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From Gilgamesh to Hektor:
Heroes of the Bronze Age
April 11, 2016:
Heroes and Mystical Enemies
Female Heroes
Odysseus and the
Cyclops
Polyphemus the Monadic
“Monadic” (self-sufficient)
A species that has no need for communication and
names
A community of ones
Different ontology than Odysseus and his men
“The Cyclopes do not concern themselves over Zeus
of the aegis,
Nor any of the rest of the blessed gods, since we are
far better.” (Od.9.275-276)
Polyphemus the Blind
With the blinding:
- We learn the Cyclops’ name (Polyphemus) for
the first time
- Cyclops talks with others for the first time
“If alone as you are and none uses violence on you,
Why, there is no avoiding the sickness sent by the
great Zeus:
So you had better pray to your father, the lord
Poseidon.” (Od.9.410-412)
Theseus and the
Minotaur
- Son Aethra (wife of king Aegeus) and Poseidon
- Aegeus left Aethra at her city Troezen and went to Athens. He buried a sword and
sandals under a heavy rock for Theseus to get when he grew up “if he was heroic
enough”
- Theseus decided to go find his mortal father Aegeus, and chose to go by land (instead of
sea) where he encountered six entrances to the Underworld, each guided by mystical
enemies
- Theseus is the founder-hero of Athens. He saved the Athenian youths from being
sacrificed to the Minotaur in Crete.
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=YzG3-vA_DCA
Bull Jumping/Leaping in the Palace of
Knossos (1700-1400 BCE)
Perseus and Medusa
The Myth of Perseus
• Son of Zeus and Danae
• Danae’s father, Acrisius (king of Argos) had no sons. Prophecy
suggested that he would be killed by his daughter’s son
• He imprisoned Danae in a bronze chamber
• Zeus impregnated Danae in the form of a gold shower
• When Perseus was born, Acrisius did not want to risk the
wrath of the gods by killing him, so put Danae and Perseus in a
wooden chest into the sea
• They washed ashore in an island, where they were found and
taken in by a fisher.
• The king of the island wanted to marry Danae, Perseus
refused, and the king schemed to get him killed by sending
him to kill the Gorgon Medusa.
• Perseus is the founder-hero of Mycenae
Medusa on the akroterion of the Temple of Athena
6th century BCE
Perseus and Medusa on Attic black figure
Beazley 10150
Perseus slaying Medusa
Temple of Selinus, 6th century BCE
What are the mystical enemies we have
encountered so far?
Common
characteristics?
What purpose does the
mythical enemy serve?