Classical Mythology – CLT 3370Introduction to Mythology/Historical Background- What is a myth?o Something that is worthy of becoming a traditiono Becomes written canon (truth/set of rules)o Can be expressed without words- Mythos – word, story, or tale - Immortality of a mytho Passed down and still incorporated in society- Fluidity of a mytho No exact rules or timelineo Can change depending on Author- Myth and sagao Myth – Story about creation of the world and humankind, including gods’ interactions with humans.o Saga/legend – Story with some historical connection, even if it’s extremely fanciful (heroes)- Is a myth true?o Isn’t a fact but can have truth- Is a myth history?o Euhemerus (300 BCE) Tried to explain the origin of a myth Euhemerism – “History as the basis for famous myths”- Is a myth religion?o Strongly concerned with creation and godso Cultic connections – worship Myth explained why certain parts of animals were sacrificed- Etiological Mythso Explanation of origin of a fact or customo Very frequent in mythology Creationism, evil and good, feelings, etc.- Other interpretationso Sigmund FreudColor-code KeyBold, highlighted, and blue – beginning of new chapter/sectionBold and lavender – important termItalic and lavender – important definition, event, description,etcBold and purple – important personBold, italics, and blue – Roman name of a god/personBold, italics, and orange – Latin term/definitionItalics and orange – the role of specific gods Dreams and symbols Escape from reality Oedipus Complex (wish fulfillment)o Carl Jung Archetypal images - The self, Shadow, Animus, and Anima Collective unconscious (made up from Shadow) Electra complexChapter 2 – Historical Background of Greek Mythology- Classical World – Greece, Thebes, Athens, and Troyo Literature (Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, etc.) Homeric hymns – unknown authorso Oral Traditiono Archaeology 19th – 20th centuries- Heinrich Schliemanno 1822-1890o Found Troy (Anatolia) in 1870 Not exact point, only location Proved reality of Minoan-Mycenaean sagao Founded modern archaeological work- Sir Arthur Evanso 1900o Unearthed palace of Minos Crete – island in Mediterraneano Greece – Settled in Paleolithic period (before 70,000 BCE)o Neolithic evidence abundant (6,000-3,000 BCE)o Religion apparent Emphasis on women- Bronze Ageo Migration from the Easto 3 major periods: Early, Middle, and Late Crete – Minoan based on king; Minos Islands – Cycladic Greece – Helladic- Minoan Civilizationo Matured in the Middle Bronze Ageo Cnossus Grand palace- Reconstructed by Sir Evans- Phaistos = palace Basis of legend of the labyrinth- Slaying of the Minotaur- Home of the double axe (labrys) No walls surrounding the city meant they were confident with their security in ships and sea Increased sense of religion- Mother-fertility goddesso 1400 – Focus shifted to Greece mainland No definite reasono Thera Island, evidence of earthquakes- Caused distortion of power in Crete- Mother Goddesso Minoan Worshipo Earth mother – goddess of fertility and agriculture Nurturer and guardiano Also seen as a destroyero Triple goddess – birth, death, and regenerationo Moon Goddesso Aspects of statues and paintings Snakes – chthonic (connection with the ground/Earth) Bare chest – fertility Headdress and skirt – ritual- Mycenaean Ageo Mycenaeans - People who lived in Mycenaeo Warlords/chieftains Took goods as payment for protectiono Greek language (Linear B which mentioned the gods)o Worshipped sky god, Zeus Change from mother to father godo Late Hellenic Period (1600-1100 BCE)o Sky God Sky father Complement of Mother Earth Zeus – lightening, clouds, birds- Archaic Periodo 800-483 BCEo Monarchieso Invention of Greek alphabet Homer Hesiod (Theogony – Birth of the gods)- Classical Periodo 480-323 BCEo Destruction of Athenian Acropolis by Persians in 480 BCEo Death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE Hellenistic Periodo Period of famous art, playwrights, etc. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripideso Rome Foundation 753 BCE- Romulus and Remuso Twins, mother raped by Marso Fratricide – Romulus killed Remuso Romulus = founder of Rome Roman Republic 509 BCE Roman Empire 27 BCE- Octavian given name Augustus Caesar (emperor)Similar gods and myths to Greece, just different names- Italian Peninsulao Etruscans Tuscany Unique language 10th/9th century until 3rd century (conquered by Romanso Magna Gracia Gods and goddesses- Similar to Greeks- Unique/unknown equivalences Prophecy/divination (borrowed by Romans)- Haruspicyo Examination of entrails (liver)- Auguryo Watching birds to tell the futureChapter 3 – Creation Myths- Common Motifs/Themeso Creation of opposites and parallelso Father/son rivalry Connection to Oedipus Complexo Succession of gods Sneaky wife Young rebellious sono Varying types of creation- Hesiodo 700 BCE Archaic period of Greeceo Written in Dactylic Hexameter Epic meter (Homer, Virgil, Ovid, etc)o Provides first literary account of creation story Primarily in Theogony (works and days)- Didactic literature- Contains etiological mythso Homeric Hymns 33 hymns to Olympian gods Composed at different times by different authors (8th-4th centuries)- Works and Dayso Hesiod plays role of farmer and shepherd Inspired by Muses on Mt. Helicono MusesThe 9 daughters of Zeus Emphasized, particularly with ability to inspire (inspired Hesiod) Sing and danced for the gods on Olympus Revelations come from infallible knowledgeo Creation story Muses told Hesiod On Mt. Helicod- Setting for Theogony- Main place of worship for Muses; “Mouseion” o Chaos Void of sorts; absence of things First in existence (not a god)o Primordial gods Came from Chaos Gaia (or Earth) Tartarus – place in depths of the earth (underworld) Erebus – gloomy darkness of Tartarus Night – brought bright air and day Eros – love god-Ovid’s version of the Creation Mytho 700 years after Hesiodo Chaos Unformed mass of elementsA god (unnamed) formed the order of the universe from chaos- Uranus and Gaiao Uranus (sky) produced by Gaia Equal, lover, and later her subordinateo Hieros gamos – “Sacred” or “holy marriage”o Had the 12 Titans, 3 one-eyed Cyclopes, and Hecatonchires (3 one hundred handers with 50 heads)- 12
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