Transcript Mythology
Mythology and The Odyssey by Homer Mythology Mythology did not start with the Greeks—it has existed since the beginning of time. Mythology serves 3 basic functions in ALL societies. It represents: Our effort to explain our existence Our effort to explain our world Our attempt at seeking justice Myth A myth is: A story that uses fantasy to express ideas about life which cannot be expressed easily in realistic terms. Polytheism Polytheism is the worship of many gods. (Poly= many) (Theos= god) The gods of ancient peoples came to represent moral attributes They were also connected with specific aspects of the life that these societies experienced. Mythology Today The ancient myths are still a part of our culture today. Myths are alluded to in literature, sports, media, and everyday life. For example, we see references to mythological gods: Circe: god of agriculture (cereal) Hermes (Mercury): messenger god (quick and prompt) Emblem for FTD florists Atlas: Greek hero known for his strength (Atlas tires are strong!) Olympus: mountain home of the gods (cameras=best, highest quality) Greek Mythology War of the Titans Division of the World (Straws were drawn) Zeus = Heaven Poseidon = Sea Hades = Underworld The Greek gods Physical appearance Resemble mortals but stronger and larger Live like nobles (need food and drink but do not labor) Dress like humans and sleep at night The gods generally uphold virtuous behavior The gods up Close Powers They can change form at will They transform mortals They can control mortals’ minds Limitations They cannot interfere with fate They may be interfered with by other gods Gods’ expectations of mortals Keep oaths--honesty Do not harbor pride, or hubris Properly bury the dead--respect others Show hospitality to strangers Gods and Goddesses To Know goddesses gods Hera: Queen of the Zeus: King of gods; gods; Zeus’ wife and home is Olympus; not sister; she seeks the most moral; symbol revenge on Zeus’ is lightning bolt. mortal infidelities. Poseidon: god of sea Athena: favorite & earthquakes; carries daughter of Zeus; a Trident; he’s very goddess of important since wisdom/war; she Odysseus is traveling favors the Greeks home from Troy by sea. during the Trojan Polyphemus: a oneWar. eyed giant (Cyclops); Poseidon’s son. Heroes In Greek mythology, heroes occupy a special position in life: they are below the gods but above other mortals. The stories of these heroes were popular then—and are still read now—because we can sympathize with their experience of feeling lost in a world of difficult choices. The Odyssey Odyssey = a voyage or long journey marked by wanderings, adventures, and hardships Hero in The Odyssey = Odysseus (Ulysses) Named after the hero, Odysseus The Odyssey covers his 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the war His journey is difficult because some gods had wanted the Trojans to win (they thought the Greek victory was unfair, so they were angry with Odysseus) 3 Plots in The Odyssey Events that happen to Odysseus’ wife and son as they await his journey home to Ithaca Odysseus’ wanderings during his 10year journey home after the Trojan War Odysseus’ return home and joint effort with his son, Telemachus, to defeat their enemies Causes of the Trojan WAr It started as a beauty contest; the prize was a beautiful golden apple The contestants were: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite Zeus declined to judge, so Paris of Troy became the judge Paris was asked, “Who is the most beautiful goddess?” A Momentous decision The three goddesses each promised Paris gifts in exchange for winning Hera promised power, a happy home, and a good life Athena promised wisdom and respect Aphrodite promised the love of the most beautiful woman in the world Who do you think wins?………... APHRODITE, OF COURSE!!! Many Consequences And the most beautiful woman is… Helen of Troy! Many men have fought over Helen (daughter of Zeus and Leda) because of of of her beauty. Long ago, Odysseus promised that when she chose a husband, no one would harm him or else Odysseus would kill the aggressor. Helen married King Menelaus of Sparta, Greece. The Plot Thickens Paris wants to marry Helen and reminds Aphrodite of her promise. Aphrodite uses her power to get Helen to leave her husband, elope with Paris, and return with him to Troy. Menelaus calls on Odysseus to keep his promise. Odysseus really doesn’t want to go because he’s happy in Ithaca; however, he follows through with his word – keeping the oath of honor. Last Effort But first Odysseus makes one last bid for freedom: when the draft board comes to call him to the war, Odysseus pretends to be insane by dressing like a peasant and plowing the field. The draft board is too smart for him, though: they throw his infant son in front of the plow. Odysseus of course refuses to run over his son, so his disguise evaporates, and he knows he has to honor his oath and go to war. The Great War The Greeks assemble an army—the war lasts 10 years, and the Greeks cannot get inside the walls of Troy. Odysseus eventually creates the Trojan Horse. It is a giant wooden horse that is hollow inside. The Greek army packs up and takes off, leaving the Trojan horse outside the gates. The Great Trick The Trojans pull the horse into their city, thinking it is a gift or an offering to the gods. Greek soldiers are hiding inside the horse’s stomach. At night, the Greeks sneak out and take the city by surprise, opening the gates to let in the rest of the Greek army, which had only been hiding out of sight of the city. problems… Odysseus doesn’t give credit to the gods—this shows pride, or HUBRIS Poseidon, who supported Troy, is angry with Odysseus for winning and for his hubris. Poseidon warns Odysseus it will be a LONG journey home. This is where The Odyssey begins Behind the Odyssey The Odyssey was written by a man named Homer. According to the Greek tradition, Homer was a blind minstrel from the island of Chios. Epic An epic is a long narrative poem telling about the adventures of a hero who embodies the values of his particular civilization. An epic teaches the virtues and value systems of the society that produced the epic. The Rhapsodes A minstrel like Homer would also be called a rhapsode. Rhapsodes were wandering singers of tales—they were the historians, entertainers and myth-makers of their cultures. There was no TV or internet, and the Greeks didn’t have a common religious text like a Bible or other book. Minstrels So the rhapsodes, or minstrels, were very important in ancient societies, because they were the source of news and fun: they went from community to community to report the news and to entertain people. Minstrels tied communities together. Epic Style When a minstrel told an epic, he would often use formulas: expressions that are repeated. The audience could recognize the formulas; a formula helped the listener to remember—and helped the minstrel to remember the story himself! The Homeric Simile The Homeric simile is a special kind of simile often used in Homer’s writing. It is also called an epic simile. It is an extended comparison of heroic or epic events to simple, everyday events that are easily recognizable.