Unit 3 Flashcards
What is the study of origins called?
One of the most important tendencies of humans is to explain the origin of things, since everything has a beginning. This is referred to as aetiology (or etiology: the study of origins; aition in ancient Greek means ‘cause’ or ‘origin’). The Greek myths of creation seek to explain how the world, the gods, and human beings came into existence. These myths provide a valuable initial frame of reference for understanding Greek perceptions of their world and their gods.
What is the main source of the myths of creation?
The epic poem Theogony (literally ‘birth of the gods’) by Hesiod is the main source of the myths of creation. It is not a long poem: only 1022 lines, but it succinctly describes the history of the universe up to Zeus.
Who are the other authors who discussed the genealogy of the gods?
Although Hesiod’s Theogony is regarded as the definitive version of the myth of the rise of the Olympians, there are other authors (Homer, Apollodorus, and Pherecydes) who discuss the genealogy of the gods.
What did the authors of origin/genealogy of the gods agree on?
These authors agree on some basic facts:
- The Greek gods are not external to creation; they are born as the universe or world evolves. The gods do not create the universe, but are part of it. By coming into existence with the universe, the gods have a strong, organic connection to it. This serves to explain why the gods have associations with plants, animals, and other aspects of nature.
- There are several generations of gods. The divine world is not perfect from the very beginning. It is something that gradually emerges. This has important implications: if the divine world was capable of improving itself, then the human world should be able to do the same.
- There are several different kinds of gods. The Olympians are fully human in form and behave like humans. Earlier generations were only partially human or monsters (e.g., the Cyclopes, Hundred-handers) or represented a natural element (Gaia, Pontus). Some even defy description (i.e., Chaos).
Unlike the description of creation in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 1), the Greek gods are not external from the creation of the universe but are part of it, beginning with Chaos, whose exact nature is unknown. Gaea(sometimes spelled Gaia), Tartarus, and Eros appear shortly afterward. The family tree of the early divinities appears in chart 4.1 of the textbook, which you should examine closely.
Who were the first generation gods and generally, what did they represent?
Gaea, Tartarus, and Eros are the first generation of gods. They embody aspects of the physical world. In describing them, Hesiod appears to assign to Gaea and Tartarus the position of earth and underworld, respectively. Gaea’s name contains the Greek word ge, which means ground or earth. The poet is trying to establish quickly a universal order, namely the three layers of existence: sky, earth, and hell. More information on Gaea may be found here.
Even though Gaea eventually yields to the Olympians, she remains important to the ancient Greeks as an abstract representation of the earth. The Homeric Hymn to Gaea confirms her relevance to the Greeks. Gaea’s ‘mother’ role is later appropriated by Hera.
Eros’ importance lies in the fact that he personifies the first emotion: the desire to procreate. The first thing these earliest divine beings need to do is procreate in order for the world to take shape. Eros, therefore, enables new beings to come into existence, and thus change can take place.
Who were the second generation of gods and what did they represent?
The Titans are the second generation of gods. They are the children of Gaea. She reproduces both asexually and through union with Uranus. Their offspring fall into three categories as indicated in chart 4.2 on of the textbook: the Titans themselves, the Cyclopes, and the Hecatonchires.
What does Hesiod say the titans represent?
Hesiod seems to regard the Titans as representing the brute force of nature of emotional (violent) impulse, and this means they are not fit to rule.
Who is the most important of the titans and why?
The most important of the Titans is Cronus, the last born to Gaea, who dislikes his father (and who in turn is hated by his father) and will struggle with him for power. Cronus’ attack on his father, in which he cuts off Uranus’ genitals, marks Uranus’ overthrow. An important feature of Cronus’ violence towards his father is that it is not solely a destructive act: from Uranus’ genitals emerges Aphrodite. Thus, Aphrodite can lay claim to being the oldest of the Olympians, and not Zeus.
Who were Cronu’s children? Who was their mother?
