Greek and Roman Myth Exam 2

Polis

Polis

city/state in ancient Greece (included temples and government buildings and outer wall)

Didactic Poetry

Poetry that contains clear morals or message

Etemolgial Myth

origin story (creation/cosmogonic myth narrates origin of world)

Greek Archaic Colonization

development of the polis, larger community has priority over family and kinships

Poetic Ephithets

eph comes from greek word Epheton which is added or attributed literaly device that describes person place or object by replacing it with a describitve word or phrase. (Hera golden sandals)

Epic Poetry

lengthy narrative poem about the extraordinary/heroic deeds of character significant to culture of poet

Oral Composition

creation of organization verbal formulation without reliance of writing (most myths were oral compositions before they got written down and generalized)

Dactylic Hexameter

poetic rythem that Homer typically used (1 long and 2 short pattern —uu)

Nostos

a hero who is returning home after a long time away (usually for adventure or military reasons) (something that they wanted to achieve like Odysseus)

Kleos

greek word for renown or glory, it carries implied meaning of what others fear of you. Greek heroes wanted to achieve this Achilles

Xenia

hospitality or guest-friendship (Zeus-Xenios is the enforcer of it) ancient travelers relied on others’ hospitality and kindness, good xenia was providing food and a bed, not asking too many questions, and trading gifts.

Homophrosyne

like-minded, ex.) Odysseus and his wife Penelope both being clever and savvy.

Dionysia (the city)

large festival in 5th century ancient Athens to honor Dionysus, tragedy, comedy and drama performances were held throughout March. The playwrights would compete, each poet would have a day and do 3 tragedies and one satirical play.

Measure of Athenian Tragedy

typically 12 people consisted the chorus, 3 actors or less; began with the prologue and would use a lot of poetic language, monologues by themselves and dialogue with the chorus or another actor; always wore masks with hair sewn in, no women. no violent action is depicted onstage, messengers deliver speech of violent action.

Parts of a Greek Theatre

the orchestra/ chorus of 12 people, the skene (a small building that served as backstage, with 2 doors for exit and entrance), theatron (the audience)

Chorus/Choral Ode

the 12 people singing in the play, change with each play, have special connections between them and the audience. physically between the actors and audience, interacts with actors but doesn’t contribute to action.

Dithyramb

a wild choral hymn of ancient Greece usually dedicated to Dionysus, a choral song or chant. strophe-turn, antistrophe-counter-turn, epode-added as bridge

Ekkyklema

wheeled platform that the Athenians rolled to push on stage or off stage, to roll off a dead body

Areopagus Court/ Athenian Jury System

500 jurors; men randomly selected, blood vengeance is no longer accepted and instead the jury system, individual grievances must be resolved within the framework of the larger political and social community

Bacchants

female worshipers of Dionysus, they prepared his wine, and used it (along with dancing and sex) to access a state of frenzied, divine madness and ecstasy. In this altered state, they were believed to be possessed by the god, imbued with gifts of prophecy and superhuman strength.

Aeschylus

greek tragedian, late 4th to 5th century, fought at Marathon and major battles of Persian wars. he’s the earliest major tragedian whose work survived. he created the orestia- Agamemnon, the libation bearers, the furies

Homer

wrote the iliad and the odyssey, at the very beginning of the archaic period. he was apparently blind

Hesiod

lived around 700 BCE, during the archaic period, wrote theogony (cosmogony) and works & days ‘wisdom’ poetry (didactic)

Euripides

4th century Classical Athens Greek Tragedian, Bacchae, and 2 other plays discovered after his death were produced by his son or nephew and won first prize. Bacchae, Hippolytus and Medea author.