One More Trickster CoyoteNative American Trickster Tales

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Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad

Mean = 1

1 2 3

100

00

1 Odysseus

2 Ilium

3 Sisyphus

The name of this trickster is

Mean = 2875

1 2 3

4

92

4

1 Sisyphus

2 Hermes

3 Prometheus

Which term does not describe a trickster

Mean = 38462

1 2 3 4

0

88

84

1 mischievous

2 cunning

3 vulgar

4 physically strong

Ways of Interpreting MythTricksters

Ancient Vs Modern

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad

Mean = 1

1 2 3

100

00

1 Odysseus

2 Ilium

3 Sisyphus

The name of this trickster is

Mean = 2875

1 2 3

4

92

4

1 Sisyphus

2 Hermes

3 Prometheus

Which term does not describe a trickster

Mean = 38462

1 2 3 4

0

88

84

1 mischievous

2 cunning

3 vulgar

4 physically strong

Ways of Interpreting MythTricksters

Ancient Vs Modern

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

The name of this trickster is

Mean = 2875

1 2 3

4

92

4

1 Sisyphus

2 Hermes

3 Prometheus

Which term does not describe a trickster

Mean = 38462

1 2 3 4

0

88

84

1 mischievous

2 cunning

3 vulgar

4 physically strong

Ways of Interpreting MythTricksters

Ancient Vs Modern

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Which term does not describe a trickster

Mean = 38462

1 2 3 4

0

88

84

1 mischievous

2 cunning

3 vulgar

4 physically strong

Ways of Interpreting MythTricksters

Ancient Vs Modern

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Ways of Interpreting MythTricksters

Ancient Vs Modern

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

The Web of Myth

Interpreting myth is like Penelope at her loom Thread upon thread of interpretation is interwoven in myth As one approach to myth goes out of favor and is unraveled from the fabric another takes its place The result is that like Penelopes shroud the cloth of myth interpretation is ever-changing and can never be finished See Sienkewicz on the Web of MythSee also Michael Websterrsquos Ways of Interpreting Myths

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

Homer XenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

The Rationalist ApproachXenophanes of Colophon

c570 BCQuestioned the godsrsquo Anthropomorphism

170 But mortals consider that the gods are born and that they have clothes and speech and bodies like their own

171 The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub- nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair

172 But if cattle and horses or lions had hands or were able to draw with their hands and do the works that men can do horses would draw the forms of gods like horses and cattle like cattle and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves

So what would Xenophanes say about Hermes the Trickster

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as Allegory

Theagenes of Rhegium (525 BC) gods as symbols of human qualities eg Athena = wisdom

Hermes = trickery

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (c500-428 BC) The misdeeds of the gods are intended to illustrate evil and teach virtue

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)

Is Sisyphus a ParadeigmWhat instructive model does he offer

Aeschylus (c525-456 BC) used myth to teach Athenians about the gods and the their role in the civic life of Athens

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as Inaccurate

Euripides on the birth of Dionysus

Confusion between thigh (meron) and hostage (hemeron) a reference to the false image of Dionysus which Zeus gave to Hera as a hostage

Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9539Attic Red-Figure Lekythos

Can you think of a way to explain Sisyphus wrestling with Death as an inaccuracy

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

bullThe poets pretend to know all sorts of things but they really know nothing at all The things they deal with cannot be known they are images far removed from what is most real By presenting scenes so far removed from the truth poets pervert souls turning them away from the most real toward the least What would Plato criticize in Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullWorse the images the poets portray do not imitate the good part of the soul The rational part of the soul is quiet stable and not easy to imitate or understand Poets imitate the worst partsmdashthe inclinations that make characters easily excitable and colorful Poetry naturally appeals to the worst parts of souls and arouses nourishes and strengthens this base elements while diverting energy from the rational part

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Is this true for Sisyphusrsquo myth

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Myths as DangerousPlato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from

his Ideal Republic

bullPoetry corrupts even the best souls It deceives us into sympathizing with those who grieve excessively who lust inappropriately who laugh at base things It even goads us into feeling these base emotions vicariously We think there is no shame in indulging these emotions because we are indulging them with respect to a fictional character and not with respect to our own lives

In Republic Book X Socrates banishes poets from the city as unwholesome and dangerous because

Does Sisyphusrsquo myth corrupt If so how

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

EuhemerismOn Euhemerus of Messene see httpwwwcsunedu~hcfll004euhemerushtml

From Diodorus SiculusNow Euhemerus who was a friend of King Cassander [of Macedonia (301 to 297 BC)] and was required by him to perform certain affairs of state and to make great journeys abroad says that he traveled southward as far as the [Indian] ocean for setting sail from Arabia he voyaged through the ocean for a considerable number of days and was carried to the shore of some islands in the sea one of which bore the name of Panachaea On this island he saw the Panachaeans who dwell there who excel in piety and honor the gods with the most magnificent sacrifices and with remarkable votive offerings of silver and gold There is also on the island situated on an exceedingly high hill a sanctuary of Zeus which was established by him during the time when he was king of all the inhabited world and was still in the company of men And in the temple there is a stele of gold on which is inscribed in summary in the writing employed by the Panchaeans the deeds of Ouranos and Kronos and Zeus

Egyptian Pharaohs as Living HorusRoman Emperors Deified (Apotheosis)

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

DIVOANTONINOETDIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC

Temple of Antonins Piusand Faustinac 141 AD

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17

Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth

Archaic 750-480 BC

Classical 480-323 BC

Hellenistic 323-146 BC

HomerXenophanesTheagenes

AnaxagorasAeschylusEuripidesSocratesPlato

Euhemerus

Myth as Venerable TraditionQuestioning of Myths (Rationality)

Myths as Allegory

Myths as Instructive ModelsMyths as InaccurateMyths of Questionable MoralityMyths as Dangerous

Gods as Deified Heroes and Kings

• One More Trickster Coyote
• Who wears a helmet like this in Homerrsquos Iliad
• The name of this trickster is
• Which term does not describe a trickster
• Ways of Interpreting Myth Tricksters
• The Web of Myth
• Ancient Ways of Viewing Myth
• The Rationalist Approach Xenophanes of Colophon c570 BC
• Myths as Allegory
• Myths as Instructive Models (Paradigmatic Model)
• Myths as Inaccurate
• Myths as Dangerous Plato Banishes Poetry (=Myths) from his Ideal Republic
• Slide 13
• Slide 14
• Euhemerism
• DIVOANTONINOET DIVAEFAUSTINAEEXSC
• Slide 17