CLA 2323 Lec 3

What was the 6th-century BC philosopher Xenophanes' theory regarding the gods?

Mortals create gods in their own image (e.g., if horses could draw, their gods would look like horses).

How did Plato view the relationship between society and divine myth?

He viewed divine myth as a dangerous fantasy for the uneducated mind, though he believed legends could be useful for teaching morals.

According to the Stoic philosopher Zeno, what was the hidden allegorical meaning behind the myth of Hades kidnapping Persephone?

It was an allegory for the realities of ancient Greek marriage, where a young woman is taken from her mother to submit to a husband's authority.

What was the allegorical purpose of Apuleius's "The Golden Ass" (the myth of Cupid and Psyche)?

It was a Neoplatonic allegory representing the philosophical yearning to merge the mind (Cupid) with the human soul (Psyche).

During the Renaissance, how did scholars and artists attempt to justify their obsession with classical, pagan myths?

They attempted to merge Greek myth with Christian doctrine, portraying the ancients as proto-Christians (e.g., Botticelli's The Birth of Venus representing the soul receiving God's life).

In the 18th century, what dark colonial consequence arose from Bernard Fontenelle's narrow definition of religion and his dismissal of myth as "savagery"?

It was used by Europeans to justify the cultural genocide and forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, claiming they "lacked religion."

What false historical conclusion did 19th-century scholar Johann Bachofen draw from the presence of powerful goddesses in ancient myth?

He incorrectly concluded that ancient societies were originally matriarchal before being overthrown by patriarchs.

Following World War I, why did the study of Classics drastically decline in mainstream education?

Society violently rejected "classical masculinity" and the pursuit of military glory (Arete), viewing it as the toxic mindset that caused the catastrophic wars.

How did Sigmund Freud interpret the monsters in Greek mythology?

He viewed them through psychoanalysis as representations of subconscious sexual desires, such as fathers killed by sons (Oedipus Complex).

According to Carl Jung, what do myths represent, and what do the monsters symbolize?

Myths represent the "collective unconscious" of a society; monsters symbolize oppressive societal forces that hold individuals back.

How did classicist Walter Burkert interpret the violence and monsters in Greek myth?

He argued they reflected a real, feral prehistoric Greek society (raiding, blood feuds), and the myths represented the triumph of the rule of law over an anarchic past.

How did feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir interpret the monsters of Greek myth in "The Second Sex"?

She argued that patriarchal men view femininity as closer to wild nature; therefore, monsters represent women, and a hero conquering a monster represents the subjugation of women.

According to political philosopher Hannah Arendt, why was the malleability of Greek myth vital to the birth of democracy and philosophy?

Because myths were not strict religious dogma, they invited questioning, discussion, and debate, which became the foundation of the Greek political process.

According to Hannah Arendt, why do totalitarian regimes suppress myth?

Totalitarian regimes suppress myth and enforce a single, dogmatic version of "history" to destroy an individual's ability to question and distinguish between truth and fiction.

What is "Mythographia"?

The ancient practice of recording and cataloging myths strictly for the sake of preserving them.

Roughly what percentage of ancient literature survives today?

Less than 10%, due to the laborious hand-copying process, material degradation, and the burning of major libraries.

Did ancient Mediterranean cultures "steal" or plagiarize myths from one another?

No. They drew from a shared "swirling pool" of stock themes (e.g., a near-death experience at birth) to give their specific subjects gravitas.

What is the "Bibliotheca" of Pseudo-Apollodorus?

A major ancient compendium of myths, legends, and folktales falsely ascribed to Apollodorus, likely written between AD 100 and 200.

Why is the Roman poet Ovid (author of Metamorphoses) so critical to the study of Greek mythology?

He is the sole surviving source for up to 60% of the "Greek" myths we know today (such as the myth of Arachne).

Did ancient authors record myths purely to preserve the original oral traditions?

No. Authors had specific political, personal, or societal biases and frequently altered or invented plot points to serve their narrative (e.g., Euripides inventing Medea's murder of her children).

How did Aeschylus use the myth of Orestes in "The Oresteia" to promote Athenian civic duty?

He used the story to argue that citizens should surrender to the legal trial system rather than engaging in destructive private blood feuds.

Who was Hesiod and what major text did he compose?

A farmer from central Greece who composed the "Theogony," which established the canonical birth of the gods and the Clash of the Titans.

Do modern scholars believe Homer was a real, historical individual?

Most believe "Homer" is a pseudonym representing a long tradition of generations of oral bards, rather than a single flesh-and-blood author.

What was the Epic Cycle?

A collection of 13 epic poems covering the origins of the gods through the aftermath of the Trojan War (of which only the Iliad and the Odyssey survive).

What are the Homeric Hymns?

A collection of 33 poems praising the Olympian gods, serving as major primary sources for deities like Apollo, Hermes, and Demeter.

What was Pindar known for composing?

Odes and group dances praising the gods and honoring the wealthy victors of the Olympic-style games.

How did Herodotus, the "Father of History," handle myth in his writings?

He believed history should be entertaining, so he frequently blended verifiable historical events with divine myth (such as the historical King Croesus being saved by Apollo).