down orally) story (plot, settings, characters) of collective (shared by many people) importance (performs a function: educate, explain, inspire, or entertain).
Myth vs. Logos
Mythos: It is a story that a speaker accepts is false.
Logos: It is a story that the speaker proclaims as true.
Divine Myth
Setting: Long ago, before present day world order
Characters: Gods, Goddesses, monsters
Importance: Often explains a natural phenomenon (aka aetiology)
Legend
Setting: Long ago, but recognizable time and a specific place
Characters: Kings, heroes, nobles
Importance: explains a cultural phenomenon
ex. Orestes and drinking from different cups
Folktale
Setting: vague
Character: average people or animals
Importance: entertainment, moralizing, or educational
Bronze Age
Early/Middle Bronze age was 3000-1600 BCE, but Late Bronze Age was 1600-1150 BCE. The Early/Middle Bronze Age was primarily documented by the Minoans on Crete. Minoans were more civilized and friendlier than other Greeks. They even had a written language that still hasn’t been deciphered. The weren’t Indo Europeans. The Minoans had a completely different culture than the other Greeks. This age ended when the mainland Greeks attacked Crete, which allowed for their myths to combine. Late Bronze Age (aka the Mycenaean Age) was dominated by the Mycenae group of Indo Europeans. They also had a written language called Linear B. Its symbols were syllables instead of sounds which made it hard to use. This language was primarily used for recording records, not myths. They had a similar religion to later Greeks. No myths were recorded during this time, but a lot of myths take place during this time period.
Dark Age
The dark age was 1150-800 BCE. Cities collapsed during this time. Linear B stopped being used, people became poor, and a lot of immigration took place. This was a period of chaos and no art was produced. However at the end of the Dark Age, the alphabet was introduced, which allowed for the widespread of literacy. The alphabet caused the widespread of Divine Myth.
Archaic Age
The Archaic Age was 800-490 BCE. Greeks started to colonize a lot of areas. This spread their mythology greatly. Cities became wealthy, population grew, and they needed more resources during this time. A lot of artifacts that we have today come from this time period. Coins, or a regular form of currency, started to circulate during this time. Wealth up to this point was only due to land, but coins allowed for a different type of wealth. The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, Hesiod’s Theogony, and Sappho’s works all come from this time period.
Classical Age
The classical age was 490-323 BCE. This is also when the Persian War took place (492-449 BCE). The Greek city-states called for a truce to stop the Persian army, and they were successful. This ultimately put Greek on the map. The war made Athens wealthy and they provided protection to other city-states; Athens was also a democracy at this point in time. The Parthenon and Acropolis were constructed during this time. Theater was invented during this time (great tragedists like Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides). It was a rich period for art.
Hellenistic Age
The Hellenistic Age was 323-31 BCE. The Hellenistic Age is also considered the fall of Greece. Alexander the Great took over Southern Greece even though he lived in Macedonia. He died in 323 BCE and split up his land: Seleucid, Ptolemaic, and Antigonid. The splitting up of his land caused even more spread of Greek myth. Different type of myth from this time was aoidos (improvisational oral poetry), rhapsode (recited memorized poetry), and scholar (just read poetry). This scholarly approach to myth causes the downfall of oral tradition. After this, it becomes the Roman age where the Romans adopt and continue to spread Greek myth.
Minoan and Mycenean
Minoan - Early/Middle Bronze Age, live on Crete, they were friendly and civilized, had a written language, very different culture than what we think of as Greek myth, and were attacked by mainland Greeks.
Mycenean - Late Bronze Age, Indo Europeans, start of what we think of as traditional Greek myth, mask of Agamemnon, there was a hierarchy with wealth, but no recorded myths during this time.
Similarities: Both had a written language (Minoan is undeciphered, Mycenae is Linear B), and were powerhouses at the time.
