CC108 Myth and Religion – Myth and the CC108 Myth and Religion – Myth and the Fighting MaleFighting Male

Lecture 2: The Race or Generation of HeroesLecture 2: The Race or Generation of Heroes

1.Assessment for this module CC1081.Assessment for this module CC108(Clarke and Kelly lectures)(Clarke and Kelly lectures)

- Final examination at Christmas (85% Final examination at Christmas (85% of the total)of the total)

- Classroom tests organised by the Classroom tests organised by the tutors and scheduled in the Thursday tutors and scheduled in the Thursday lecture slot (15% of the total)lecture slot (15% of the total)

2. Books2. Books

3. Sources: the danger of 3. Sources: the danger of handbookshandbooks

4. Let the ancient voices 4. Let the ancient voices speakspeak

4. Some key reference 4. Some key reference sourcessources

www.theoi.comwww.theoi.com Apollodorus, Apollodorus, Library of Greek Library of Greek

MythologyMythology (1 (1stst century bce), century bce), translated by R. Hard (Oxford World’s translated by R. Hard (Oxford World’s Classics)Classics)

6. Hesiod’s 6. Hesiod’s Works and Days Works and Days (c. (c. 700 bce)700 bce)

““The gods The gods have have hidden life hidden life from mankind”from mankind”

7. Apollo and the Muses: 7. Apollo and the Muses: human suffering is the gods’ human suffering is the gods’

entertainmententertainment

8. Hesiod’s myth of the five 8. Hesiod’s myth of the five races or agesraces or ages

If you are willing, I will sum up If you are willing, I will sum up another explanation for you, another explanation for you,

well and knowingly: and you can well and knowingly: and you can cast it around in your thoughts: cast it around in your thoughts:

about how gods and mortal men about how gods and mortal men have arisen from the same have arisen from the same source.source.

The Golden AgeThe Golden Age

Line 112…Line 112…Like gods they lived, their thoughts all Like gods they lived, their thoughts all

free of carefree of care

Far off from toil and trouble, nor was Far off from toil and trouble, nor was wretchedwretched

Old Age upon them, but always Old Age upon them, but always balanced in feet and handsbalanced in feet and hands

They had pleasure in feasting, apart They had pleasure in feasting, apart from all evils…from all evils…

The golden age as imagined by The golden age as imagined by artists since the Renaissanceartists since the Renaissance

The Silver AgeThe Silver Age

From line 133From line 133They lived only a short time, full of woesThey lived only a short time, full of woesThrough their follies; for they could not restrain Through their follies; for they could not restrain

from each otherfrom each otherFoolish violence, nor to honour the immortalsFoolish violence, nor to honour the immortalsWere they willing, or to sacrifice on the divine altars,Were they willing, or to sacrifice on the divine altars,Which is right for men according to their races. Which is right for men according to their races.

These thenThese thenZeus Kronos’ son hid in his anger, since they had not Zeus Kronos’ son hid in his anger, since they had not

givengivenHonours to the blessed gods who hold Olympus.Honours to the blessed gods who hold Olympus.

The End of the Silver Age, by The End of the Silver Age, by Cranach (about AD 1500)Cranach (about AD 1500)

The Age of BronzeThe Age of Bronze

From line 146From line 146 ……they atethey ate

No bread, but had harsh-thinking hearts of No bread, but had harsh-thinking hearts of adamant, adamant,

Unapproachable; great strength and grasping Unapproachable; great strength and grasping handshands

Grew out from their shoulders on mighty limbs.Grew out from their shoulders on mighty limbs.

Bronze was their armour, bronze their houses, Bronze was their armour, bronze their houses,

With bronze they worked; there was no black With bronze they worked; there was no black iron…iron…

Our own age: the age of Our own age: the age of ironiron

From line 176 From line 176 For now there is the iron race; neither in the dayFor now there is the iron race; neither in the dayDo they stop from toil and trouble, nor at nightDo they stop from toil and trouble, nor at nightWorn down; the gods give us wretched worries…Worn down; the gods give us wretched worries…

Zeus will destroy this race of men who speak with Zeus will destroy this race of men who speak with voices, voices,

