Chapter Seven, Chapter Seven, Lecture TwoLecture Two

Myths of the OlympiansMyths of the Olympians

HephaestusHephaestus

The “blacksmith” godThe “blacksmith” god Zeus and Hera or just HeraZeus and Hera or just Hera Lame blacksmith god or just god of the Lame blacksmith god or just god of the

manual crafts and metal working; manual crafts and metal working; sometimes just fire.sometimes just fire.

Shows some contempt for laborShows some contempt for labor No social standing because of above so he No social standing because of above so he

represents and smiths and laborers of low represents and smiths and laborers of low social standing in Greek society.social standing in Greek society.

HephaestusHephaestus

HephaestusHephaestus

Island is Lemnos, where he may have Island is Lemnos, where he may have landed after being thrown out from landed after being thrown out from OlympusOlympus

Assisted by Cyclopes and golden Assisted by Cyclopes and golden robotsrobots

Married as a joke to AphroditeMarried as a joke to Aphrodite Beauty and the Beast-Aphrodite Beauty and the Beast-Aphrodite

cheatscheats

Hephaestus and AphroditeHephaestus and Aphrodite

HephaestusHephaestus

Hera threw him from heaven because he Hera threw him from heaven because he was ugly and lame.was ugly and lame.

He learned metal working and made a He learned metal working and made a golden throne for Hera to give to her for golden throne for Hera to give to her for her birthdayher birthday

It had mesh and she could not get free and It had mesh and she could not get free and Hephaestus refused to return to OlympiaHephaestus refused to return to Olympia

Dionysus got him drunk so he would return Dionysus got him drunk so he would return and free Heraand free Hera

Hephaestus being guided by Hephaestus being guided by DionysusDionysus

HephaestusHephaestus

But other versions say But other versions say ZeusZeus threw threw him from him from Mount OlympusMount Olympus after after Hephaestus had sided with his Hephaestus had sided with his mother in a quarrel. This legend says mother in a quarrel. This legend says that Hephaestus fell for nine days that Hephaestus fell for nine days and nine nights, and he landed on and nine nights, and he landed on the island of Lemnos. It was on the island of Lemnos. It was on Lemnos where he built his palace Lemnos where he built his palace and his forges under a volcano. and his forges under a volcano.

AresAres

Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and Hera Blood-lust in battle, warrior merciless Blood-lust in battle, warrior merciless

and feels no pain or fearand feels no pain or fear Greeks preferred Athena as goddess Greeks preferred Athena as goddess

of strategy in warof strategy in war Few mythsFew myths Disgracefully wounded at Troy by Disgracefully wounded at Troy by

Athena and DiomedesAthena and Diomedes

AresAres

AresAres

Best known for adultery with Best known for adultery with AphroditeAphrodite

Caught Caught in flagrante delictoin flagrante delicto by by HephaestusHephaestus

Fear (Phobos), Panic (Deimos)Fear (Phobos), Panic (Deimos)

Ares and AphroditeAres and Aphrodite Aphrodite, in some versions, was the wife of Aphrodite, in some versions, was the wife of

Hephaestus, and he was suspicious that Hephaestus, and he was suspicious that Aphrodite had been committing adultery. To Aphrodite had been committing adultery. To catch her being unfaithful he fashioned an catch her being unfaithful he fashioned an extraordinary chain-link net, so fine and strong no extraordinary chain-link net, so fine and strong no one could escape from it. Then one day he one could escape from it. Then one day he surprised Aphrodite and the war god surprised Aphrodite and the war god AresAres as they as they lay together in bed. He threw his magic net over lay together in bed. He threw his magic net over them and hauled them before the Olympian gods them and hauled them before the Olympian gods and exhibited them as they were, naked and and exhibited them as they were, naked and wrapped in each others arms. Hephaestus asked wrapped in each others arms. Hephaestus asked the assembled gods for just retribution, but they the assembled gods for just retribution, but they did the total opposite. The gods roared with did the total opposite. The gods roared with laughter at the sight of the naked lovers, after laughter at the sight of the naked lovers, after which they allowed the couple to go free. which they allowed the couple to go free.

Ares and AphroditeAres and Aphrodite

Hephaestus made an invincible, Hephaestus made an invincible, unbreakable chain and put it around his unbreakable chain and put it around his bed.bed.

Hephaestus pretended to leave and Ares Hephaestus pretended to leave and Ares snuck insnuck in

Ares and Aphrodite were caught in bedAres and Aphrodite were caught in bed All male gods invited to come, see, and All male gods invited to come, see, and

laugh at the couplelaugh at the couple Poseidon has to post bail and Ares will Poseidon has to post bail and Ares will

have to give compensation.have to give compensation.