First Elements
Gaea (Foundation) - Second primordial element, the earth, gives birth to a bunch of stuff. She reproduces asexually to form Uranus (the sky), the mountains, and Pontus (Sea). She then gives birth to the Titans, Cyclopes, and Hecatonchires after sexually reproducing with Uranus.
Eros (Sexual Attraction) - The last primordial element, love, frees us all from our sorrows but ruins our heart’s good sense
Tartarus (Bottom Most) - Third primordial element, described as a cavern of broad-wayed Earth, underneath the earth.
Chaos (Gaping) - The first primordial element to appear, but we do not know much about it. It could be translated to “Chasm” in our language, and some understand it as the opening from which the other elements arose from.
Child of Hyperion
Hyperion is a titan, more specifically the sun-god titan.
Helius - Also a sun-god
Selene - the moon
Eos - the dawn
Cronus vs. Uranus
Gaea was locked in a permanent sexual embrace with Uranus, so she plotted a plan to kill him. Cronus accepts the offer to kill his terrible father, so Gaea gives him a scythe made from gray steel. Cronus cut off his father’s testicles and threw them into the sea.
Zeus vs. Cronus
Cronus had children (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus) with his wife/sister Rhea, and he was told that one of his children would kill him one day so he ate them. Cronus ate a rock instead of Zeus, so Zeus was raised on Crete by nymphs and drank goat milk. Somehow Zeus made Cronus throw up his siblings, and they named him the king of the gods. The gods went to live on Mt. Olympus (except for Hades), and the titans disliked this so the titanomachy started. Themis and Prometheus sided with the gods. The battle went on for ten years without a break until Zeus released the hecatonchires and cyclopes from Tartarus, and they fought and eventually beat the titans.
Titanomachy
The name given to the war between the titans and the gods.
Typhoeus
After the titanomachy, Gaea resented Zeus so she gave birth to Typhoeus with Tartarus. Thyphoeus (or Typhon) had muscular arms, tireless feet, and a hundred heads of a terrible serpentine dragon. Zeus and Typhon had an intense fight for a long time, but Zeus was eventually victorious.
Enuma Elish (Tiamat, Apsu, Marduk)
The Enuma Elish is a Mesopotamian creation myth.
Tiamat - female, primordial saltwater
Apsu - male, primordial freshwater, mingle with Tiamat to form an indeterminate mass.
Marduk -The hero of the poem, God of Babylon
How it relates to the theogony -Hesiod most likely took inspiration from the Enuma Elish to create his theogony. It is a poem, but it also is used to praise the gods.
Theogony and Hesiod; the muses
Hesiod was on Mt. Helicon and said he saw the muses and asked to hear myths. They insulted his intelligence, but granted him his wish. Apparently the theogony is what the muses told him. The muses: Calliope (Myth), Euturpe (Flute), Thalia (comedy), Melpomene (tragedy), Terpsichore (dance), Erato (lyric), Polyphymnia (hymns), Urania (astronomy).
The 3 themes of the theogony: 1. Animism to Anthropomorphism 2. hieros gamos (sacred marriage) 3. gender roles
Prometheus
Prometheus was a titan, but he was helpful to man. He created man from mud, created sacrifice, and eh stole fire for man. Prometheus was responsible for sails, math, agriculture, and is seen as a cultural hero. He was a creator, martyr (was persecuted for liking humans), and trickster. Artist archetype. A lot of Roman sarcophaguses has Prometheus depicted on it. He tricked Zeus into taking a lower quality sacrifice, but Zeus took away fire; Prometheus stole fire back. His name means “forelearner”
Pandora
The first woman of the world. She let all of the perils of the world out from a joy, but she also let hope into the world.
Epimetheus
Epimetheus is Prometheus’s brother, and his name means “afterlearner” (aka dummy). Epimetheus accepted a gift from Zeus which was the first woman (Pandora). He felt lust towards Pandora.
