Terms for Exam 2 Flashcards
Bucolics (Ecologues)
one of the first works of Virgil. A poem that describes life on a pasture (pastoral themes)
one of the first works of Virgil. A poem that describes life on a pasture (pastoral themes)
one of the first works of Virgil that describes the pleasures of farm life
Aeneid
Virgil was commissioned by emperor Augustus to write the Aeneid with two goals: “to imitate Homer” and “to praise Augustus beginning with his ancestors”
Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
forgot to invite Eris, the goddess of strife and dissonance–to the wedding. She shows up anyway and rolls an apple, “the apple of discord,” into the wedding party. Three goddesses–Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite–see the words “for the fairest” inscribed on the apple skin. This leads to an argument as to who is the fairest, which leads to the Judgement of Paris.
Judgement of Paris
Paris, a Trojan prince must choose one of the three and his judgment leads to the Trojan War–Aphrodite wins the contest and in exchange Paris gets the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, wife to Greek King Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon. This creates conflict, as Helen is already married. This love leads to the Abduction of Helen
Abduction of Helen
Paris steals away Helen from Greece to the citadel of his father Priam. The Sons of Atreus–Agamemnon and Menelaus–rally the Greeks to war and launch a thousand ships on the Aegean Sea to get Helen back. This starts the Trojan War.
Catalogue of Ships
epic catalogue (list of things) in Book 2 of the Iliad. Aeneas is mentioned in Book 2 of the Iliad as second only to Hector, Prince of Troy
Aristeia of Diomedes
Chapter in book 5 of Iliad. Aeneas is nearly killed, but is rescued by Venus and Apollo
Proem
This is a preface to a book. In particular, it is the preface to the Aeneid.
Invocation of the Muse
ll epic poems begin with a plea to a muse to inspire the poet. –“Muse, tell me why the Queen of Heaven was so aggrieve, her godhead so offended, that she forced a man of faultless devotion to endure so much hardship. Can there be anger so great in the hearts of gods on high?”
Causes of Juno’s Anger
Juno hates the Trojans: this is because of the Judgement of Paris (a Trojan), and the abduction of Ganymede by Jupiter. Additionally, she fears for the future of Rome, as it is prophesied that Rome will ultimately destroy Carthage in the Punic Wars; Carthage is her favorite city. Thus, she actively tries to prevent the founding of Rome.
Abduction of Ganymede
Jupiter made a Trojan boy, Ganymede, the cupbearer for the gods. This makes Juno angry, as she hates the Trojans.
In medias res
starting the the middle of the story
Pietas
As defined by Cicero, “that which urges us to carry out responsibility to country or parents or others related by blood.” As defined by Stanley Lombardo, “devoted (to my city’s gods). As defined by RG Austin, “duty, devoted service, responsibility, compassion, the full consciousness of what is due to others.”
Furor vs. Imperium
a major theme of the Aeneid. madness, chaos, and fury vs empire, command, and order.
Anthropomorphic gods
human form of gods and goddesses
Personifications
characteristics that Romans value, given human formed and worshipped
Nature deities
personification of natural things
Imported divinities
divinities from other places being adopted , result of early/later conquest, feature of polytheism
Olympian gods
most important and honored divinities
Other Olympians
Apollo / Phoebus, Diana, Mercury, Vulcan, Bacchus
Divine Epithets
specific function of god, aspect in which he/she is worshipped, i.e. Jupiter Capitolinus
Demigods
often viewed as heros, deified after death
Hercules, Romulus, Divine Julius Caesar
demigods
