Download The World of Greek Mythology

The World of Greek Mythology
The Acropolis:
The Parthenon
Ancient Greece
Homer
• Lived about 700 B.C.
• Rumors: Blind poet? Warrior?
• Why does he get credit for both the Iliad
and the Odyssey?
• Why is he important?
Epic
A long narrative poem
about the adventures of
a great hero, usually a
person of great
importance. The
setting is vast and the
action is often given
cosmic significance
through the intervention
of Gods or forces
beyond human
understanding or
control.
Epic and Homer's Style
• Muses: Goddesses of song and artistic
inspiration. A poet may ask for their aid.
• In Medias Res: In the middle of things.
• Epic Simile/Homeric Simile: An elaborate,
detailed comparison written as a simile.
EX: pg 165 of Essential Homer.
• Foreshadowing and Flashbacks.
Epic and Homer's Style part II
• Aristeia: When one character displays great
fighting prowess and seems unstoppable. When
he is "in the zone."
• Epithets: An adjective used repeatedly to
describe a character, place, etc. EX: "swiftfooted Achilles" or "crafty Odysseus" etc.
• The Ring Composition: The story "comes full
circle." In The Iliad, the locations and action of
the first chapters are reflected in the last
chapters. In The Odyssey, the action begins
and ends in Ithaca, and then the heroes leave
for another journey.
Who Were the Greek
Gods?
What Were They Like?
Greek Gods
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NEUTRAL GODS
Zeus
Hades
Hephaestus
Hermes
• TROJANS' SIDE
• Apollo
• Aphrodite
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GREEKS' SIDE
Ares
Hera
Athena
Poseidon
Thetis
A Cosmic Comedy & Tragedy
• The Greek Gods acted like funny soap opera
characters:
– They slept with everyone, cheated on each other
and tried to hide it, threw temper tantrums, etc.
Zeus might be a fighter, but he sure was a lover.
Seriously.
– They were overly dramatic, often becoming
obsessive (like to destroy Troy because a golden
apple was given to someone else).
– They were very involved in human affairs (and
had many affairs with humans).