The Flood: Deucalion, Pyrrha
The flood happened because King Lycaon fed Zeus human meat. Lycaon became a werewolf. The only two survivors of the flood are Deucalion (Son of Prometheus and a titaness) and Pyrrha (Daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora). They were chosen to survive because they were the most pious humans. They had to repopulate the Earth. Deucalion and Pyrrha are the ancestors of all Greeks.
The 5 Races/Ages (Hesiod Version)
Gold: Those who lived in the days of Cronus. People were happy and blessed and people became spirits on earth when they died. It was a good time to be alive.
Silver: This was far worse than the Golden Age. People would stay young for 100 years then suddenly grow up and die. The silver race acted with violence and did not respect the gods. When they died they became spirits underground.
Bronze: This was worse than the Silver Age. People were born from the ash trees and they were terrible strong and violent. Their weapons and houses were made of bronze. When they died they retreated into Hades realm.
Heroes: In some ways it was better than the Bronze Age. This race fought at seven-gated Thebes and in Troy to take back Helen. Some heroes did not die at all (transported to the Isle of the Blessed where Cronus rules). They still live there, never knowing sorrow.
Iron: Iron is the age that Hesiod lived in.
Zeus
Domains: Sky, storm, justice (Dike), hospitality (xenia)
Attributes and Symbols: Thunderbolt, eagle, scepter
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Family and Associates: Wife was hera, many lovers and children
Hera
Domains: Marriage, family, the city of Argos
Attributes and Symbols: Peacock, scepter, cow
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Family and Associates: husband was Zeus, mother of Hebe, Eileithyia, Ares, and Hephaestus
Poseidon
Domain: Sea and earthquakes
Attributes and Symbols: Trident, horses
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Family and Associates: wife was Amphitrite, father of Triton, Chrysaor, and Pegasus
Hades
Names: Pluto and roman name was Dis
Domain: Underworld
Attributes and Symbols: cornucopia, invisibility helmet
Origin: Cronus and Rhea
Family and Associates: wife was Persephone
Poseidon stories (Medusa, Pegasus)
Poseidon raped Medusa in Athena’s temple. Athena got mad and turned her into a gorgon. Perseus eventually killed Medusa and when he cut off her head, Pegasus came out.
Ganymede
Ganymede was a kid, and Zeus took a liking to him. Zeus kidnapped him and took him to be the permanent cup bearer on Mt. Olympus. The cupbearer was usually a sexual position.
Philemon and Baucis
Zeus and Hermes went to a village and Philemon and Baucis were the only family to offer them hospitality even though they were poor. Zeus punished the rest of a village by killing them with a flood, but kept Philemon and Baucis alive. He granted them one wish and they chose to die together, and he made them the priests of his temple.
Apollo
Domain: God of archery, sun, music, art, prophecy, and medicine
Attributes and Symbols: Arrow, quiver, laurel wreath, and is usually depicted as young
Parents: Zeus and Leto
Family and Associates: brother of Artemis, father of Anius, and grandfather of Elais (Olive), Spermo (seed), and Oeno (Wine).
Places: Delos (where he was born), Delphi (where his oracle was), and Epidaurus (where him and Asclepius was worshipped).
Apollo stories (unhappy lovers, Delphic oracle)
Delphic Oracle: Delphi is considered the center of the world, and Apollos slayed the Python there. Apollo turned into a dolphin to trick someone into becoming the first priest. The oracle was called the Pythia
Unhappy Lovers: Apollo and Choronis - A raven told Apollo that Choronis was cheating on him so he killed her, but saved her baby. The baby is Aesclepius the God of Medicine. Apollo and Cassandra - Apollo took a liking to Cassandra, but she refused to have sex, so he gave her prophetic powers and no one believed her.
