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Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes

Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes. Mr. Upchurch’s Mythology 101 Lectures 10-11. Also known as Classical Mythology. Tricksters. Several Three most famous: 1. Eros (Cupid) -Traditionally portrayed as a childlike god that played

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Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes

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  1. Greek and Roman Mythology: Remaining Mythic Themes Mr. Upchurch’s Mythology 101 Lectures 10-11 Also known as Classical Mythology

  2. Tricksters • Several • Three most famous: 1. Eros (Cupid) -Traditionally portrayed as a childlike god that played tricks on the other gods. Later in mythic traditional, however, he is said to have "grown-up" (so to speak). 2. Dionysus/Bacchus 3. Dolus -spirit of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery and guile -apprentice to Prometheus

  3. Good and Evil • Line between the two is difficult to distinguish • the gods and goddesses could possess both admiral and detestable qualities and still be considered divine, • the idealistic heroes could represent good while still having moments of moral failure • even the Underworld was not viewed as a place of complete evil

  4. Good and Evil…continued • In general, gods, goddesses and heroes were considered good • Hence, the human soul=good • Some monsters/evil creatures were primarily evil (see Gorgons and Harpies)

  5. Nature? • Nearly all the myths are connected to nature in some way • Dominions • Nymphs & Saytrs • Constellations • The Locations of the Tales

  6. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them... in Greece and Rome • Many exist, but they will be addressed primarily in the Monster Mash Presentations.

  7. HEROES • Jason and the Argonauts (video and handout) • Odysseus (video and handout) • Aeneas (hilarious video and handout) • Hercules (lecture and handout) • Perseus (lecture) • Theseus (lecture)

  8. Hercules (Heracles)

  9. Birth • Son of Zeus and Alcmene • Hera tried to kill him by putting snakes in his cradle • He survived because of his super human strength

  10. Birth • He had a twin/half-brother Iphicles (son of Amphitryon and Alcmene) • He accompanied Hercules on many adventures, but was not god-like

  11. Early Life (pre-hero) • He was married to Megara and had 3 kids • Hera caused him to go insane and kill his family

  12. Journey Begins • Hercules exiled himself because of shame and guilt • Asked the Oracle of Delphi how to atone • Was told to go to king Eurystheus (his cousin) Note: Hercules actually should have been king of Mycenae, but Hera tricked Zeus into giving Eurystheus the kingdom

  13. Journey Begins…continued • Eurystheus was suppose to come up with labors (tasks) for Hercules to accomplish for redemption… but couldn’t think of anything • Hera, of course, was willing to help

  14. Labor 1: The Nemean Lion • The lion had impenetrable skin • He blocked its cave and killed it with his bare hands

  15. Labor 2: The Hydra • When King Eurystheus saw Hercules coming back with the lion… he hid in a storage jar

  16. Hydra…continued • Debate on the number of heads…agreed that chopping off one made two more grow in its place • Could kill a mortal with its smell • Had a giant crab friend (Cancer)

  17. Hydra… finished • When Hercules was about to die, Iolaos (his nephew) helped him by burning the heads • Hercules cut…Iolaos burned • Hercules also crushed the crab with his heel

  18. Labor 3: Cerynitian Hind • Golden Horned Doe (sacred to Artemis) must retrieve alive • Hunted for an entire year • Pinned with arrows between the tendons without drawing blood (in Arcadia)

  19. Labor 4: Erymanthian Boar • Giant boar, that he must retrieve alive (once again in Arcadia) • Meet/accidently killed a centaur, Pholus, on the way • Pholus dropped one of Hercules’ “hydra venom tipped arrows” on his foot

  20. Boar… • Hercules effectively immobilized the boar and carried it Eurystheus on his back…

  21. Labor 5: Augean Stables • King Augeas had thousands of cattle and their manure had piled up for a very long time • Hercules had one day to clean it… he diverted two rivers to do the job for him • Since he asked Augeas for payment, Eurystheus refuse to count this one

  22. Labor 6: Stymphalian Birds • Theories: Man-eating, shot people with brass feathers, or just numerous • Hercules had to kill them, but could not approach them due to the swampy environment

  23. Birds… • He used a rattle (possibly from Athena) to scatter them…then shot them down with poison tipped arrows

  24. Labor 7: Cretan Bull • Fire-breathing beast bull/ father of the Minotaur • King Minos wanted it gone • Hercules wrestled it and either shipped it Athens where Theseus took care of it, or brought it to Eurystheus

  25. Labor 8: Mares of Diomedes • Flesh eating horses • Hercules either distracted them by feeding them Diomedes…or they ate his sidekick Abderus • Eventually they were released and eaten, themselves, by wild beasts on Mount Olympus

  26. Labor 9: Hippolyte's Belt • Hippolyte was the Amazon Queen • Eurystheus wanted Hippolyte’s belt for his daughter • Because of their fierce reputation, Hercules took a band of heroes with him (including Theseus)

  27. Belt… • Hippolyte willing gave the belt • Hera, however, spread the rumor that the Greeks were going to steal her… so they were attacked • The heroes escaped and Theseus stole a princess

  28. Labor 10: Cattle of Geryon • Geryon=three-bodied, four-winged giant from modern Spain • Dog= Orthros (two headed) • He had some nice cattle that Hercules had to steal

  29. Geryon… • He got there by borrowing a golden-cup boat from Helios • Stole the cattle and killed Geryon and his dog in the process (with a club)

  30. Labor 11: Apples of the Hesperides • Hesperides were three nymph sisters (daughters of either Nyx/Night or Atlas) • They were entrusted with guarding the golden apples Hera had received from Gaia on her wedding day

  31. Apples… • The apples were further protected by Ladon (the hundred-headed dragon) • After killing Ladon, Hercules asked Atlas to retrieve the apples for him, in exchange for temporarily holding up the world • Hercules then tricked Atlas into taking the world back… and left

  32. Labor 12: Capture of Cerberus • Cerberus= Watch Dog of the Underworld • 3 (or 50) heads, a venomous snake for a tail, and a swarm of snakes growing out of his back • Hercules intimidated Charon into allowing him into the underworld

  33. Cerberus • With the help of his lion’s skin, he withstood Cerberus’ attacks, squeezed two of his heads into submission, and stole him from the underworld (later to be returned) • This was supposedly accomplished by the grace of Persephone

  34. Later Life • After these 12 Labors (and 12 years) he was released from Eurystheus—and his own shame • He went to Thebes and married Deianira—who had many children

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