Greek and Roman Mythology Midterm 1

Critical Thinking

Not having the answer before asking the question

Thesis

A statement based upon facts that a reasonable person could disagree with

Observation

Act of noticing and recording phenomena.

Idealism

- the belief that categories exits "out there" independent of language and human beings. Sometimes these categories are referred to as "natural"

Textualism

- because categories and even mythic figures are constructed by language it is better to try to understand categories and mythic figures as subject to limited change over time rather than imperfect copies of an ideal hero or category

Historicism

- the ideas that human beings had fundamentally different ideas of how the world worked in the past

- and their motives cannot always be understood

Humanism

- the assumption that human being were essentially the same in the ancient world as in the present

Epic of Gilgamesh

Story of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, seeks immortality from a great flood survivor but fails

Theogony

Hesiod's poem describing the origins of gods.

Homeric Hymn to Apollo

Ancient hymn celebrating the god Apollo.

Homeric Hymn to Dionysus

Ancient hymn dedicated to the god Dionysus.

Metamorphoses

Ovid's narrative poem on transformations.

Pygmalion

Myth about a sculptor who falls in love with his women statute whom later comes to life. Had a disgust for real women. Father of Paphos

Myrrha

Mythological figure cursed to fall in love with her father. Mother and Sister of Adonis

Enkidu

Gilgamesh's wild companion in the epic. Kills Humbaba for cedar wood

Shamhat

Temple prostitute who civilizes Enkidu.

Kronos

Titan who swallowed his children to prevent overthrow.

Metis

Titaness known for wisdom, mother of Athena. Her prophecy warned her that her child will be king of gods and men

Heracles

Hero known for his strength and twelve labors. Parents are Zeus, Amphitruo, and Alkmene

Killed the Hydra

Perseus

Home was at Tiryns but associated with Argos and Mycenae as well. Parents: Zeus, Proitos, Diktys

Ishtar

Goddess of love and war in Mesopotamian mythology.

Attributes: Staff with snakes, headress

Prometheus

Father of Deucalion, survived the great flood.

Son of Iapetos, brother of Empimetheus

Attributes: fire, eagle, caring for man

Areas of Concern: Technology and Man

MArried Pyrrha

Zeus

King of the Greek gods, god of sky.

Concerns: sky, kingship

Attributes: beard, eagle, thunderbolt

3rd ruler of the universe

Hera

Queen of the gods, sister and wife of Zeus

Attributes: Crown, Peacock

Areas of Concern: Marriage, family

Apollo

God/Areas of Concern: music, prophecy, and healing.

Attributes: Kithara, Bow, Laurel

Son of Zeus and Leto

Hephaestus

God of fire and craftsmanship.

Son of Hera

Attributes: Hammer, Tongs, Donkey

Areas of Concern: metal working, fire

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty.

Born from Uranus' sea genitals, or born and kneeled at Dione's feet

Theseus

Hero known for defeating the Minotaur.

Son of Poseidon, husband of Phaedra

King of Athens and it's land

Deucalion

Survivor of the great flood in Greek mythology.

Son of Prometheus

Husband of Pyrrha and daughter of Epimetheus

Humbaba

Guardian of the Cedar Forest in Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh's enemy

Put there by Enil

killed by Enkidu and Gilgamesh

Typhoeus

Monstrous giant defeated by Zeus.

Son of Gaia and Tartaros

Adonis

Mortal loved by Aphrodite, symbol of beauty.

Son and brother of Myrrha, son of Cinyras

Tiryns

Center of power of Greece

Home of Perseus and Eurystheus

Assigned the 12 labors of Heracles

Cyprus

Island near modern Turkey

Home to Greeks and Phoenicians, and later Egypt

Uruk

- Ancient city, setting for the Epic of Gilgamesh.

- Home of temples Innana and Anu

- First city in history / Sumer

Magna Graecia

"Great Greece"

Region of southern Italy colonized with greek speakers

Mt. Parnassus

Mountain sacred to Apollo and Dionysus in central Greece

- also sacred to the muses

Ovid

roman poet, author of Metamorphoses, Heroides

born March 23rd 43 BCE, Sulmo Italy

Died 17 CE in exile

exiled for a poem and a mistake

Hesiod

Poet of Theogony and Works & Days

Lived in Boeotia

Defeated Homer in a poem contest