When The Odyssey was written….

2. When The Odyssey was written…. • People were curious about the past (just like today). • However, unlike today people stored historical information in their minds, rather than in books, tapes, or video. • Of the few historical storytellers from ancient Greece whose names we still know today, one of the greatest was a man known simply as Homer (there will be much more about him later in this slideshow).

3. Homer and his Times • Although the precise dates are uncertain most experts believe that Homer composed and recited his poems (including The Odyssey and The Iliad ) over 2,700 years ago. • At this time Greece was emerging from an age of illiteracy and political confusion, and was nostalgic for the Mycenaean era 500 years earlier.

4. Homer and his Times • Because Homer’s audience was curious and fascinated by the Mycenaean era many of his tales take place in this time period. • Including The Odyssey and The Iliad

5. Historical Setting of The Odyssey • The Trojan War was over. The clever Greek, Odysseus had tricked the enemy into bringing a colossal wooden horse within the walls of Troy.

6. Historical Setting of The Odyssey • The Greeks had been laying siege to Troy for nine long years, but suddenly it looked like their whole army had departed, leaving the horse behind.

7. Historical Setting of The Odyssey • That night, while the Trojans slept, Odysseus and his men emerged from the horse's belly. • Opening the city gates, they admitted their comrades, who had snuck back in the dark.

8. Historical Setting of The Odyssey • Troy was sacked and the Trojans utterly vanquished. Now it was time for Odysseus and his fellow warriors to return to their kingdoms across the sea. • Here begins the tale of the Odyssey, as sung by the blind minstrel Homer.

9. A closer look at Homer (the Poet)

10. Homer • Even though Homer is one of the most famous figures in literature, very little is known about his life. • There is no record of who he was, when or where he was born, or how long he lived.

11. Homer • Scholars even debate about whether Homer created both The Iliad and The Odyssey. • Because the story was passed down orally for generations, some scholars believe the epic poems were created by many different people. • Others believe Homer told the stories as a wandering minstrel. Still others argue that Homer was actually a woman.

12. Homer • Most scholars agree, however, that Homer was blind. And scholars also agree that Homer’s works were shared orally. • In other words, these stories were never written down. • Look through your textbook and notice how long The Odyssey is. Can you imagine memorizing this entire poem??

13. So when you read The Odyssey, remember this story was recited out loud. Imagine ancient people sitting around a fire, listening as an amazing storyteller recounted tales of the Cyclops or the Sirens. Homer

14. A Guide to Greek Mythology

15. Myths • Myths are stories created in an attempt to explain the universe. • Ancient people needed to explain phenomena that modern scientists have clarified for us, so they had stories about gods and goddesses to tell why the seasons change, why the sun rises and how stars were placed in the sky.

16. Myths explain… • Nature – where does Earth come from? • Heavens: sun, moon, stars, etc. • Seasons: climate, rain, fertility • Geography: oceans, mountains, forests

17. Myths explain… • Man – Where does man come from? • His life: birth, growth, reproduction, death • His victories: glories in battle • His defeats: misfortunes • His end: rewards and punishments

18. Myths explain… • Gods – where do the gods come from? • Where the gods come from • Number of gods: how many, their regions • Role of gods: their powers and weaknesses

19. Mythology References • Advertising • Atlas cement: strong • Midas mufflers: save money • Mercury cars: speed • Ajax cleaner: strong • Venus pencils: beautiful • Apollo pianos: musical

20. Mythology References • Language • Janitor: Janos • Martial: Mars • Museum: Muses • Volcano: Vulcan • Hypnotism: Hypnos • Thursday: Thors day • March : Mars

21. Where the gods come from

22. Where the gods come from • Out of Chaos (confusion) emerge two beings • Gaea: Mother Earth • Uranus: Heavens • Gaea and Uranus have kids • 12 Titans • Monsters

23. Gaea and Uranus’ Children • Some of the 12 Titans • Cronus: youngest and strongest, Zeus’ father • Hyperion: sun • Mnemosyne: memory • Oceanus: ruled the sea • Rhea: great mother, Zeus’ mother • Tethys: ruled the sea • Thea: moon • Themis: law and justice, pictured

24. Gaea and Uranus’ Children • Monsters • Hecatonchires: hundred hands • Three Cyclopes: one-eyed

25. The Plot… • Uranus hates all of his children, particularly the monsters who he sends to the underworld, Tartarus • Gaea asks the Titans to rescue the monsters, but only Cronus agrees to help • Cronus overthrows his father, Uranus, and becomes the ruler of the earth, pictured

26. Cronus and Rhea get Married(yes…they were brother and sister)

27. More Plot… • Cronus now fears that his children will destroy him, so he swallows all of them but Zeus, who escapes with Rhea’s help • When Zeus grows up, he and his mother, Rhea, wage war on Cronus.

28. More Plot… • A long battle follows • Cronus vomits up his children, pictured • The monsters help Zeus and give him weapons • Cronus, who is assisted by some of the Titans, is defeated.

