Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes
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Transcript of Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes
Greek and Roman Mythology:
Remaining Mythic Themes
Mr. Upchurch’s Mythology 101 Lectures 10-11
Also known as Classical
Mythology
Tricksters• Several
• Three most famous:1. Eros (Cupid)-Traditionally portrayed as a childlike god that playedtricks on the other gods. Later in mythic traditional,however, he is said to have "grown-up" (so to speak).
2. Dionysus/Bacchus3. Dolus-spirit of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery and guile-apprentice to Prometheus
Good and Evil• Line between the two is difficult
to distinguish– the gods and goddesses could
possess both admiral and detestable qualities and still be
considered divine, – the idealistic heroes could
represent good while still having moments of moral failure
– even the Underworld was not viewed as a place of complete evil
Good and Evil…continued• In general, gods,
goddesses and heroes were considered good–Hence, the human
soul=good•Some monsters/evil
creatures were primarily evil (see Gorgons and
Harpies)
Nature?•Nearly all the myths are
connected to nature in some way–Dominions
–Nymphs & Saytrs–Constellations
–The Locations of the Tales
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them... in Greece
and Rome
•Many exist, but they will be addressed primarily
in the Monster Mash Presentations.
HEROES• Jason and the Argonauts
(video and handout)• Odysseus (video and handout)• Aeneas (hilarious video and
handout)• Hercules (lecture and handout)
• Perseus (lecture)• Theseus (lecture)
Hercules (Heracles)
Birth•Son of Zeus and
Alcmene•Hera tried to kill him by
putting snakes in his cradle
•He survived because of his super human
strength
Birth•He had a twin/half-
brother Iphicles (son of Amphitryon and
Alcmene)•He accompanied Hercules on many
adventures, but was not god-like
Early Life (pre-hero)•He was married to
Megara and had 3 kids•Hera caused him to go insane and kill his family
Journey Begins• Hercules exiled himself because
of shame and guilt• Asked the Oracle of Delphi how
to atone• Was told to go to king
Eurystheus (his cousin)Note: Hercules actually should have
been king of Mycenae, but Hera tricked Zeus into giving Eurystheus the kingdom
Journey Begins…continued
• Eurystheus was suppose to come up with labors (tasks) for Hercules to
accomplish for redemption… but couldn’t think of
anything•Hera, of course, was
willing to help
Labor 1: The Nemean Lion
• The lion had impenetrable skin
•He blocked its cave and killed it with his bare
hands
Labor 2: The Hydra•When King Eurystheus
saw Hercules coming back with the lion… he
hid in a storage jar
Hydra…continued•Debate on the number of heads…agreed that chopping off one made two more grow in its
place•Could kill a mortal with
its smell•Had a giant crab friend
(Cancer)
Hydra… finished•When Hercules was
about to die, Iolaos (his nephew) helped him by
burning the heads•Hercules cut…Iolaos
burned•Hercules also crushed the crab with his heel
Labor 3: Cerynitian Hind
•Golden Horned Doe (sacred to Artemis) must
retrieve alive•Hunted for an entire
year•Pinned with arrows between the tendons
without drawing blood (in Arcadia)
Labor 4: Erymanthian Boar
• Giant boar, that he must retrieve alive (once again in
Arcadia)• Meet/accidently killed a centaur, Pholus, on the way
– Pholus dropped one of Hercules’ “hydra venom
tipped arrows” on his foot
Boar…•Hercules effectively immobilized the boar
and carried it Eurystheus on his back…
Labor 5: Augean Stables
• King Augeas had thousands of cattle and their manure had piled up for a very long time
• Hercules had one day to clean it… he diverted two rivers to
do the job for him• Since he asked Augeas for payment, Eurystheus refuse
to count this one
Labor 6: Stymphalian Birds
• Theories: Man-eating, shot people with brass
feathers, or just numerous
•Hercules had to kill them, but could not
approach them due to the swampy environment
Birds…•He used a rattle
(possibly from Athena) to scatter them…then shot them down with poison tipped arrows
Labor 7: Cretan Bull• Fire-breathing beast
bull/ father of the Minotaur
•King Minos wanted it gone
•Hercules wrestled it and either shipped it Athens where Theseus took care
of it, or brought it to Eurystheus
Labor 8: Mares of Diomedes
• Flesh eating horses• Hercules either distracted
them by feeding them Diomedes…or they ate his