Cronus’ rule of the universe is not secure: his parents informed him that he would be defeated and replaced by one of his own children. Cronus’ union with his sister Rhea results in the birth of several divine figures: Hestia,Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Note that Zeus is, in fact, the youngest of these gods.
What was the battle called when Zeus and the other Olympians defeated the Titans?
Zeus and the other Olympians (with some advice from Gaea) defeat the Titans in a battle referred to as the Titanomachy (‘-machy’ comes from the ancient Greek verb machomai, ‘to fight’).
One surprising episode that Hesiod describes is Gaea’s sudden switching sides to become Zeus’ enemy, and her giving birth to the monster Typhoeus.
What is central to the understanding of the myth of Zeus’s rise to power?
Intelligence:
Central to understanding the myth of Zeus’ rise to power is his ability to think through problems instead of relying on brute force alone (although does employ force if necessary). This enables him to break the cycle of each ruler of the gods being overthrown.
What are the themes of the creation myth?
The myth of the creation of the gods and the rise of Zeus might appear very confusing, but a few themes emerge:
- The rise and dominance of the male over the female
The first proper entity, Gaea, is female, and it is from her that life first comes. The ascendancy of Zeus establishes a powerful male to rule over an intricately ordered universe; thus, the divine world reflected the Greek social ideal. Gaea’s actions also portray women in an unfavourable light, since she first supports Zeus and then tries to have Zeus deposed. She might appear to represent female ambivalence.
- Deception
Gaea conspiring with Cronus is the first instance of deception. His castration and replacing his father represents a successful deception; that is, they do not get caught, and this would appear to suggest that deception is acceptable. To deceive someone is not necessarily a bad thing in the ancient Greek world depending on who deceives and who is being deceived. That is, some people deserve to be deceived—this is the case with Uranus.
- Taming of nature
The Titans represent the forces of nature (phusis in Greek). Bringing order to the universe involves taming, or rather removing these brutish forces. The defeat of Typhoeus represents the most dangerous aspects of nature.
The textbook chapter covers also some Near Eastern creation myths: the Babylonian poem Enuma Elish and the Hittite poem Kingship in Heaven are the best (partially surviving) examples. Note what similarities there are with these stories and Hesiod’s version. You can read the complete text of the Enuma Elish and other Babylonian texts relevant to the creation myth here. Perspective 4.2 in the textbook provides analysis of the Biblical (Hebrew) version of creation.
Who are listed as the possible creators of humans?
Both Zeus (working alone or with the help of other gods) and Prometheus (whose name means he thinks beforehand; i.e., before taking action) are cited as possible creators of humans. In one version, Prometheus makes humans by mixing earth and water. The concept of humans being made from earth can be found in many ancient cultures. Human intellect comes from Prometheus, which Zeus tolerates.
What is the important theme of the relationship between Prometheus and Zeus
Prometheus, Zeus, and thinking
Prometheus is a god who, like Zeus, has extraordinary intelligence. He and Zeus become enemies, but they eventually reconcile. Thus, Zeus breaks the cycle and is not overthrown.
Prometheus finds himself in direct conflict with Zeus, since he knows how Zeus can prevent his overthrow. Prometheus at first refuses to share this information, so Zeus chains up Prometheus in a distant corner of the world where a bird would every day peck out and eat Prometheus’ liver. Eventually, the two reconcile, and Zeus secures his position as king of the gods in perpetuity. The dramatic poet Aeschylus describes these events in a trilogy of plays of which only one survives: Prometheus Bound. You can read the text of this play here.
What did Prometheus give to humans?
As the creator of humans, Prometheus must also be their protector. Prometheus also helps humans acquire important skills of everyday ancient life. In addition to these, he gives humans the higher skills of medicine, prophecy, and metallurgy. The ability of humans to develop into a civilized society, then, occurs due to Prometheus, though other gods will claim responsibility for these aspects. Read more about Prometheus here. Perspective 5 examines the popularity of Prometheus with the Romantic movement, including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