29. After Zeus defeats Cronus… • Zeus divides the world with his brothers and sisters • Hades: in charge of the underworld • Poseidon: in charge of oceans, horses and earthquakes • Zeus: in charge of gods and men from Mt. Olympus • Hestia: goddess of hearth and home • Demeter: goddess of agriculture

30. Between Macedonia and Thesaly 10,000 feet in altitude Top is always covered with snow Zeus and his siblings reigned from Mt. Olympus

31. Who’s Who Among Greek Gods • Council on Mt. Olympus • The Muses • Fates • Fates • Monsters • Nymphs • Minor Gods

32. Council of 13 gods on Mt. Olympus • Aphrodite: love • Apollo: light & truth • Ares: war • Artemis: hunt • Athena: wisdom • Demeter: harvest • Hades: underworld • Hephaestus: armor • Hera: family, queen of the gods • Hermes: messenger • Hestia: hearth • Poseidon: ocean • Zeus: thunder & lightning, king of the gods

33. The Muses • Daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus • Each preside over a different art or science • Clio – history • Euterpe – lyric poetry, music • Thalia – comedy • Melpomene – tragedy • Terpsichore – dancing, chorus • Polyhymnia – religious poetry • Erato – love poetry • Urania – astronomy • Calliope – epic poetry

34. Furies • Also known as the Erinyes • Winged and have hair of writhing serpents • Created from Uranus’ blood • Three horrible sisters who torment evildoers and punish them for their sins • Tisiphone • Megaera • Alecto

35. Fates • Also known as Moirae • Control everything, even Zeus • Clotho – spins web of life (birth) • Lachesis – gives each man his fate • Atropus – cuts the fatal web (death)

36. Monsters • Cerberus: vile, three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades • Charybdis: swallows the sea • Cyclopes: fearsome one-eyed giants, Polyphemus is the most famous • Scylla: eats sailors, pictured

37. Nymphs • Some minor nature deities • Land • Dryads – live in trees as long as the tree lives • Oreads – live in mountains and grottoes • Water • Naiads – Found mostly in fresh water. The Sirens, who lure sailors to ruin by their singing, are Naiads • Oceanids – Found mostly in salt water. Calypso is a famous one • Wood • Lampades – found in the underworld

38. Minor Gods • Dike: goddess of justice • Nemesis: spirit of just anger and punishment • Nike: goddess of victory, pictured • Phosphor: morning star • Hesperus: evening star • Aeolus: king of four winds • 3 Charities: graces • 3 Horae: seasons

39. Zeus has children with many goddesses and mortals. They play important roles in Greek myths.

40. Achilles Aeneas Aphrodite Apollo Ares Athena Hades Helen Hera Hermes Iris Poseidon Sarpedon Thetis Zeus Deities in “The Odyssey”

41. Achilles Αχιλλεύς • The most famous Greek in the Trojan War • Selfless, courageous, and devoted to the gods—he is the finest Greek warrior • His mother has made him invulnerable everywhere except his heel

42. Aeneas Αινείας • The only great Trojan warrior who survives the war, protected by his mother, Aphrodite • He flees Troy, carrying his father on his back and leading his child by the hand • His values are more Roman than Greek, as he is first and foremost a warrior

43. Aphrodite Aφροδίτη • Sweet and delicate goddess of Love, Beauty and Romance • Often shows formidable power and is a principal cause of the Trojan War • In a strange twist, lovely Aphrodite is married to the ugly and crippled Hephaestus

44. Apollo Aπόλλων • A son of Zeus and Leto • Artemis’s twin, he is the god of Light and Truth, the master of Poetry and Music, and the god of Archery • His Oracle at Delphi is revered for her powers of prophecy and truth

45. Ares Άρης • A vicious god • Hated by both his father, Zeus, and mother, Hera. • The god of War, he is always bloody and ruthless • We see in his vain bullying that he is also a coward

46. Athena Αθηνά • Emerges from Zeus’s head fully-grown and armed • Associated with war, cleverness, and wit • Favors Odysseus • Goddess of Wisdom, Reason and Purity • She is chaste like Artemis and Hestia.

47. Hades Άδης • The brother of Zeus and Poseidon • Rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone.

48. Helen Ἑλένη • Greek demi-god daughter of Zeus and Leda • Wife of Menelaus • Lover of Paris. • Her kidnapping causes the Trojan war. • Hated by Greeks and Trojans alike

49. Hera Ήρα • Zeus’s wife and sister • Powerful goddess known mostly for her jealousy • Often vicious and spiteful, and it is usually Zeus’s infidelity that incites her • Many unfortunate mortals endure hardships by provoking Hera’s wrath

50. Hermes Ερμής • Son of Zeus and the Titan Atlas’s daughter Maia • The messenger of the gods, he is fast and cunning • A master thief • The god of Commerce and the Market • The guide who leads the dead from Earth to Hades