sidekick Abderus• Eventually they were released
and eaten, themselves, by wild beasts on Mount Olympus
Labor 9: Hippolyte's Belt
• Hippolyte was the Amazon Queen
• Eurystheus wanted Hippolyte’s belt for his
daughter• Because of their fierce reputation, Hercules took a
band of heroes with him (including Theseus)
Belt…•Hippolyte willing gave the
belt•Hera, however, spread the
rumor that the Greeks were going to steal her…
so they were attacked• The heroes escaped and Theseus stole a princess
Labor 10: Cattle of Geryon
•Geryon=three-bodied, four-winged giant from
modern Spain –Dog= Orthros (two
headed)•He had some nice cattle
that Hercules had to steal
Geryon…•He got there by
borrowing a golden-cup boat from Helios
•Stole the cattle and killed Geryon and his
dog in the process (with a club)
Labor 11: Apples of the Hesperides
•Hesperides were three nymph sisters
(daughters of either Nyx/Night or Atlas)
• They were entrusted with guarding the
golden apples Hera had received from Gaia on
her wedding day
Apples…• The apples were further
protected by Ladon (the hundred-headed dragon)
• After killing Ladon, Hercules asked Atlas to retrieve the
apples for him, in exchange for temporarily holding up the
world• Hercules then tricked Atlas into
taking the world back… and left
Labor 12: Capture of Cerberus
• Cerberus= Watch Dog of the Underworld
– 3 (or 50) heads, a venomous snake for a tail, and a swarm of snakes growing out of his
back• Hercules intimidated Charon
into allowing him into the underworld
Cerberus• With the help of his lion’s skin, he withstood Cerberus’ attacks, squeezed two of his heads into submission, and
stole him from the underworld (later to be returned)
• This was supposedly accomplished by the grace of
Persephone
Later Life•After these 12 Labors (and 12 years) he was
released from Eurystheus—and his own
shame•He went to Thebes and married Deianira—who
had many children
Death…• Hercules’ wife was abducted
by Nessus, the centaur. • Hercules killed him with a
hydra-poisoned arrow• Before dying, Nessus tricked
Deianira to use his blood as a love potion…in case
Hercules was unfaithful
Still dying…•She soaked his tunic in the blood… and it killed
him
Afterlife…• Hercules was the only hero to
be granted the status of full-god after death (he even
married the goddess Hebe)• However, since he was ½ human… that half was still
require to roam the underworld with the other
heroes in a zombie-like state
Theseus(as quickly as
possible)
Early Life
•Parents= Aegeus (king of Athens) or Posiedon
and Aethra •Raised by his
grandfather and Aethra•Aegeus lived in Athens,
but left behind a task for Theseus to
accomplish
•Aegeus had left some of his belongings under a rock… a rightful heir
would be able to lift it• Theseus did… probably be ingenuity, because he
was known for “scientific wrestling”…
footwork
•Once realizing who his father is he travels to Athens—by land—and
encounters many obstacles
Periphetes•Nick-Named: Corynetes
or "Club-Man”•Attacked Theseus in
Epidaurus• Theseus stole his club
and beat him with it• Theseus then carried
club
Sinis•Asked travelers to help
him hold down trees•When the trees were
down he’d tie their arms to the trees…fatigue
would cause the victims to be torn in half
• Theseus returned the favor
Sciron• Lived on some cliffs and
would have travelers wash their feet in a tub, then push them off the
cliff… and they’d be eaten by a giant man-
eating turtle• Theseus did the same
for him
Procrustes• Would offer lodgings for travelers… with his one-
size-fits-all bed• He’d make the bed fit by
stretching or chopping• Theseus tricked him into,
again, tasting his own medicine
Arrival in Athens• He didn’t reveal his identity,
but was considered hero for his journey so was invited to
a banquet• Medea, Aegeus (now) wife, was suspicious because she
felt Theseus may over through her son
• Medea tricked King Aegeus into poisoning his son
• He was about to drink the poison wine when his dad recognized his sword and,
thus, his identity• He knocked the cup away• Theseus was now the
recognized heir to Athens
King Minos’ Hunger Games
• Took tributes to sacrifice to the Minotaur in the underground labyrinth (because his son was
killed while under Athenian care)
• Theseus volunteered to go with the other 14
tributes
Helpers• On the journey Minos
challenged Theseus’ divine parentage, by asking him
to retrieve a ring he’d thrown into the ocean.
• He retrieved the ring and was given a crown by Thetis or Amphitrite.
