1. Chapter Three, Lecture One The Development of Classical Myth

2. Features of Greek myth appear in primordial past. How did myth begin and develop in the historical periods? Where do we look for evidence of their earliest origins, and how do we assess it?

3. The Beginnings of Greek Myth Neolithic fertility idols found throughout southeast Europe and Near East. –Fertility Idols from ThessalyFertility Idols from Thessaly –Cycladic IdolsCycladic Idols

4. The Beginnings of Greek Myth Potnia ThērōnPotnia Thērōn Is she Artemis? –Artemis as the Potnia Thērōn on the François VasePotnia Thērōn

5. The Beginnings of Greek Myth Indo-European myths Linguistic analysis –Zeus and Jupiter < Dy – –The Indo-Europeans worshipped a sky god? Comparative Analysis –“twin” –good versus evil? –social dichotomy?

6. The Beginnings of Greek Myth Writing as a method of transmission Linear B tablets –Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Artemis, Hermes, Enyalius, Paean, Eileithyia, Dionysus, Potnia. Myths mostly transmitted orally by aoidoi

7. The Beginnings of Greek Myth Songs performed for entertainment by bards –Homer’s DemodocusDemodocus Dactylic hexameter Rhythmic patterns and stock phrases

8. The Influence of Near Eastern Myth Non-Indo-European Mesopotamian sources of Greek myth –Mesopotamia MapMesopotamia Map Greek myths of cosmic origins come from Near Eastern sources Mesopotamian myths known only by report until recently Cuneiform script decoded in the 19 th century

9. Sumerian Myth Sumerians the earliest people in Mesopotamia (4000 B.C.) First full-fledged cities Each city had protective deity –“Lived” on the zigguratziggurat

10. Sumerian Myth Myths preserved on tablets and seals –cuneiform (wedge shaped)cuneiform Seal Impressions –Gilgamesh/Enkidu cylinder sealGilgamesh/Enkidu cylinder seal

11. Sumerian Myth AnSky God | Supreme InannaQueen of Heaven | Sex and War EnlilLord of the Storm | Tablets of Destiny EnkiLord of Earth | Sweet Ground Water | Trickster God KiOne of Many Names for Mother Earth EreshkigalQueen of the Underworld UtuSun God

12. Sumerian Myths Deities are anthropomorphic but indistinct –Hard to tell often who’s been represented Filled with human emotions and motivations Important in the Epic of Gilgamesh

13. Semitic Myth Semites –Modern term < Biblical “Schem” –Arrive in Mesopotamia in 2000 BC –Designates linguistic group Sargon the Akkadian (2340 BC) Adopted Sumerian culture

14. Semitic Myth SumerianAkkadian/Bablyonian AnAnu InannaIsthar EnlilEnlil or Marduk EnkiEa Ki----- Ereshkigal----- UtuShamash

15. Semitic Myth Hammurabi (1750 BC) –Semitic Babylonians –Empire in Mesopotamia The Ennuma Elish –“When on high...” –Creation account –Cult hymn

16. Semitic Myth Hebrews –Abraham (2000 BC?) Migrated to Canaan and then to Egypt Moses (1200 BC) –Monotheism (from Egyptian period of Akhenaten 1400 BC?) –Yahweh –The Exodus and Ten Commandments

17. Semitic Myth Invasion of Canaan –Battles with the Canaanites and the Philistines Kingdom of David and Solomon (1000 BC) Babylonian Exile (586–536) –Nebuchadnezzar Collected their written and oral traditions Completed around AD 90

18. Semitic Myth Wrote with the “Phoenician alphabet”Phoenician alphabet –syllabary of twenty-two signs without vowel signs Easier than cuneiform but still difficult –Hence the prestige of readers (the rabbi) Adapted into Arabic script and ultimately into the Greek alphabet

19. Other Sources Hittites (1600 – 1200 BC) –Central modern-day TurkeyCentral modern-day Turkey –Non-Semitic –Inherited and modified Babylonian myths Egypt –Had few myths –Mostly proverbs, hymns, and clever short stories –Connected narratives come from Greek sources (Osiris and Isis)

20. Next Lecture: Greek Origins