Greek Mythology
The Beginning Chaos Gaea (Gaia) & Uranus Ge=Earth, Ouranos=Sky Cyclopes (one-eyed) & Hecatoncheires (100-armed) 12 Titans (Cronus was youngest Titan)
Beautiful Ugly – banished to the underworld Angers Gaea who loves them all Cyclopes The Titans Hecatoncheires
Cronus Gaea encouraged Titans to kill Uranus Only Cronus agreed Gaea created a sickle for Cronus to use Cronus disfigured Uranus and he was now unfit to rule
Cronus Cronus took control Married his sister Rhea Afraid they would destroy him like he did his father he ate the first five of his kids: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon With the help of Gaea (she was mad Cronus never released the monsters) Rhea hid their sixth child, Zeus, in cave Wrapped stone in a blanket for Cronus to eat instead
Zeus Zeus became Cronus’ cup bearer and slipped a potion in his drink to make him vomit He then threw up the five children he had swallowed
Olympians vs. Titians Zeus’ brothers and sisters (The Olympians) told him to take control over Mount Olympus Titans (Cronus’ siblings) didn’t want to give up power – Atlas lead them Battle ensued over 10 years with no gain on either side
Olympians Win Gaea convinces Zeus to free the monsters Gave Olympians an edge Cyclopes crafted lightning bolts for Zeus With the combined forces the Olympians won – drowning Cronus and punishing Atlas to hold up the world
The Golden Apple Eris – the God of discord – was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis Angry, Eris threw a golden apple marked “the fairest” into the banquet Hera, Athena, Aphrodite all claimed to be the fairest Zeus would not chose – instead Paris, a Trojan prince was appointed judge Hera promised him power and riches, Athena promised glory in war, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris picked Aphrodite
Set sail on 1,000 ships (hence “the face that launched 1000 ships”) Aphrodite helped kidnap Helen from her husband, Spartan King Menelaus When King Menelaus found out, he called on his brother chieftains of Greece who had sworn an oath to help him Set sail on 1,000 ships (hence “the face that launched 1000 ships”)
Trojan War Over 10 years – many died trying to get past the walls of Troy The Odyssey picks up after the war is over and tells the travels of a brave soldier Odysseus trying to get home.
Homer (750BC) This Guy Not This One! Author of the Iliad and the Odyssey Blind Poet He sang these epic poems aloud while people sat and listened
Epic Characteristics Definition: Long narrative poem Setting is vast in scope Plot is complicated by supernatural events Reflects timeless values/themes Contains an epic hero Major battle scene where weapons are discussed in detail
The Epic Hero Superhuman-braver, stronger, smarter, cleverer than an ordinary person On a quest for something of great value to him or his people Embodies the values of his day Dogged by villains who are uglier, eviler, and cleverer than anyone we know in ordinary life Occupy a high position in society and are usually “god-like” Always COCKY!!
Conventions of Homeric Epics Invocation of the Muse – A formal plea for aid that serves to state the epic’s subject and theme Homeric similes – Extended elaborate comparisons - some developed over many lines Stock epithets – descriptive adjective or phrase that is repeatedly used with – or in place of – a proper noun (usually a god) EX: “grey-eyed Athena” In Medias Res