Helpers 2• Ariadne, daughter of Minos, feel in love with Theseus and
promised to help him through the labryinth
• She’d learned a secret from Daedalus (who built the
labyrinth) and gave Theseus her magical thread
Labyrinth• Death trap, once in it was impossible to find your way
out• Theseus tied off the magic thread, fought the Minotaur with his bare hands (maybe killing it with it’s own horn)
and return by thread
Minotaur•Baby Minotaur
•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CH0ybyLvzg
ON NEXT SLIDE
Abandoned Love• Theseus put holes in Minos’
ship and then eloped with Ariadne
• He left her because…1. he was tricked by a god, or 2. he
was in love with her sister• Abandoned on either Naxos or
Dia… and found/married by Dionysus
Death of Dad• In all the excitement
leading to his return home, Theseus forgot the signal
he’d worked on with his dad to signify his survival. King Aegeus, thinking Theseus
dead, killed himself…Theseus was now king
Stealing Women…• Theseus was apparently a
fan of stealing brides…-Amazon
-Helen of Troy-when she was young… but
he left her until marrying age. Un/fortunately, her
brothers (Castor and Pollux)stole her back
before this…
Frienemy• Theseus once capture a noble
pirate named Peirithous• For some reason they were
instant friend. In fact, Peirithous’ punishment for piracy was
eternal friendship with Theseus• He helped his steal 13 year old Helen, in exchange for Theseus’
returning the favor some day
Returned Favor…• Peirithous decided he
wanted to steal Persephone• So they approached the throne of Hades together…after getting down there by
unknown means• Peirithous demanded her
hand in marriage
Sticking Situation• Hades pretends to oblige
Peirithous, but really tricks both heroes into sitting in the “chairs
of forgetfulness”• Here they were stuck and tormented by serpants, Furies,
Cerberus, and the waters of Tartarus…
• Hercules saved Theseus, but Peirithous was forced to stay
Perseus(Yet Another Blonde
Greek)
Birth• Oracle warns King Acrisius of
Argos that a son born to his daughter, Danae, will kill him• Though locked in a tower, Zeus has a liking for her, and after a appearing in the form of a “golden shower” Danae
gives birth to Perseus.
• Promptly, King Acrisius places both in a bronze box and
throws them into the ocean… they land on Seriphos
Early Life• They are found by kind
fisherman Dictys, who takes care of them and
raises Pereseus• Dictys’ brother is King
Polydectes… who persues Danae
• Perseus, intimating young hero, causes this to be
from a distance
Bride Price• To get Perseus out of the
way, the king tells everyone that he is to wed
Hippodameia, and demands that everyone
give a “bride price”•When he approaches
Perseus about this, he has nothing to give, but
assures him that if he had anything he’d surely give
it…even the head of Medusa
The Gorgon• Perseus set out to kill Medusa with the aid of
Athena, who hated Medusa for obvious reasons and
wanted her head for her own shield.
•She told him what he’d need for the task and sent him to find the
nymphs that guard the helmet of invisibility
• First, he had to find the Graeae (The Gray Ones)• To Find the Gray Ones, however, he had to talk
to Atlas
Atlas and the Gray Ones• Atlas points him to the Gray Ones’ nearby cave
• They are the sisters of the Gorgons…born with gray hair & one eye and one tooth…which they share (often confused with the Fates)
• They didn’t want to tell him where the nymphs were… so he stole their
eye and tooth
Nymphs and Gear• Finds the nymphs bathing in Styx
GearFrom Nymphs:
Hades’ Helmet of InvisibiltyPouch for Carrying Medusa Severed
HeadFrom Hermes:Winged Sandals
Sickle (for cutting--hand-me-down from Chronos?)
From Athena:Mirrored Sheild
Killing Medusa• He approached her using his mirror-shield so as not to look directly at her (and
be turned to stone)…he also had on the helmet of
invisibility for good measure
• Finding her asleep, he cut off her head and out came
Pegasus
• Stored the head in his bag and flew away
•While over Africa, he spotted a beautiful maiden chained to a rock… so he descended to investigate
Andromeda•Maiden=Andromeda,
daughter of King Cepheus• His wife had claimed to be
more beautiful than the daughters of the Old Man
of the Sea (ancient sea god)
• So their land was attacked…
• An oracle said their only hope was to sacrifice
Andromeda
• Perseus volunteered to help in return for
Andromeda’s hand in marriage… they agreed
• Two version of battle: 1—He flew above the sea monster and, while the
monster was distracted by his shadow…stabbed him to death. 2—He tried to use Medusa’s head, but
the monster had no eyes… so he just strangled it.
Wedding Feast•A banquet was thrown
for their coming wedding. Unfortunately King Cephesus forgot to
tell Perseus that Andromeda had been
promised to his brother Phineus.
•Phineus showed up with his “thugs” and battle
insued
Secret Weapon…•Perseus eventually pulled out Medusa’s head and told all his
allies to close their eyes•Phineus begged for mercy…Perseus made
him into a statue for his fiancée
Homeward• Upon returning home,
Perseus learned that King Polydectes had been
making unwanted advances towards his
mother.• So he approach the kings court to give him Medusa’s head. He asked if the king would like to see his gift.
The king said yes…
Later Life• Perseus left Dictys to rule in
his brother’s place and returned to Argos
• His grandfather tried to flee, but was accidently killed by
Perseus when he was competing in a discus throw• Perseus was later made a
constellation by Athena—together with Andromeda, her parents and the sea monster.