Ares and AphroditeAres and Aphrodite

HermesHermes

Son of Zeus and MaiaSon of Zeus and Maia Bizarre complexity of attributes:Bizarre complexity of attributes:

– The ram, the herd, herdsmen, travelers, The ram, the herd, herdsmen, travelers, messengers, liars, thieves, messengers, liars, thieves, businessmen, leaders of souls to the businessmen, leaders of souls to the underworld (psychopompos), oratorsunderworld (psychopompos), orators

HermesHermes

HermesHermes

Epithet: Argeïphontes (slayer of Epithet: Argeïphontes (slayer of Argos)Argos)

Iconography: traveler’s hat, winged Iconography: traveler’s hat, winged sandals, caduceussandals, caduceus

The HermThe Herm– Erect phallus wards off aggressionErect phallus wards off aggression

HermesHermes Hermes was known to be a cunning trickster, stealing Hermes was known to be a cunning trickster, stealing

things from the other gods and hiding them in unbelievable things from the other gods and hiding them in unbelievable locations. locations.

Back in the days when Hermes was still an infant, he once Back in the days when Hermes was still an infant, he once went out his cradle and decided to go to Pieria in Northern went out his cradle and decided to go to Pieria in Northern Greece and steal the cattle from his half-brother Greece and steal the cattle from his half-brother ApolloApollo. .

Hermes discovered the herd very soon, and started pulling Hermes discovered the herd very soon, and started pulling the hoofs out of the cows’ feet one by one and re-attaching the hoofs out of the cows’ feet one by one and re-attaching them in the reverse order; the same he did to his own them in the reverse order; the same he did to his own sandals. Then he took the herd, which now seemed to be sandals. Then he took the herd, which now seemed to be walking backwards, hid them inside a cave and quickly walking backwards, hid them inside a cave and quickly returned to his cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. returned to his cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.

HermesHermes Apollo soon discovered his herd was missing and he went Apollo soon discovered his herd was missing and he went

out searching all around. The traces he saw on his way out searching all around. The traces he saw on his way were nothing but confusing and led the god to dispair. were nothing but confusing and led the god to dispair. However, Apollo was the god of prophecy, so he soon found However, Apollo was the god of prophecy, so he soon found out the thief and went furiously to Mount Cyllene to find out the thief and went furiously to Mount Cyllene to find Hermes in his cave. Little Hermes was peacefully sleeping Hermes in his cave. Little Hermes was peacefully sleeping inside his cradle, but Apollo didn’t bother. He grabbed the inside his cradle, but Apollo didn’t bother. He grabbed the infant and took him up to infant and took him up to Mount OlympusMount Olympus to be judged by to be judged by their master Zeus, the king of the gods. their master Zeus, the king of the gods.

Before the eyes of Zeus, Hermes first denied everything, Before the eyes of Zeus, Hermes first denied everything, but in the end he had to confess. Zeus had found the story but in the end he had to confess. Zeus had found the story quite amusing so he didn't punish Hermes; he only asked quite amusing so he didn't punish Hermes; he only asked from him to return the herd. Regretful of what he had done, from him to return the herd. Regretful of what he had done, Hermes then offered Apollo his lyre as a present, a musical Hermes then offered Apollo his lyre as a present, a musical instrument he had created all by himself out of the shell of instrument he had created all by himself out of the shell of a tortoise. a tortoise.

To compensate Hermes for his kindness, Apollo returned To compensate Hermes for his kindness, Apollo returned the gesture by giving Hermes a golden rod to guide the the gesture by giving Hermes a golden rod to guide the herds. From that moment on, there was peace again in herds. From that moment on, there was peace again in Mount Olympus and a strong friendship began between Mount Olympus and a strong friendship began between Hermes and Apollo.Hermes and Apollo.

HermesHermes

HermesHermes

The Homeric Hymn to HermesThe Homeric Hymn to Hermes The early achievements of HermesThe early achievements of Hermes The tricksterThe trickster Invents: sneakers, the lyre, sausage . . . Invents: sneakers, the lyre, sausage . . . Conflict between the old aristocrats and Conflict between the old aristocrats and

the new class of capitalists and men of the new class of capitalists and men of industryindustry

Apollo represents aristocratsApollo represents aristocrats Hermes represents new merchant classHermes represents new merchant class

HermesHermes

The alliance between Hermes and The alliance between Hermes and Apollo should encourage the aristoi Apollo should encourage the aristoi and the kakoi in Greek society to and the kakoi in Greek society to look past their differences and seek look past their differences and seek common political interests.common political interests.

