Download NLE: Latin 3 Prose-Mythological Groups and Authors

NLE III Mythological Groups and Prose Authors
Centaurs:
The centaurs of Greek mythology are creatures that are part human and part horse. They are
usually portrayed with the torso and head of a human, and the body of a horse. Centaurs are the
followers of the wine god Dionysus and are well known for drunkenness and carrying off
helpless young maidens. They inhabited Mount Pelion in Thessaly, northern Greece. According
to one myth, they are the offspring of Ixion, the king of Lapithae (Thessaly), and a cloud. He had
arranged a trust with Hera, but Zeus got wind of it and fashioned a cloud into Hera's shape.
Therefore, the Centaurs are sometimes called Ixionidae.
Notorious is their bestial behavior on the wedding of Pirithous, king of the Lapiths. They
violated the female guests and attempted to abduct the bride. What followed was a bloody battle,
after which they were driven from Thessaly. An exception was the kind and wise centaur Chiron,
the teacher of the Greek heroes Jason and Achilles.
URL: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/centaurs.html
Nymphs:
In Greek mythology, nymphs are spirits of nature. They are minor female deities and the
protectors of springs, mountains, and rivers. Nymphs are represented as young, pretty girls. Each
subtype presides over a certain aspect of nature. Depending of their habitat, there are: Dryads
(forests), Naiads (springs and rivers), Nereid (the Mediterranean), Oceanids (the sea) and Oreads
(mountains), Limoniads (meadows), Limniads (lakes, marshes and swamps) and Napaea
(valleys). They were worshipped in a nymphaeum, a monumental fountain that was raised in the
vicinity of a well. The male counterpart of a nymph is the satyr.
The NYMPHS could be aggressive in their love as it is proved by the abduction of Hylas,
or by the killing of Hymnus. They had the divine power of changing the shape of things:
this same Hylas was turned into an echo, and some women were transformed into
nymphs by the NYMPHS themselves.
URL’s:http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/NYMPHS.html
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/nymphs.html
Satyrs:
In Greek mythology the satyrs are deities of the woods and mountains. They are half human and
half beast; they usually have a goat's tail, flanks and hooves. While the upper part of the body is
that of a human, they also have the horns of a goat. They are the companions of Dionysus, the
god of wine, and they spent their time drinking, dancing, and chasing nymphs. The Italian
version of the satyr is the faun, while the Slavic version is the Ljeschi.
While Satyrs have a reputation for being friendly and fun-loving, they also have a reputation for
being somewhat crude and unreliable. They are often in the company of Faeries.
All satyrs speak a common language (called Satyr). Most also speak elvish, centaur, and a human
language. Although they learn languages quite easily, satyrs are unable to control interjecting
bleats into their speech.
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The first satyrs were the children of Parn, and appeared in Erda shortly after the elves. Satyrs are
even shorter lived than their centaur brothers, and very few reach the age of 40. They grow very
rapidly, and are considered mature by the age of 6.
URL: http://www.erda.ws/racesatyr.html
Muses:
The Muses are the Greek goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences and inspire those who
excel at these pursuits like poets, philosophers, and musicians. They are daughters of Zeus and
Mnemosyne (“memory”). They were born at Pieria at the foot of Mount Olympus. The nine
muses are Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and
Urania. Each muse has their own domain. Callope is the muse of epic poetry, Clio of history,
Erato of love poetry, Euterpe of music, Melpomene of tragedy, Polyhymnia of sacred poetry,
Terpsichore of dancing, Thalia of Comedy, and Urania of astronomy. The Muses sat near the
throne of Zeus, king of the gods, and sang of his greatness and of the origin of the world and its
inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes. From their name words such as music,
museum, mosaic are derived.
URL: http://www.eliki.com/portals/fantasy/circle/define.html
Gorgons:
One of three fabled sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, with snaky hair and of terrific aspect,
the sight of whom turned the beholder to stone. The name is particularly given to Medusa. They
are the daughters of Phorcyes, old man of the sea, and Ceto, a female sea monster. The Gorgons
lived just beyond the edges of the earth where the sun and moon are unable to reach. Stheno
means might. Euryale means wide flowing sea, and Medusa means queen. The three beautiful
sisters were changed into Gorgons because Poseidon slept with Medusa, who, with her sisters,
was working as priestesses in Athena’s temple. Athena, enraged, therefore changed them into
gorgons. Gorgons are hideous half-human and half-beasts who were able to look at anyone,
particularly men, and change them into stone. They have feminine bodies covered with scales
and hair of vipers.
