Apollo February 16 and 18, 2016

Slaying the Pytho

The Apollo Complex at Delphi

Sanctuary: 800 BCE –394 CE

Oracle:800 BCE –394 CE

The Sincerity and Reliability of the Oracle The elusive inner temple: the hallucinogenic fumes theory Ancient (and modern) spiritual belief; mediums Political expedience > diplomacy between states ‘Crooked’ Apollo > allows for personal responsibility

Question on Cassandra [class] How does Cassandra’s punishment add an original line to divine punishment? Why not simply take away the prophecy or kill her?

Thoughts on Cassandra  Spitting/disbelief of oracles adds an element of humiliation to the punishment  Reveals Apollo as inventively cruel; disturbed imagination

Myth and Etiology

Apollo and Daphne

Questions on Apollo and Daphne [tophat] What argument does Peneus use to persuade Daphne and what counter argument does Daphne use? How does Ovid describe Apollo’s Eros for Daphne? How does Ovid update the Greek myth for his audience?

Thoughts on Apollo and Daphne  Peneus= argument from social convention, Daphne= argument from religion and myth  The irrational nature of Eros (~Phaedra by Aphrodite)  Eros as animalistic predator; female horror and flight are attractive  Ovid adds Roman triumph to bring laurel up to speed  Tree anthropomorphism; belief in indwelling spirit (also in Cyparissus)

Animalistic Eros Maroon 5 ‘Animals’ (2014) Baby I’m preying on you tonight Hunt you down, eat you alive Just like animals, animals, like animals Maybe you think that you can hide I can smell your scent for miles Just like animals, animals, like animals Yeah you can start over You can run free You can find other fish in the sea But you can’t stay away from me

Asclepius’ Healing Method Incubation (sleeping in a holy place) Patient falls asleep in the hope of having a healing vision of Asclepius Free snakes lick the disease off the afflicted Archaeological evidence for hot springs and curative baths Guild of physicians: Asclepiadae; the most famous is Hippocrates

I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius the surgeon, and Hygeia, and call all the gods and goddesses to witness, that I will observe and keep this underwritten oath, to the utmost of my power and judgment…ApolloAesculapius Hygeia I will devise and order for them the best diet, and I will take care that they suffer no hurt or damage. Nor shall any man's entreaty prevail upon me to administer poison to anyone; neither will I counsel any man to do so. I will get no medicine to any pregnant woman to destroy the child. I will refrain from acts of an amorous nature, whatever may be the rank of those who it may be my duty to cure, whether mistress or servant, bond or free. Whatever, in the course of my practice, I may see or hear whatever I may happen to obtain knowledge of, if it be not proper to repeat it, I will keep sacred and secret within my own breast.

Socrates’ Final Words

Questions on Coronis and Asclepius [tophat] What kind of real world experience is reflected in the mode of Asclepius’ birth? What kind of social and psychological scenario is indicated by Apollo’s punishing of the crow? What does the nature of the punishment tell you about Greek aesthetics? What philosophical principle is implied in Zeus’ punishment of Asclepius?

Thoughts on Coronis and Asclepius  Death in labor; having to choose between saving the mother or the child; Caesarian birth  ‘Shooting the messenger’; cautionary story about gossips; might makes right  The aesthetics of dark/light; aetion for bi-chromatic crows

Thoughts on Coronis and Asclepius  Death in labor; having to choose between saving the mother or the child; Caesarian birth  ‘Shooting the messenger’; cautionary story about gossips; might makes right  The aesthetics of dark/light; aetion for bi-chromatic crows  Centaur is a hybrid creature; human and veterinary medicine not separated; man as animal  Medicine has its limits; death is irreversible; resurrection is forbidden, even in fantasy

Questions on Marsyas and Pan [class] Why do you think Ovid goes into such detail about how Marsyas looks skinned? Do the stories of Marsyas and Pan remind you of any stories we have seen so far? What social scenarios can you relate to Midas’ predicament?

Thoughts on Marsyas and Pan The artistic hubris of Arachne or Niobe ~Creative originality should be toned down Rustic music (pipes) vs. sophisticated music (lyre) Midas: standing up to superiors, not a good idea Midas: Authority disrobed, ridiculed The cruel humor of Apollo > skin defines self Barber: secrets are not to be trusted to body therapists Barber: human desire to share a juicy secret No secret is safe: ‘walls have ears;’ ‘if the walls could talk’

The Binary Nature of Apollo  Violence vs. musical order and harmony  Beautiful but undesirable; generous vs. vindictive  God of prophecy but clueless and destructive in his love affairs  Healer (father of Asclepius) vs. killer (Coronis)