Chapter 16 Lecture One of Two Theseus, Myths of Athens ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus Latecomer Myths are confused and pale Theseus becomes their “hero” almost artificially ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

CEROPS, ERICHTHONIUS AND THE DAUGHTERS OF CECROPS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Cerops, Erichthonius and the Daughters of Cecrops Three different versions of the origins of the Athenians: – Descended from Athena (?) – Autochthonous (from the earth itself) – Descended from Cecrops Great founding ancestor, who brought laws, civilization, proper worship of the gods ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Cerops, Erichthonius and the Daughters of Cecrops Born when Hephaestus tried to have his way with Athena “The man of wool and earth” Given in a concealed basket to the daughters of Cecrops (Aglauros, Hersê, Pandrosus) Only Pandrosus refrains from looking – Aglaurus and Hersê driven mad and jump to their deaths from the Acropolis ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Observations Festival of the Dew Carriers and the Erechtheum on the Acropolis in Athens. (Fig. 16.1) Yearly ritual of the Arrhephoria (“dew carriers”) in late March The two arrhephoroi lived on the Acropolis Wove a robe for a statue of Athena Sent at night to Aphrodite’s grove (near the Acropolis) with baskets, to return with a mysterious object ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. University of Wisconsin–Madison Photo Archive

Fig Birth of Erechthonius ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Antikenmuseum, Berlin; Bildarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource, New York

Fig Athena and Erechthonius. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. (© Trustees of the British Museum / Art Resource, New York

PROCRIS AND CEPHALUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus In another myth, the daughters Aglaurus and Hersê survive the jump Hermes lusts after Hersê, and at first Aglaurus agrees to act as a go-between for gold But Athena afflicts Aglaurus with jealousy, and ties to deny Hermes passage ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus Hermes turns her into a stone and continues on his way Hersê becomes pregnant with a son, Cephalus Cephalus, being a beautiful boy, is carried away for a while by Eos, nymph of the dawn ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus Cephalus marries Procris, a daughter of Erechthonius, soon giving way to jealousy To test her, he approaches her in disguise ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus When once she gives in, she is banished to Crete There Minos lusts after her, but his wife Pasiphaë had cursed his sexuality Procris gives him an herbal remedy, and in thanks Minos gives her Laelaps and a magic spear ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus Procris starts to fear Pasiphaë and returns to Athens disguised as a boy, with the gifts Cephalus lusts after this “boy’s” gifts, and the “boy” offers them in exchange for sex He agrees, but the “boy” then reveals “him”self, and they live happily ever after – for a while ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus But Procris fears that Cephalus is still seeing his former girlfriend, Eos (Lat. Aurora), a forest nymph of the fresh winds of the dawn ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procris and Cephalus She hears a report that he’s been calling out to “Dawn,” so one day she follows him on his morning hunt. She hears him calling “Dawn,” she thinks he’s having an affair and jumps out of the woods to confront him Thinking he’s being attacked by wild animal, he kills her with the magic spear she gave him ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Death of Procris ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. (© Trustees of the British Museum / Art Resource, New York

Procris and Cephalus Cephalus forced into exile by the Areopagus and he flees to Thebes Thebes being plagued by a “fox that can never be caught.” Sends his dog against it Zeus “resolves” the contradiction by turning both to stone ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

PROCNÊ AND TEREUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procnê and Tereus Pandion, a son of Erichthonius, has two daughters – Procnê – Philomela And two sons – Butes – Erechtheus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procnê and Tereus Pandion (king in Athens) gives his daughter Procnê to Tereus, the king of the Thracians for his help in a war against Thebes Procnê and Tereus have a son, Itys After a time, Procnê wants Tereus to go to Athens and bring Philomela back for a visit ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procnê and Tereus But Tereus lusts after Philomela when he sees her On arrival in Thrace, he rapes her To keep her from talking, he cuts out her tongue, hides her and tells Procnê that her sister died Keeps her locked in a mountain house ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Procnê and Tereus In her cell, Philomela weaves the story of what happened in a tapestry and sends it to Procnê Procnê understands the message In revenge, they kill Itys and serve him to Tereus In the end, they all turn into birds ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Philomela, Procnê and Itys. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Musée du Louvre, Paris; © Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

OBSERVATIONS Ovid’s Literary Myth ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Ovid's Literary Myth Ovid's retelling of the Greek myths emphasize the moral and psychological effect of a metamorphosis. Though the original myths may have their source in the belief that the human and animal worlds are closely linked together, Ovid uses them for entirely different purposes and with different effects. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

End ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.