Apollo and the Sybil of Cumae - She also declined to have sex with Apollo, but he granted her a long life, but she aged. Apollo and Hyacinth - Apollo fell in love with a boy named Hyacinth. They were playing with a discus, and Apollo hit him and died. Hyacinth became a flower. Apollo and Daphne - Apollo liked Daphne because Cupid struck him with an arrow, but Daphne did not like Apollo. He chased Daphne and when he got close enough to touch her, her dad turned her into a tree.
Ares
Domain: war and bloodlust
Attributes and Symbols: He looks indistinguishable from any other warrior.
Parents: Zeus and Hera
Family and associates: father to many, but no regular wife. His lover was Aphrodite
Hermes
Domain: trickery, thievery, traveling, merchant
Attributes and Symbols: caduceus and lyre (sometimes)
Parents: Maia and Zeus
Family and Associates: father of Pan and Autolycus, grandfather of Odysseus
Hephaestus
Domain: Smiths, fire (metalworker)
Attributes and Symbols: metalworking stuff, ugly man
Parents: Zeus and Hera
Family and Associates: husband of Aphrodite
Hymn to Hermes
This tells the story of Hermes birth, and how he stole Apollo’s cows. This story represents the landowner (Apollo) and merchant (Hermes) dispute that was taking place during the time.
Aphrodite
Domain: sexual love, lust, and fertility
Attributes and Symbols: sparrow; she is always depicted as naked, and her cupid follows her around
Parents: She was born from the sea foam of Uranus’s testicles.
Family and Associates: wife of Hephaestus, lover was Ares, mother of Eros/Cupid.
Aphrodite stories (Pygmalion, Soppho, Anchises, and Adonis)
Pygmalion: Pygmalion lived in a village that was full of sex workers and this made him upset. He was a sculptor, and he made a sculpture of a woman that was a virgin. He prays to Aphrodite to make her come alive, and she comes alive.
Soppho: Soppho was a poet who had a deep connection with Aphrodite. In her hymn to Aphrodite she prays that Aphrodite will make a woman fall in love with her.
Anchises: Aphrodite fell in love with Anchises and had sexual relations with him. Anchises couldn’t keep this a secret so Zeus struck him with his lightning bolt. This made him disabled, but Aphrodite still had his kid named Aeneas.
Adonis: Adonis was a great hunter and Aphrodite fell in love with him. She warns Adonis that he would die on a hunt, and he eventually does. He turns into a flower and she mourns him for a long time. They made a festival in his honor.
Artemis
Domain: Hunting, the moon, and fertility (usually of animals)
Symbols and Attributes: Bear, bow and arrow
Parents: Zeus and Leto
Family and Associates: sister of Apollo
Artemis stories (Niobe, Actaeon, Brauronia, Callisto)
Niobe: Artemis was protective of her mother, so when Niobe was bragging about how many children she had, Artemis and Apollo killed 12 of her children.
Actaeon: Actaeon was hunting and came up on Artemis taking a bath unknowingly. She gets mad at him and turns him into a stag, and then his dogs kill him.
Callisto: Callisto was a nymph and a follower of Artemis and took a vow of chastity. Callisto gets tricked by Zeus and she gets raped. Artemis finds out that Callisto is pregnant, so she turns her into a bear.
Brauronia: This was a festival held in Brauron. Women would have to go at least once before they were married. People would make dedications to Artemis to have a safe childbirth. Girls would also complete in a footrace naked in honor of Artemis.
Athena
Domain: battle strategy and wisdom, craftsmanship
Attributes and Symbols: Owl, Spears, shields, and she is depicted as a woman warrior
Parents: She was born from Zeus’s head
Family and Associates: She did not have kids
Athena stories (Arachne, Panathenaea)
Arachne: Arachne challenged her to a weaving contest. Athena wins and turns Arachne into a spider before she can commit suicide.
Panathenaea: Panathenaea was celebrated on Athena’s birthday. There was competitions and the winners would get a panathenaic amphora. Girls would also make the Peplos (dress) that Athena’s statue would wear. It would have her stories depicted on the inside of the dress.
