Introduction & Background for Odyssey

Myth Traditional stories Rooted in a particular culture (all cultures have them!) Usually explain a belief, ritual, or mysterious phenomenon Often originally religious based – because they explain the relationship between humans beings and the unknown or spiritual realm

Epic A long, narrative poem that tells the adventures of a hero who embodies the values of their civilization. An epic often chronicles a long journey. The hero, while a person who follows the beliefs & customs of the culture, is always a flawed characters with weaknesses of his own!

Heroes

Homer Blind minstrel & bard (Bard = storyteller) Traveled around telling epic stories Mostly known as the one who compiled 2 main stories: Iliad: story of the great war at Troy between the Greeks and the Trojans Odyssey: Odyssues’s ten year journey trying to get back home to his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus.

Theme The theme sets the tone for the story. In Odyssey – the theme is all about the journey to get back home, to wife & son – and all the adventures, trials, & failures Odyssey must experience, in order to grow and truly value home The important message becomes the value of home!

Greek Gods ZEUS

Poseidon

Athena Goddess of Wisdom

Hermes Messenger god

Greeks & Guests For the Greeks, how you treat guests is very important. Guests are considered important. It is traditional to welcome guests and treat them very well To this day, the Greeks are open and very welcoming to visitors and guests. Greek architecture is designed to show that they are open and welcoming of guests.

Typical Greek Architecture Welcomes Guests

Leda & the Swan Leda – married & beautiful Zeus – desires Leda – who is always protected

Leda & the Swan Leda – married to King Tyndareus, King of Sparta Eurotas River Son of Cronos (Zeus) Birth of 1st set of twins from the egg (Helen & Polydeuces) Birth of 2nd set of twins (Clytaimestra & Castor)

Birth of Helen

Helen’s Youth Great beauty from birth on Word of her beauty spread through Greece Kidnapped by Theseus when 12 Put in the care of his mother due to her age and his Rescued by her brothers, Polydeuces and Castor King Tyndareus now alarmed at what the future could hold as her beauty grew Helen’s beauty brought great grief to the kingdom. How does he contain the suitors, keep conflicts down, and peace in his kingdom and among the suitors?

King’s Dilemma How does he choose a husband and avoid fighting?? All Suitors must promise loyalty & support to Helen’s husband, whoever that is. They make an oath that will last a lifetime! Odysseus – King of Ithaca – is one of the suitors who must swear loyalty to Menelaus

Resolution of Tyndareus’s dilemma regarding suitors Required each suitor to swear to the below oath: Regardless of whom Tyndareus’s daughter takes for husband, him will I defend. Should ever anyone lay hands upon her and spirit her away, I vow here- by to march against that man with all my forces and lay his city, be it Greek or foreign, in utter ruin” (Richardson, 206).

Wedding of Thetis & Peleus

Golden Apple of Discord Zeus commands that Paris decide which goddess is the most beautiful of all Hera promised him all of Asia will be his kingdom. Athena promised to make him the wisest of all men. Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. Which will he choose?

Ithaca

Trojan Horse

Map of Odysseus’s Journey

Polyphemus & Cyclops

from Odyssey.. Scylla & Charybdis

Sirens & Penelope