URL: http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/kottkegorgon/gorgons.html
Harpies
The three daughters of the Giant Thaumas and the Okeanid nymph Elektra. Originally they were
the personifications of the storm winds, but in time they became physical beings. In early art
they were pictured as blonde young women, but in time they took the shape more known, with
pale, disgusting faces and long claws. Their names were Okypete, Aello, and Kelaeno, also
called Podarge. Their bodies were those of birds, the heads women’s, and their manner of
punishing a wrongdoer was to carry off all his food, or, failing that, to foul it so that the criminal
could not eat it. One person who received such treatment from the Harpies was Phineas, a king
of Thrace, who was eventually freed of the curse of the triple sisters by the Argonauts.
Graces:
Also known as the Charites. They are the goddesses of gracefulness and the charms of
beauty. They are the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. There names are Aglaia (Splendor),
Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer). They are known for singing and dancing for the
gods. They presided over the banquet, the dance, and all social enjoyments and elegant arts.
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They are three goddesses of happiness, beauty, and feasts. They served Aphrodite and Eros and
sang and danced for the gods together with the muses to the music of Apollo’s lyre. They wove
the material for Aphrodite’s robe.
Furies:
In Greek and Roman religion and mythology, three daughters of Mother Earth, conceived from
the blood of Uranus, when Kronos castrated him. They were powerful divinities that personified
conscience and punished crimes against kindred blood, especially matricide. They were usually
represented as winged women with serpent hair. Their names were Megaera [jealous], Tisiphone
[blood avenger], and Alecto [unceasing in pursuit]. When called upon to act, they hounded their
victims until they died in a "furor" of madness or torment. In the myth of Orestes they appear as
Clytemnestra's agents of revenge. After Athena absolved Orestes of guilt in the murder of his
mother, she gave the Furies a grotto at Athens where they received sacrifices and libations, and
became euphemistically known as the Eumenides [kindly ones].
http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/F/Furies.html
The Fates:
The Fates, or Moirae, were the goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time
they were born to the time they died. They were: Clotho, the spinner, who spun the thread of a
person's life, Lachesis, the apportioner, who decided how much time was to be allowed each
person, and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die. Even
though the other gods were almighty, and supposedly immortal, even Hera had reason to fear
them. All were subject to the whims of the Fates. Ministers of the Fates were always oracles or
soothsayers (seers of the future). The Fates were very important, but it is still unknown to who
their parents were. There is some speculation that they might be the daughters of Zeus, however,
this is debatable.
The Fates were often depicted as ugly hags, cold and unmerciful. But the Fates were not always
deaf to the pleading of others. When Atropos cut the thread of King Admetus, who happened to
be Apollo's friend, Apollo begged the Fates to undo their work. It was not in their power to do
so, but they promised that if someone took Admetus' place in the gloomy world of Hades'
domain, he would live. The king's wife, Alcetis, said she would take his place. But Hercules,
who happened to be Admetus' guest, rescued her from the underworld, and Admetus and Alcetis
were reunited.
Source:
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html?/articles/f/fates.html
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NLE III—Prose Authors
Tacitus:
CORNELIVS TACITVS was a Roman historian who lived during the First Century and
early Second Century A. D. His most famous works include The Histories and The
Annals of Imperial Rome. He also wrote The Agricola, much of which is now lost. Born
into a wealthy family living in Gaul or Northern Italy, Tacitus received the best education
available to a Roman from a good family. Tacitus was a senator during the reign of
Domitian and was later to fill the post of consul, the highest office open to a Roman who
was not emperor. After his consulship, he was given the governorship of the large
province of Anatolia (much of modern Turkey). His writing is full of tales of corruption,
government scandal, and innocent people being destroyed or having their good names
ruined because of the emperor’s lust for power.
