Download The Odyssey: Greek Worldview

The Odyssey:
Greek Worldview
English 9H
“ANCIENT GREECE” = big umbrella
6000 B.C.: Hunter-Gatherer Age
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The area now known as Greece was inhabited
at this time by wandering tribes.
Tribes hunted and gathered what they could
find: wanderers.
1600 -1100 B.C.: Mycenaean Age
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Mycenae located in the Peloponnese, Southern Greece
1600 -1100 B.C.: Mycenaean Age
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Agriculture and industry (textile, metal, perfume)
Affluence and prosperity: grand palaces, fortified citadels,
bridges (engineers)
Warrior culture
1200 BC: Trojan War
Dedicated to King Agamemnon who led the Greeks in
Trojan War
Class diversification: higher classes and lower became
more established, with extreme wealth being mostly
reserved for the King, his entourage and other members of
the royal circle.
End: internal societal conflict
1100-750 B.C.: The Dark Ages
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After the Trojan Wars the Mycenaeans went through a
period of civil war  fall of civilization
country was weak and a tribe (the Dorians) took over.
old major settlements were abandoned
Population dropped significantly
people of lived in small groups that moved constantly in
accordance with their new pastoral lifestyle and livestock
needs, while they left no written record behind
one major benefit: deconstruction of the old Mycenaean
economic and social structures with the strict class
hierarchy and hereditary rule were forgotten  allowed for
the rise of Democracy
The Odyssey was written around 800 BC.
500-336 B.C.: The Classical Period
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The best-known period of Ancient Greek history (classical
art and literature). City states!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA4zpKrPrKQ
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Athens reached its greatest political heights: the full
development of the democratic system of government under
the Athenian statesman Pericles
Athens reached its greatest cultural heights
 building of the Parthenon on the Acropolis
 creation of the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides;
 founding philosophical schools:
 Socrates  Plato  Aristotle
490-480 B.C.: Persians made war on Greek city-states
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-mkVSasZIM&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9&index=5
500-336 B.C.: The Classical Period
336-31 B.C.: The Hellenistic Period
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In 336 B.C., Alexander the Great became the leader of the
Greek kingdom of Macedonia.
By the time he died 13 years later, Alexander had built an
empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India.
 spread Greek ideas/culture from Eastern Mediterranean
to Asia
The word “Hellenistic” comes from the word Hellazein,
which means “to speak Greek or identify with the
Greeks.”)
Roman Empire expanded during this period, and became
more powerful than Greece.
End: 31 B.C., when Roman troops conquered the last of
the territories that the Macedonian king had once ruled
Greek Ideals
 Greek
definition of happiness: “the exercise of
vital powers along lines of excellence in a life
affording them scope.”
 Vital powers means life, energy, and activity
 Excellence, or arête, was the utmost
perfection a person could achieve morally,
intellectually, and physically. It didn’t just
come to him but had to be striven for
 Scope of life was to be large, cosmic, whole,
and natural, testing a human being to the
fullest – physically, spiritually, and morally.
More on Arête
PHYSCIAL EXCELLENCE
 The
Greeks were high-spirited and
full of vigor
 They fought as free men to
defend what was precious to
them
 They reveled in physical pleasures
 Greek literature is full of physical
battles, adventures, and feats of
strength performed by the Greek
warrior hero.
More on Arête
INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE
“the unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates)
If you know yourself and the world, then you will be
able to avoid excess and embrace excellence!
1.
External World
 All things are to be questioned
 Intellectual curiosity is valued
 Endeavor to understand everything
there is
More on Arête
INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE CTD.
2.
The Internal Self
 “Know Thyself” (awareness)
 Observe
the world and know your place in it
 Exercise reason; pursue soundness of mind
 Know yourself morally (strengths & weaknesses)
 “Nothing
in Excess” (restraint)
 Arête
also means everything in moderation
 The Golden Mean: ideal of finding perfect balance
between extremes of a moderate life (Aristotle)
 Hubris: the act of exceeding legitimate boundaries,
of overreaching.
Boundary of “acceptable” action
More on Greek Ideals
 Excellence:
 Know
thyself (awareness)
 Everything in moderation (restraint)
 “Character is fate”
 Kleos: fame and glory, can only be achieved
through action
 Hospitality
 Piety
toward gods, family, home
 Focus: husband/wife
 Celebration of life: pleasure/pain
 Focus on individual
 Personal goal / personal success
THE EPIC FORM
Epic: “a long narrative poem in an elevated
style presenting characters of high position in
a series of adventures”
 The episodes of character development
within the epic are important to the
history of a nation or race
Oral Tradition
 poems
are passed down through singing
 Troubadours add their own flair
THE EPIC FORM
Characteristics
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Epic Hero – a figure of heroic stature of
great historical or legendary significance
Setting – vast in scope, encompassing great
nations, world, or universe
Action – deeds of great valor requiring
superhuman strength
Role of gods - human-like qualities; they
intervene in the lives of humans
Style: sustained elevation & grand simplicity
CONVENTIONS
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THE EPIC FORM
Invocation of the Muses (Muse=Daughter of
Zeus in this case)
Statement of theme at beginning of the work
in media res – “in the middle of things”
Concerned with the idea of fate
Epithets – short, concise descriptions
 i.e.
