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Transcript
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). 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. A closer look at Homer (the Poet) 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. 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. 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?? Homer 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. A Guide to Greek Mythology 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. Myths explain… Nature – where does Earth come from? Heavens: sun, moon, stars, etc. Seasons: climate, rain, fertility Geography: oceans, mountains, forests Myths explain… Man – Where does man come from? His His His His life: birth, growth, reproduction, death victories: glories in battle defeats: misfortunes end: rewards and punishments 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 Mythology References Advertising Atlas cement: strong Midas mufflers: save money Mercury cars: speed Ajax cleaner: strong Venus pencils: beautiful Apollo pianos: musical Mythology References Language Janitor: Janos Martial: Mars Museum: Muses Volcano: Vulcan Hypnotism: Hypnos Thursday: Thors day March : Mars Where the gods come from 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 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 Gaea and Uranus’ Children Monsters Hecatonchires: hundred hands Three Cyclopes: one-eyed 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 Cronus and Rhea get Married (yes…they were brother and sister) Cronus (now ruler of the earth) and Rhea get married and have 6 children Hades Poseidon Hera Zeus Demeter Hestia 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. 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. 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 Zeus and his siblings reigned from Mt. Olympus Between Macedonia and Thesaly 10,000 feet in altitude Top is always covered with snow Who’s Who Among Greek Gods Council on Mt. Olympus The Muses Fates Fates Monsters Nymphs Minor Gods 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 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 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 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) Monsters Cerberus: vile, threeheaded dog that guards the gates of Hades Charybdis: swallows the sea Cyclopes: fearsome oneeyed giants, Polyphemus is the most famous Scylla: eats sailors, pictured Nymphs Some minor nature deities Land Water Dryads – live in trees as long as the tree lives Oreads – live in mountains and grottoes 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 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 Zeus has children with many goddesses and mortals. They play important roles in Greek myths. Divine Mortal Ananke Demeter Dione Hera Eos Leto Maia Metis Mnemosyne Selene Themis Aegina Alcmene Antiope Callisto Carme Danae Elara Electra Europa Eurynome Himalia Iodame Io Lamia Laodamia Leda Maera Niobe Olympias Plouto Podarge Pyrrha Semele Taygete Thalia Deities in “The Odyssey” Achilles Aeneas Aphrodite Apollo Ares Athena Hades Helen Hera Hermes Iris Poseidon Sarpedon Thetis Zeus 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 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 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 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 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 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. Hades Άδης The brother of Zeus and Poseidon Rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. 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 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 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 Iris Ίρις Messenger goddess Responsible for delivering Zeus' commands to men and gods Most of Zeus' decrees and interventions are carried out by her Poseidon Ποσειδων The god of the sea Zeus’s brother and second only to him in power Holds a decade-long grudge against Odysseus The often cruel and unpredictable violence of the seas is assumed to be a result of his anger Sarpedon Σαρπηδών Trojan, demi-god Son of Zeus, cousin of Glaucus Co-leader of Lycian allies Single-handedly holds the breach in the Greek wall Zeus is disappointed when he dies Thetis Θέτις Queen of the sea-nymphs Daughter Nereus and Doris Mother of Achilles, who dipped him in the River Styx by his ankles to make him invincible Grand-daughter of Tethys Zeus Ζεύς King of the gods God of thunder and lightning Brother of Poseidon and Hades Husband of Hera Destroyed his father, Ruler of the titans (Cronos), with a sickle Loves women and has various relationships throughout Greek mythology, an idea which was not as frowned upon then as it is today Meanwhile, Four Ages of Man Golden Age Under Cronus Garden of Eden existence No work Men happy and good No fighting No poverty Meanwhile, Four Ages of Man Silver Age Under Zeus Beginning of the Fall Seasons created, making work necessary Hunger and cold Shelters needed Men courageous, but not overbearing Meanwhile, Four Ages of Man Bronze Age Men learn to use arms Men go to war Iron Age Period of crime and dishonor Gifts of gods abused Man sinks into degradation