http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/WRITERS/art10.htm
Pliny the Younger:
AD. 62?–c.A.D. 113, was an orator and a statesman. He was quaestor (A.D. 89), tribune
(A.D. 91), and praetor (A.D. 93) and subsequently held treasury posts. He was consul
(A.D. 100) and died in his proconsular province of Pontus-Bithynia. His fame rests on his
letters, written probably for publication, which are an excellent mirror of Roman life. He
is famous for his letter on the eruption of Vesius, in which his uncle, Pliny the Elder was
killed.
http://www.bartleby.com/people/PlinyYng.html
Cicero
Cicero studied law and philosophy at Rome, Athens, and Rhodes. His political posts
included those of curule aedile (69 B.C.), praetor (66 B.C.), and consul (63 B.C.). He was
always a member of the senatorial party, and as party leader he successfully prosecuted
Catiline. To the modern reader probably the most interesting of Cicero’s voluminous
writings are his letters to Atticus, his best friend; to Quintus, his brother; to Brutus, the
conspirator; to Caelius, another close friend; and to miscellaneous persons. They reveal
more of Roman life and political manners than does any other source. The most widely
read of Cicero’s works are his orations, which have become the standard of Latin. The
most famous of these are the Orations against Catiline, on the occasion of the
conspiracy, and the Philippics against Antony.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ci/Cicero-orat.html
Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (July 13, 100 - March 15, 44 BCE) was a statesman, general, and
author, famous for the conquest of Gaul. Caesar began his political career in 78 BC. He
quickly gained popularity with his party and a reputation for oratory. Caesar was made
military tribune before 70 BC and was quaestor in Farther Spain in 69 BC. He returned
to Rome in 68 BC, and in Pompey's absence was becoming the recognized head of the
popular party. In 63 BC he was elected pontifex maximus [high priest]. He next became
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a member of the First Triumvirate and made more conquests. He defeated Pompey at the
Battle of Pharsalus and became dictator. In 44 BC, he was stabbed to death by senators.
His literary works are highly esteemed. Of Caesar's literary works, his commentaries on
the Gallic Wars (seven books) and on the civil war (three books) survive. They are
masterpieces of clear, beautiful, concise Latin, and they are classic military documents.
Caesar wrote poetry, but the only surviving piece is a poem on Terence.
http://www.cs.uh.edu/~clifton/caesar.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/c/caesar-j1.asp
Seneca
3 BC – AD 65
During his childhood, he studied rhetoric and philosophy, and earned renown as an orator
when still a youth. He was exiled by Claudius. In AD 49 he was recalled to become tutor
of the young Nero. Around AD 62, Seneca asked to retire. He had amassed a huge
fortune and wanted no more of court life. Accusations of conspiracy were finally leveled
at Seneca, who, instructed to commit suicide, slashed his veins. Seneca was a Stoic, and
his writings show a high, unselfish nobility considerably at variance with his own life, in
which greed, expediency, and even connivance at murder figured. The most influential
of his works, at least in so far as European literature is concerned, were his tragedies. It is
generally agreed that his plays were written for recitation and not for stage performance.
No author had a stronger influence on Renaissance tragedy than did Seneca. His
atmosphere of gloom, his horrors, his rhetoric and bombast, his stoicism, were all
essential contributions to the forming of Renaissance tragedy.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/s/senecay1.asp
Livy
59 BC – AD 17
Probably of noble family, Livy lived most of his life in Rome. The breadth of his
education is apparent in his evident familiarity with the ancient Greek and Latin authors.
His life work was the History of Rome from its founding in 753 BC The narrative comes
to an end with Drusus (9 BC). Livy's history reflects his admiration for the civilization of
early Rome, and his belief that the importance of history was its applicability to
contemporary life. As such he was a romantic, and not a scientific, historian. His sources
included mainly the writings of previous authors, but he does not evaluate these sources
critically. Livy's accuracy is often questionable; he ignored certain sources and had little
practical knowledge of military affairs or the workings of politics. His reputation and
popularity are based on his elegant portraits of historical figures, his vivid depictions of
events, his freedom of expression, and his masterly style (developed from Cicero).
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/l/livy.asp
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