Transcript Greek Myth Overview

MYTH
1. TRADITIONAL STORY
2. EXPLAIN BELIEFS
3. CUSTOMS
4. NATURAL OCCURRENCES
5. HEROES/HEROINES
a. BEAUTY
b. STRENGTH
c. INTELLIGENCE ---BEYOND HUMAN LIMITATIONS
6.ORAL TRADITION
GREEK HEROES/HEROINES
1.WEAKNESSES OF HUMANS VS. DIVINE POWERS OF
GODS
2.HUMANS WHO GO BEYOND HUMAN LIMITATIONS
3.CHARACTERS ARE GODS, DEMIGODS-- HALF HUMAN,
HALF GOD
GREEK EPIC
*The hero is a figure of national importance. Achilles is a
demi-god and respected king and Odysseus is a king and
respected chieftain.
*The action involves a long and dangerous journey. During
this time the hero shows his strength and cunning. The
Iliad involves the dangerous “journey” of victory
between Greeks vs. Trojans. The Odyssey describes
Odysseus’ ten-year journey.
EPIC CONT.
*The setting of an epic is large in scale. The Iliad centers
on the whole of Troy and even pulls in the gods.
Odysseus wanders the entire Mediterranean area and
even visits the underworld.
*Supernatural beings and events play a role in epic affairs.
The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology are key
characters in The Iliad (Zeus, Ares, Aphrodite, Hera,
Athena) and The Odyssey (Athena, Zeus, Poseidon).
EPIC CONT.
*The style of an epic is formal and grand. This style fits the
importance of its subject. Many translations preserve the
poetic structure of the ancient Greek.
*The action of an epic starts in medias res, “in the middle
of things,” rather than at the true beginning of the
story—or, chronologically. The Iliad begins during the
middle of the Greeks’ battle with the Trojans; The
Odyssey begins when Odysseus in nearly home.
EPIC CONT.
*Epics assign short phrases—stock epithets—to individual
characters. For example, Homer often refers to Odysseus
as “the great tactician” and “the master strategist.”
*Epics usually contain twenty-four books or parts. The
Iliad and The Odyssey follow this pattern.
EPIC PURPOSE
REVEALS MANY FACETS OF GREEK CIVILIZATION
1. RELIGION
2. VALUES
3. TRADITIONS
4. BELIEFS
ZEUS (JUPITER/JOVE)
1. CARRIED THUNDERBOLT
2. NOT OMNISCIENT (ALL-KNOWING)
3. NOT OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL)
4. WIFE WAS HERA
5. RULER OF ALL GODS & THE SKIES
HADES (PLUTO)
1. BROTHER OF ZEUS
2. RULER OF THE DEAD
3. GOD OF WEALTH
4. OWNED CAP WHICH MADE PERSON WEARING IT
INVISIBLE
5. WIFE WAS PERSEPHONE
POSEIDON (NEPTUNE)
1. RULER OF THE SEA
2. BROTHER OF ZEUS
3. CALLED "EARTHSHAKER"
4. CARRIED TRIDENT (3-PRONGED SPEAR)
HERA (JUNO)
1. SISTER/WIFE OF ZEUS
2. PROTECTOR OF MARRIAGE
3. ILL-TEMPERED
4. PUNISHED ZEUS' MISTRESSES
PHOEBUS APOLLO (APOLLO)
1. SON OF ZEUS
2. TOP MUSICIAN
3. PLAYED GOLDEN LYRE
4. ARCHER-GOD
5. DELPHI--PLACE OF HIS ORACLE
ARTEMIS (DIANA)
1. APOLLO'S TWIN SISTER
2. HUNTRESS--GODDESS OF WILD THINGS
3. USUALLY PRESERVED THE YOUNG
4. A VIRGIN
ARES (MARS)
1. SON OF ZEUS AND HERA--BOTH DISLIKED HIM
2. GOD OF WAR
3. RUTHLESS, YET A COWARD
PALLAS ATHENE/ATHENA (MINERVA)
1. DAUGHTER OF ZEUS--SPRANG FROM HIS HEAD
2. BATTLE-GODDESS & GODDESS OF WISDOM
3. CITY GODDESS--PROTECTOR OF CIVILIZED LIFE
4. PARTHENON--HER TEMPLE
APHRODITE (VENUS)
1. GODDESS OF LOVE AND BEAUTY
2.
LOVED LAUGHTER
3. DAUGHTER OF ZEUS--OR, SPRANG FROM SEA FOAM
4. WIFE OF HEPHAESTUS
HEPHAESTUS (VULCAN)
1. SON OF ZEUS & HERA
2. GOD OF FIRE
3. UGLY AND LAME
4. ARMORER AND SMITH FOR THE GODS
5. FORGE EITHER ON OLYMPUS OR UNDER A VOLCANO
6. KIND AND POPULAR
7. GOD OF THE CITY LIFE
HERMES (MERCURY)
1. SON/MESSENGER OF ZEUS
2. GRACEFUL AND SWIFT
3. WINGED SANDALS ON HIS HAT AND WAND
(CADUCEUS)
4. GOD OF COMMERCE
HESTIA (VESTA)
1. SISTER OF ZEUS
2. GODDESS OF THE HEARTH AND HOME
3. NOT CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN THE MYTHS