grey-eyed goddess (Athena), summoner of
clouds (Zeus), beef-witted Ajax
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Assemblies – either mortal or immortal
Extended formal speeches by main characters
Visit to the underworld
Odysseus as Hero
Must avoid excess & offending gods
 Odysseus
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is an Epic Hero
weaknesses aren’t as great & he
becomes aware of them before
they can do detrimental harm
Superhuman strength, craftiness,
and confidence
Helped and harmed by gods
we expect him to succeed
Becomes agent of retribution
Self-perception emerges and
character grows
Emerges victorious from perils
Tragic Hero
 Mixture
of good
and bad
 Expect failure
 Becomes victim
of retribution
 His only
greatness is the
final moment of
self-perception
which comes
too late
The Fall of Troy
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BACKSTORY
Marriage between Peleus and Thetis, a sea-goddess
Eris (goddess of discord) was not invited; crashed party
GOLDEN APPLE: who is the fairest?
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each reached for the apple
Zeus proclaimed that Paris, prince of Troy and thought to be
the most beautiful man alive, would act as the judge
Hera promised him power, Athena promised him wealth, and
Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world.
Aphrodite wins: wants Helen (King Menelaus’
wife. Menelaus = King of Sparta)
Menelaus treats Paris as royal guest. When
Menelaus leaves Sparta to go to a funeral, Paris
abducts Helen (who perhaps went willingly)
and also carried off much of Menelaus' wealth
In Troy, Helen and Paris were married. This
occurred1200 B.C.
BACKSTORY
The Fall of Troy
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Menelaus outraged: called upon all of Helen's old suitors to
defend her. Odysseus was one of these suitors!
The first nine years of the war consisted of both war in Troy
and war against the neighboring regions.
Seeking to gain entrance into Troy, Odysseus (with the aid
of Athena) ordered a large wooden horse to be built.
One man, Sinon, was left behind. When the Trojans came to
marvel at the huge creation, Sinon pretended to be angry
with the Greeks, stating that they had deserted him.
That night, after most of Troy was asleep, Sinon let the Greek
warriors out from the horse.
Greeks slaughtered the Trojans and burned the city.
Aeneas, a Trojan prince, escaped the destruction of Troy,
and Virgil's Aeneid tells of his flight from Troy.
Greek warriors travel back home. Enter “The Odyssey”
Homecoming (Odysseus)
DUAL THEMES
Titans
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Cronos married Rhea (sister!) & became King of Titans.
Atlas: bore the world on his shoulders
Oceanus: the river that encircled the earth
Epimetheus: “hind-sight” or “after-thinker”…
Prometheus: the savior of mankind & clever
 E & P entrusted with distributing the traits among the
newly created animals. E ran out w/ humans
 Prometheus decided that mankind's attributes would
be the civilizing arts. Defied gods and gave fire to
humanity  enabled progress & civilization
 Zeus’ punishment: rock, eagle, liver, rescue!
Meet: Zeus (Jupiter)
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Supreme Ruler of the gods
Lord of the sky, rain-god, and cloud-gatherer
Wielded the thunderbolt
Not omnipotent or omniscient – can be
opposed/deceived
Falls in love with one woman after another;
tries to hide infidelity from wife.
Meet: Hera (Juno)
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Zeus’ wife and sister
Archetypal jealous wife
Protector of marriage
Not a very lovable character.
Implacable anger
Venerated in every home
Meet: Poseidon (Neptune)
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Ruler of the sea
Palace beneath sea but spent
much time on Mt. Olympus
Important god because the
Greeks were seamen
Commonly called the “earthshaker” and was shown
carrying his trident, with
which he would shake and
shatter whatever he pleased
Odysseus ticks him off
Meet: Hades (Pluto)
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God of the underworld – “King of
the Dead”
God of wealth – precious metals
are hidden in the earth
Stayed in underworld – rarely
went to Mt. Olympus
Unpitying but just; a terrible, not
an evil god
Wife: Persephone whom he made
Queen of the Lower World
Meet: Demeter (Ceres)
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Goddess of Agriculture
(goddess of the corn)
Demeter’s only daughter =
Persephone
Punishment: the earth a
frozen wasteland
Zeus sends Hermes;
pomegranate seeds; seasons
Meet: Hestia (Vesta)
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Goddess of the hearth (symbol of the home)
Virgin goddess
Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia,
where the fire was never allowed to go out.