When newborn babies at once become grey-haired;When newborn babies at once become grey-haired;The father will have no bond with children, nor The father will have no bond with children, nor

children with him,children with him,Nor guest with host or friend with friend, Nor guest with host or friend with friend, Nor will a brother be a friend, as was so before,Nor will a brother be a friend, as was so before,But they will dishonour their parents when they But they will dishonour their parents when they

grow old…grow old…

9. The generation of heroes: 9. The generation of heroes: an interruption in the story of an interruption in the story of

declinedecline

GOD MORTAL

HERO

9. The wars of the Age of 9. The wars of the Age of HeroesHeroes

Line 160:Line 160: The godly race of hero men, who are called The godly race of hero men, who are called Half-gods, the race before ours on the boundless Half-gods, the race before ours on the boundless

earth.earth. Evil war and terrible strife destroyed them,Evil war and terrible strife destroyed them, Some died under seven-gated Thebes, in Cadmus’ Some died under seven-gated Thebes, in Cadmus’

land,land, Fighting over the flocks of Oedipus,Fighting over the flocks of Oedipus, And war sent others in ships over the sea’s great And war sent others in ships over the sea’s great

gulf gulf To Troy for the sake of Helen of the lovely hair.To Troy for the sake of Helen of the lovely hair. Then death’s fulfilment enveloped them…Then death’s fulfilment enveloped them…

10. Hero cult in real life: the hero is remembered 10. Hero cult in real life: the hero is remembered as a minor godas a minor god

11. Where did the tradition 11. Where did the tradition start?start?

12. Heroic-style funerary 12. Heroic-style funerary vases, c. 750 bcevases, c. 750 bce

14. An image from Homer’s 14. An image from Homer’s Iliad?Iliad?

(plate of about 620 bce)(plate of about 620 bce)

15. The Epic Cycle15. The Epic Cycle

Cypria Cypria – The origins and beginning of the war– The origins and beginning of the war IliadIliad – The rage of Achilles, the death of Hector – The rage of Achilles, the death of Hector Aethiopis Aethiopis – Fighting, centred on the combat between Achilles and – Fighting, centred on the combat between Achilles and

Memnon the Ethiopian; death of Achilles from a bowshot by Memnon the Ethiopian; death of Achilles from a bowshot by Paris/AlexandrosParis/Alexandros

Little IliadLittle Iliad – Contest for the armour of Achilles. Odysseus wins the – Contest for the armour of Achilles. Odysseus wins the contest against Aias/Ajaxcontest against Aias/Ajax

Ilioupersis Ilioupersis – The wooden horse; the Greeks sack Troy– The wooden horse; the Greeks sack Troy Nostoi –Nostoi – the heroes make their journeys home the heroes make their journeys home Odyssey - Odyssey - the wandering the wandering nostosnostos of Odysseus of Odysseus

16. Abundant vitality16. Abundant vitality

17. The word “hero” in 17. The word “hero” in EnglishEnglish

18. Hero, madness and 18. Hero, madness and bestialitybestiality

19. Were these lines in 19. Were these lines in Hesiod’s original poem?Hesiod’s original poem?

……But, giving them life and farmland But, giving them life and farmland apart from menapart from men

Zeus Kronos’ son, the father, set them Zeus Kronos’ son, the father, set them on the edges of the earth.on the edges of the earth.

And they live with hearts free of careAnd they live with hearts free of care In the islands of the blessed, beside In the islands of the blessed, beside

the deep-whirling ocean,the deep-whirling ocean, Heroes secure in prosperity, for whom Heroes secure in prosperity, for whom

the grain-giving earththe grain-giving earth Three times a year bears flourishing Three times a year bears flourishing

honey-sweet corn.honey-sweet corn.