HermesHermes

Beings associated with HermesBeings associated with Hermes Autolycus (son)Autolycus (son)

– master thief – could make himself invisiblemaster thief – could make himself invisible– father of Odysseusfather of Odysseus

Pan (son) (to feed?)Pan (son) (to feed?)– shows fertility side of Hermesshows fertility side of Hermes

Syrinx (Pan pipes)Syrinx (Pan pipes)– ““Panic” of the solitude of the woods Panic” of the solitude of the woods

Echo (loved by Hermes) got into trouble Echo (loved by Hermes) got into trouble with Herawith Hera

PanPan

trickstertrickster top half of a human, hoofs and legs top half of a human, hoofs and legs

of a goat with pointed ears, a tail, of a goat with pointed ears, a tail, and horns, lustfuland horns, lustful

Pictures of Pan beginning of devilPictures of Pan beginning of devil

PanPan

Pan and SyrinxPan and Syrinx Syrinx was a beautiful, gamesome wood Nymph from Arcadia , Syrinx was a beautiful, gamesome wood Nymph from Arcadia ,

renowned for her strong passion for hunting. renowned for her strong passion for hunting. One day, Greek god Pan met Syrinx in the backwoods on her One day, Greek god Pan met Syrinx in the backwoods on her

way to hunt; delighted from what he saw, Pan lustfully decided way to hunt; delighted from what he saw, Pan lustfully decided to approach her. Syrinx, however, was a very proud Nymph to approach her. Syrinx, however, was a very proud Nymph who didn’t wish to be loved; so she ran away to avoid the who didn’t wish to be loved; so she ran away to avoid the satyr, but Pan took off in pursuit. satyr, but Pan took off in pursuit.

Suddenly, the river Ladon cut the Nymph’s path. Syrinx Suddenly, the river Ladon cut the Nymph’s path. Syrinx desperately appealed to the River God to rescue her, until desperately appealed to the River God to rescue her, until finally her prayers were heard and the River God turned Syrinx finally her prayers were heard and the River God turned Syrinx into a reed. into a reed.

Soon enough, Pan managed to reach Syrinx and spread his Soon enough, Pan managed to reach Syrinx and spread his arms to fondle and embrace her; but all he found inside his arms to fondle and embrace her; but all he found inside his arms was a plain tuft of reeds. So he sighed out desperately; a arms was a plain tuft of reeds. So he sighed out desperately; a sigh so deep that it sounded through the reeds, producing a sigh so deep that it sounded through the reeds, producing a melody…melody…

Charmed by this melody, Pan bunched up small pieces of reed Charmed by this melody, Pan bunched up small pieces of reed and produced a pan pipe, which he named "and produced a pan pipe, which he named "SyrinxSyrinx" to honor " to honor the Nymph. Everywhere he went, Pan took his beloved Syrinx the Nymph. Everywhere he went, Pan took his beloved Syrinx with him, delighting deities with its harmonious sounds. with him, delighting deities with its harmonious sounds.

Pan and SyrinxPan and Syrinx

Pan and SyrinxPan and Syrinx

EchoEcho The chief god Zeus had many affairs with both mortals and gods, The chief god Zeus had many affairs with both mortals and gods,

much to his wife's dislike. While he pursued his amours, it was much to his wife's dislike. While he pursued his amours, it was Echo's duty to beguile Hera's attention by incessantly talking to Echo's duty to beguile Hera's attention by incessantly talking to her. Hera discovered the ruse and as punishment, she made Echo her. Hera discovered the ruse and as punishment, she made Echo always repeat the voice of another. Echo fell in love with a vain always repeat the voice of another. Echo fell in love with a vain youth named Narcissus, who ignored her. Narcissus found a pool youth named Narcissus, who ignored her. Narcissus found a pool of water and stared at his lovely reflection until he died. Echo of water and stared at his lovely reflection until he died. Echo watched him until she pined away, now her voice remains, watched him until she pined away, now her voice remains, repeating the last few things people say. repeating the last few things people say.

The Greek version of the story of Echo (the above is of Roman The Greek version of the story of Echo (the above is of Roman origin [Ovid]) is as follows: origin [Ovid]) is as follows:

Echo was a very beautiful and musical nymph. She could sing and Echo was a very beautiful and musical nymph. She could sing and play many instruments. She lived deep in the woods and denied play many instruments. She lived deep in the woods and denied the love of any man or immortal. She therefore attracted the the love of any man or immortal. She therefore attracted the hatred and anger of many, including the god Pan whose love she hatred and anger of many, including the god Pan whose love she turned down. Pan caused his followers the shepherds to kill Echo turned down. Pan caused his followers the shepherds to kill Echo and tear her to pieces that were subsequently scattered far and and tear her to pieces that were subsequently scattered far and wide. Gaia, the Earth goddess, received the pieces in her bosom wide. Gaia, the Earth goddess, received the pieces in her bosom and thus Echo, scattered now all over the earth, retained her voice and thus Echo, scattered now all over the earth, retained her voice and talents answering or imitating every sound or voice. and talents answering or imitating every sound or voice.

EchoEcho

Echo and NarcissusEcho and Narcissus

EndEnd