Meet: Aphrodite (Venus)
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Goddess of love and beauty – the irresistible
goddess who stole away the wits of the wise
“aphros” = foam. Name means “foam-risen”
The laughter-loving goddess
Now to Zeus’ children… (at least the important ones)
Meet: Pallas Athena (Minerva)
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Goddess of wisdom;
virgin goddess
Epithet = “grey-eyed
Athena”
Sprung from Zeus’ head;
full-grown, full-armor
She can be fierce/war-like
when defending the home
from outside enemies
Athens was her special
city; helper of Odysseus
Meet: Ares (Mars)
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God of War
Son of Zeus & Hera
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both detested him
Probably the most hateful god
Homer calls him murderous,
bloodstained, the incarnate curse of morals; and,
strangely, a coward who bellows with pain and
runs away when wounded.
He “inspires” people on the battlefield
Mars (roman version) is more well-liked
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Depicted as magnificent in shining armor, invincible
Meet: Phoebus Apollo
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called “the most Greek of all gods” and “the Sun”
god of light (sun god); god of truth; the healer; the
master musician (golden lyre); Archer-god (silver bow)
Phoebus Apollo
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Oracle at Delphi
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Oracle = a person providing prophetic knowledge
Each god had their oracles - Apollo’s was at Delphi
link between gods & men, guiding them to know the
divine will (how to make peace & purify themselves)
Artemis (Diana)
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Apollo’s twin sister
The moon
Goddess of the hunt
Epithet = “lover of woods
and the wild chase”
“Lady of Wild Things,”
huntsman-in-chief to the
gods
Protector of youth
Can be fierce and
revengeful
Meet: Hermes (Mercury)
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The messenger god
“flies as a fleet” to do Zeus’ bidding
Graceful and swift of motion
Wears winged sandals; also has
wings on his hat and magic wand
Shrewd & cunning; the “Master
Thief”
God of commerce & the market
Also guide of the dead – leads souls
down to Hades
Appears most often in tales of
mythology
Modern Day Influences: Hermes
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Hermès International S.A., Hermes of Paris, or simply
Hermès is a French manufacturer of quality goods
established in 1837, today specializing in leather,
lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and
ready-to-wear.
Bacchus – famous painting by Caravaggio
Dionysus (Bacchus)
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God of the vine
Son of Zeus and princess
Semele
Raised by the nymphs of
Nysa
Born of fire and nursed by
rain –hard-burning heat that
ripens the grapes & water
that keeps the plant alive
Meet Heracles (Hercules)
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Son of Zeus and Alcmena (mortal!)
Hera jealous and determined to kill Hercules
The greatest hero of Greece. He was everything the
Greeks admired.
The strongest man  supreme self-confidence
Considered himself equal w/ the gods
Intellect was not strong; often absent!
Emotions strong; apt to get out of control
When rage would pass, he would humbly accept any
punishment
 Marriage to Princess Megara  Hera’s Vengeance
 The Tasks of Hercules (12)
The Tasks of Heracles (Hercules)
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Slay the Nemean Lion.
Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra.
Capture the Golden Deer of Artemis.
Capture the Erymanthian Boar.
Clean the Augean stables in a single day.
Slay the Stymphalian Birds.
Capture the Cretan Bull.
Steal the Mares of Diomedes.
Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of Amazons
Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.
Steal the apples of the Hesperides.
Capture and bring back Cerberus.
Meet Perseus
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Medusa-Killer
 King Acrisius had an only child  daughter Danaë
 Oracle at Delphi: Danae’s son would kill him
 Kept Danaë in a bronze house sunk underground
 Shower of gold fell from the sky & filled house
 In this ^ shape, Zeus impregnated her w/ Perseus
 Put in chest  out to sea  found by fisherman
Perseus
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Polydectes (ruler of island) wanted Danaë but not P.
Polydectes *hinted* that he wanted head of a gorgon.
Hermes (sword) and Athena (shield) helped Perseus
Returned but Danaë had fled from Polydectes’ anger
Killed Polydectes & his men w/ Medusa’s head
Went to search for King Acrisius; discuss throwing
contest  cannot escape fate!
Mythological Creatures
Sirens - group of females who
lured sailors by their singing
Mythological Creatures
Circe - goddess, enchantress,
who turned men into swine
Scylla - monster with 12 feet
and 6 heads with 3 rows of
teeth, carries off a sailor in each
mouth
Mythological Creatures
Charybdis - 3 times a day pulls
sailors into her whirlpool
Hyperion - the sun (distinct from
Apollo, the sun god)
Muses – 9 daughters of Zeus
who provide musical inspiration
Eurylochus - one of the crew
members