20. Sarpedon: Can a hero escape death? 20. Sarpedon: Can a hero escape death? (the Euphronios krater, c. 515 bce)(the Euphronios krater, c. 515 bce)

21. Death – but glory also21. Death – but glory also

Ah, cousin, could we but survive this warAh, cousin, could we but survive this warto live forever deathless, without age,to live forever deathless, without age,I would not ever go again to battle,I would not ever go again to battle,nor would I send you there for honor's sake!nor would I send you there for honor's sake!But in truth a thousand spectres of death But in truth a thousand spectres of death surround us,surround us,and no man can escape them, or be safe.and no man can escape them, or be safe.Let us attack - whether to give some other Let us attack - whether to give some other man man

glory or to win it from him. glory or to win it from him. (Homer, (Homer, Iliad Iliad 16)16)

22. The back of that vase22. The back of that vase

Thursday’s “Classics in the 21Thursday’s “Classics in the 21stst century” lecturecentury” lecture

Dr Jacopo Bisagni, “The Tower of Dr Jacopo Bisagni, “The Tower of Babel and the dispersal of Babel and the dispersal of languages”languages”

Next week: the Trojan War and Next week: the Trojan War and OdysseusOdysseus

…bring your copy of the …bring your copy of the OdysseyOdyssey

CC108 Investigating Ancient Greece CC108 Investigating Ancient Greece Lecture 3: The Trojan War and OdysseusLecture 3: The Trojan War and Odysseus

9. The war: where did it all 9. The war: where did it all begin?begin?

9. The great goddess Gaia 9. The great goddess Gaia (Earth)(Earth)

Ouranos (Sky) = Gaia (Earth)

Kronos = Rhea

Zeus = Hera

9. The opening of the 9. The opening of the CypriaCypria There was a time when the countless tribes of There was a time when the countless tribes of

men, wandering over the world, men, wandering over the world, pressed down on the broad surface of the deep-pressed down on the broad surface of the deep-

chested Earth:chested Earth: Zeus saw and pitied her, and in his knowing mindZeus saw and pitied her, and in his knowing mind he planned to lighten all-nourishing Earth of her he planned to lighten all-nourishing Earth of her

burden of menburden of men by throwing up the strife of the Trojan war,by throwing up the strife of the Trojan war, so that he might lighten the weight by means of so that he might lighten the weight by means of

death; so in Troydeath; so in Troy the heroes went on being killed, and the plan of the heroes went on being killed, and the plan of

Zeus was being fulfilled.Zeus was being fulfilled.

10. Trouble with a capital T10. Trouble with a capital T

10. Strife (greek 10. Strife (greek ErisEris))

10. Brown envelopes10. Brown envelopes

10. When you’re in love with a 10. When you’re in love with a beautiful woman…beautiful woman…

Attic Red-figure skyphos by Hieron Attic Red-figure skyphos by Hieron

(potter) and(potter) and

10. Art changes, the image 10. Art changes, the image remainsremains

11. Ten years of war11. Ten years of war

12. The Wooden Horse: Troy 12. The Wooden Horse: Troy falls at last and is plunderedfalls at last and is plundered

13. Why do men fight? 13. Why do men fight? BRAVERYBRAVERY

RESPECTRESPECTREWARDREWARDSTATUSSTATUS

HONOURHONOUR REPUTATIONREPUTATION

GLORYGLORY

[IMMORTALITY][IMMORTALITY]

14. Sarpedon on the 14. Sarpedon on the Euphronios krater (c. 515 bce)Euphronios krater (c. 515 bce)

15. The reverse side of the 15. The reverse side of the Euphronios kraterEuphronios krater

16. The 16. The Iliad Iliad and the choice of and the choice of AchillesAchilles

17. The death of Achilles17. The death of Achilles

17.5 The heroic triangle:17.5 The heroic triangle:Achilles, Aias, OdysseusAchilles, Aias, Odysseus

18. The suicide of Aias/Ajax18. The suicide of Aias/Ajax(by the vase-painter Exekias, c.540 (by the vase-painter Exekias, c.540

bce)bce)

Nostos Nostos – the journey home, the – the journey home, the journey to wisdom?journey to wisdom?

Homer as a canonical text: the Homer as a canonical text: the Douris cup (c. 490 bce)Douris cup (c. 490 bce)

- Next week: the wanderings of - Next week: the wanderings of OdysseusOdysseus(read (read Odyssey Odyssey booksbooks 1-4 for the 1-4 for the outline story, book 5 in detail)outline story, book 5 in detail)

- Remember tutorial- Remember tutorial

19. Tithonos: nearly becoming 19. Tithonos: nearly becoming a goda god