Mythology and Heroic Archetypes: Greek Literature and Interpretation

historical interpretation

Reading myth as if it records real events; used by Herodotus and Plutarch.

historicizing

Treating myth as historical fact by stripping away supernatural elements (Plutarch).

etiology

Myths explaining origins (e.g., Daphne → laurel tree; seasons in Demeter/Persephone).

autochthony

"Earth-born"; Athenian belief of native origin (Erichthonius).

folk-tale

Traditional narrative pattern; non-religious; used in Cyclops story and Odysseus' wanderings.

rationalization

Explaining myth logically (Plutarch turning Minotaur into human criminal).

Euhemerism

Belief that gods/heroes were once real historical humans.

scapegoat

Figure expelled to purify community (Oedipus).

male initiation

Hero's journey marking transition to adulthood (Theseus, Herakles).

destruction myth

Myth about world destruction or collapse (Trojan War).

xenia

Ancient Greek hospitality code; honored by Phaeacians, violated by suitors and Cyclops.

kleos aphthiton

"Undying fame"; Achilles' heroic goal in the Iliad.

polutropos

"Of many turns"; Odysseus' epithet for cleverness and adaptability.

Stith Thompson

Scholar who created Motif-Index of Folk Literature to analyze folktale patterns.

Motif-Index of Folk Literature

Catalog of narrative motifs (e.g., ogre-blinded, wife-abduction).

Freud

Psychoanalytic theorist; interpreted myths as expressions of unconscious desires (Oedipus).

Indo-European heroic epic

Shared heroic pattern with divine birth, monster battles, and homecoming.

Perseus

Greek hero; slays Medusa; saves Andromeda; aided by Hermes & Athena.

Medusa

Mortal Gorgon; beheaded by Perseus; gaze turns men to stone.

Gorgon

Three monstrous sisters; Medusa is the mortal one.

Andromeda

Princess chained to rock as sacrifice; saved by Perseus.

Erichthonius

Earth-born king of Athens; symbolizes autochthony; connected with Athena.

Theseus

Athenian hero; slayer of Minotaur; symbol of civic identity and male initiation.

Minotaur

Half-man, half-bull monster in Labyrinth; killed by Theseus.

Ariadne

Helps Theseus with thread; abandoned on Naxos.

Labyrinth

Maze built by Daedalus to hold Minotaur.

Aegeus

Father of Theseus; Aegean Sea named after him.

Oedipus

King of Thebes; kills father; marries mother; becomes scapegoat.

Sphinx

Creature with riddle; defeated by Oedipus.

Jason

Leader of Argonauts; retrieves Golden Fleece; abandons Medea.

Medea

Sorceress; helper maiden; kills her children after Jason's betrayal.

Achilles

Greek hero of the Iliad; embodiment of rage and kleos.

Clytemnestra

Agamemnon's wife; murders him to avenge Iphigenia.

Thetis

Mother of Achilles; sea goddess; tries to protect him.

Paris

Trojan prince who abducts Helen; starts Trojan War.

Helen

Wife of Menelaus; her abduction causes Trojan War.

Briseis

Concubine taken from Achilles; sparks his withdrawal.

Agamemnon

Leader of Greek army; takes Briseis; angers Achilles.

Ajax

Great Greek warrior; loses contest for Achilles' armor.

Phoenix

Elder mentor to Achilles; part of embassy in Book 9.

Meleager

Hero used as exemplum to persuade Achilles.

Hector

Greatest Trojan warrior; killed by Achilles.

Andromache

Wife of Hector; mother of Astyanax.

Patroklos

Friend of Achilles; his death brings Achilles back to battle.

Odysseus

Hero of Odyssey; cunning; seeks nostos; epithet polutropos.

Polyxena

Trojan princess sacrificed at Achilles' tomb.

Aeneas

Trojan prince; son of Aphrodite; ancestor of Romans.

Cassandra

Prophet cursed to never be believed.

Priam

King of Troy; father of Hector and Paris.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus; coming-of-age journey.

Menelaus

Husband of Helen; brother of Agamemnon.

Iphigenia

Daughter of Agamemnon; sacrificed for favorable winds.

Astyanax

Infant son of Hector; killed during fall of Troy.

Centauromachy

Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs; symbolizes order vs chaos.

Amazonomachy

Battle of Greeks and Amazons; symbol of civilization vs barbarism.

Withdrawal of the Angry Hero

Hero refuses to fight (Achilles in Iliad Book 1).

Cypria

Cyclic epic describing origins of Trojan War.

Cyclic Epics

Epics filling in parts of Trojan War beyond Homer (Cypria, Aethiopis).

Nostoi

"Returns"; homecomings of heroes after Trojan War.

Wife-Abduction

Folktale motif; Helen's abduction triggers Trojan War.

Homecoming Husband

Folktale pattern Odysseus follows: return, disguise, recognition.

Ogre-blinded

Folktale motif; hero blinds monster (Odysseus vs Polyphemus).

No-man trick

Odysseus' clever name "Nobody" used to escape Cyclops.

Heinrich Schliemann

Archaeologist who excavated Troy and Mycenae.

Suitors

Men courting Penelope; violators of xenia; killed upon Odysseus' return.

Procrustean Bed

Torture bed of bandit Procrustes; Theseus kills him.

Cyclops

Giant one-eyed monster; Polyphemus in Odyssey.

Trojan Horse

Wooden horse used by Greeks to enter Troy secretly.

Indo-European root of Zeus

deiwos meaning "bright sky."

Titanomachy

War between Titans and Olympians led by Zeus.

Typhonomachy

Battle between Zeus and Typhon.

Prometheus' punishment

Eagle eats his liver daily; cycle repeats forever.

Eleusinian Mysteries

Secret rites of Demeter and Persephone involving rebirth.

Parthenon

Temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos on Acropolis.

Sparagmos

Ritual dismemberment associated with Dionysus.

Apotheosis

Becoming divine; Herakles undergoes this after death.