🙏Greco-Roman Religion and Literature Unit 2 – Greek Mythology and Cosmology

Key Figures and Deities

• Zeus, king of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus, associated with thunder, lightning, and justice
• Hera, queen of the gods, goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth, often depicted as jealous and vengeful towards Zeus's lovers and offspring
• Poseidon, god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, wielded a trident and had the power to create and control storms
• Athena, goddess of wisdom, war strategy, and crafts, born fully grown and armored from Zeus's head after he swallowed her mother Metis
• Apollo, god of music, poetry, prophecy, and healing, associated with the sun and often depicted with a lyre or bow
  • Twin brother of Artemis, goddess of the hunt and moon
• Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty, and desire, born from the foam of the sea after Uranus's genitals were thrown into it by Cronus
• Hermes, messenger of the gods, god of commerce, thieves, and travelers, invented the lyre and served as a guide to the underworld
• Dionysus, god of wine, theater, and ecstasy, the only Olympian with a mortal mother (Semele) and associated with fertility and religious frenzy

Creation Myths and Cosmogony

• Hesiod's Theogony describes the creation of the universe from Chaos, a primordial void, followed by the emergence of Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (Underworld), and Eros (Love)
• Gaia gave birth to Uranus (Sky), who became her mate and fathered the Titans, including Cronus and Rhea
• Cronus overthrew Uranus by castrating him with a sickle provided by Gaia, leading to the birth of Aphrodite from the sea foam created by his severed genitals
• Cronus and Rhea gave birth to the Olympian gods, but Cronus swallowed his children to prevent them from overthrowing him
  • Rhea saved Zeus by hiding him in Crete and feeding Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes
• Zeus, once grown, forced Cronus to regurgitate his siblings and led the Olympians in a war against the Titans (Titanomachy), ultimately establishing the Olympian pantheon
• The creation of humans is attributed to Prometheus, a Titan who formed them from clay and gave them fire stolen from the gods, leading to his punishment by Zeus

The Olympian Pantheon

• The twelve major Olympian gods resided on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, and were believed to intervene in human affairs
• Zeus, the supreme ruler, maintained order and justice, often through the use of his thunderbolts
• Hera, as the goddess of marriage, was the protector of married women and presided over weddings and childbirth
• Poseidon, besides controlling the seas, was also responsible for creating new islands and calming or raising the waters
• Athena was the patron goddess of Athens, known for her strategic prowess in war and her skill in weaving and other crafts
• Apollo was associated with the Oracle of Delphi, which provided prophecies and guidance to mortals
• Artemis was the protector of young girls and women, and her hunters were known for their skill with the bow
• Aphrodite's power extended over both mortals and gods, as seen in her role in the Judgment of Paris and the Trojan War
• Hermes, in addition to his role as a messenger, was also the god of boundaries, helping travelers and guiding souls to the underworld

Heroes and Legendary Figures

• Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology), son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene, known for his incredible strength and twelve labors
  • Labors included slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Erymanthian Boar, and cleaning the Augean Stables
• Theseus, son of Aegeus, king of Athens, defeated the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of Crete with the help of Ariadne's thread
• Perseus, another son of Zeus, slayed the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster
• Odysseus, the cunning hero of Homer's Odyssey, known for his intelligence and resourcefulness during his ten-year journey home from the Trojan War
  • Faced challenges such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the whirlpool Charybdis
• Jason, leader of the Argonauts, quested for the Golden Fleece with the help of Medea, a sorceress who fell in love with him
• Orpheus, a legendary musician who journeyed to the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice, but lost her when he looked back before reaching the surface
• Daedalus, a skilled craftsman who built the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete and crafted wings of wax and feathers for himself and his son Icarus

Major Mythological Cycles

• The Trojan War Cycle, including events leading up to and following the war, such as the Judgment of Paris and the Trojan Horse
  • Chronicled in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, as well as the Epic Cycle
• The Theban Cycle, focusing on the city of Thebes and the tragic story of Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother
  • Includes Sophocles' plays Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone
• The Argonautic Cycle, recounting Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece and his relationship with Medea
• The Heraclean Cycle, detailing the life and labors of Heracles, including his twelve labors and his apotheosis
• The Attic Cycle, centered on the myths and legends of Athens, such as the stories of Theseus, Cecrops, and Erichthonius
• The Cretan Cycle, involving the myths of Crete, such as the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, and Europa
• The Mycenaean Cycle, dealing with the myths and legends of Mycenae, including the stories of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes

Cosmological Concepts

• The Greek universe was divided into three main realms: the heavens (Ouranos), the earth (Gaia), and the underworld (Hades)
• The earth was believed to be a flat disk encircled by the river Oceanus, with the heavens above and the underworld below
• The underworld, ruled by Hades, was the realm of the dead, divided into regions such as Tartarus (for the wicked) and the Elysian Fields (for the virtuous)
• The sun was personified as Helios, who drove his chariot across the sky each day, while the moon was represented by Selene
• The stars were thought to be fixed points of light on a celestial sphere, with constellations representing mythological figures and creatures
• The four elements - earth, water, air, and fire - were believed to be the fundamental building blocks of the universe
• Fate, personified as the Moirai (the Fates), was a powerful force that even the gods could not easily overrule
  • The three Fates were Clotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Allotter), and Atropos (the Inflexible)

Influence on Greek Culture and Literature

• Greek mythology served as a foundation for religious beliefs and practices, with festivals, rituals, and sacrifices honoring the gods
• Mythological stories were used to explain natural phenomena, such as the changing of the seasons (Persephone's descent to the underworld) and the movement of the sun (Helios' chariot)
• Myths provided moral lessons and exemplars of virtues and vices, guiding societal values and norms
• Mythology heavily influenced Greek art, with sculptures, frescoes, and pottery depicting gods, heroes, and mythological scenes
• Greek literature, including epic poetry (Homer's Iliad and Odyssey), lyric poetry (Sappho and Pindar), and drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides), drew extensively from mythological themes and characters
• Mythological allusions and references were common in philosophical works, such as Plato's Symposium and Phaedrus
• The study of mythology was an essential part of Greek education, with children learning the stories as part of their moral and cultural development

Modern Interpretations and Relevance

• Mythological archetypes and themes continue to be used in modern literature, film, and television, such as Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series and the TV show Battlestar Galactica
• Psychological interpretations, such as those by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, have used myths to explore the human psyche and universal human experiences
• Comparative mythology studies, pioneered by scholars like Joseph Campbell, have identified common patterns and motifs across different cultures' mythologies
• Feminist interpretations have re-examined myths from the perspective of female characters and gender roles, challenging traditional patriarchal readings
• Mythological figures and stories have been adapted and reimagined in various artistic mediums, such as opera (Monteverdi's L'Orfeo), ballet (Stravinsky's Apollo), and painting (Botticelli's Birth of Venus)
• Greek mythology has influenced Western culture, language, and thought, with many English words and phrases (such as "Achilles' heel," "Herculean task," and "Pandora's box") derived from mythological references
• The study of Greek mythology remains relevant in understanding the foundations of Western literature, art, and culture, as well as in exploring timeless human concerns and experiences