Classical Mythology Exam 1 Study Guide

Unit 1: Introduction to Mythology

Exam 1 Details

  • Date: Monday, 29 September

  • Instructors: Dr. Sarais, Ms. Becca Tauscher (TA)

Core Concepts for Exam 1

  • Definitions of Mythology and Myth

    • Narrow/Restrictive Definition:

      • Bascom's Three Forms of Prose Narratives:

        • Non-human characters involved.

        • Events occur in non-specific time.

        • Sacred approach by the audience.

      • Cupitt: Defines myth as traditional stories.

    • Inclusive Definition:

      • Doty's Three-Point Definition: Focuses on meaning, content, and function.

  • Distinguishing Narrative Types: Ability to differentiate between myth proper, legend, and folktale.

  • Understanding Myth Definitions: Relate details of various definitions discussed in class.

  • Primary Sources: Knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman primary sources of myth.

  • Context of Classical Mythology

    • Timeline: Basic knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome.

    • Geography: Basic notions about geography and the significance of specific locations and time periods related to the development of Classical Myth.

    • Core Question: What is myth?

    • Important Dates: Key historical dates.

    • Literary Sources: Major literary works.

    • Deities: Names of Greek and Roman gods.

  • Etymology of "Mythology"

    • Understanding the origin of the word.

    • Keywords for an Inclusive Definition of "Myth": Keywords such as "Traditional," "meaningful," etc., used to provide a broad definition.

    • Inclusive Definition of Mythology: How mythology has been defined in an inclusive way.

Unit 2: Creation Stories and the Organization of the Universe

Hesiod and His Works

  • Hesiod's Major Works: Works and Days and especially his Theogony.

  • Etymology: Understanding the etymology of words like "theogony" (generation/birth of gods) and "cosmology" (creation of an orderly universe).

Purposes and Nature of Myths

  • Possible Purposes of Myths: Explore the various reasons why myths are created and told.

  • "Classical" in "Classical Mythology": What this term refers to in the context of mythology.

  • Types of Stories in Classical Mythology Books:

    • Discussion on the possibility of making a clear-cut distinction between "myths proper," legends, and folktales.

    • Consideration of whether only "myths proper" can be included in modern Classical Mythology books, given the nature of available myths.

Sources of Ancient Myths

  • Knowing Our Sources: How we know these ancient myths today.

  • Major Sources: Identify the primary sources included in slides, along with their genres and time periods.

    • Example: Aeschylus, genre: tragedy, time period: 5^{th} century BCE.

    • Additional resources include Quizlet sets on this topic.

Geographic Circulation of Greek and Roman Myths

  • Greek Myths:

    • Origin: Modern-day Greece.

    • Expansion: By the 8^{th} century BCE, Greeks established city-states in southern Italy (known as "Magna Graecia").

    • Cultural Centers: Alexandria (Egypt) became a major center for Greek culture and myths.

    • Widespread Influence: Greek mythology was prevalent in most of the eastern Mediterranean world for centuries, continuing when Romans incorporated these territories and engaged with Greek culture.

  • Roman Myths:

    • Early Stages: Rome started as a small village.

    • Empire Expansion: Over centuries, it became the capital of an empire spanning from modern-day Portugal and Spain in the west to parts of Iran and Iraq in the east, and from parts of modern-day England to northern African countries.

    • Myth Circulation: Greek and Roman myths circulated not only in Rome itself but throughout the vast Roman Empire (refer to maps in slides).

Other Significant Sources

  • Art and Archeology: Recognise these as crucial sources of information for Classical Myth, not solely for entertainment.

Etiological Myths

  • Definition: Understanding what etiological myths are (stories explaining origins).

  • Examples: Provide examples of etiological myths discussed in class.

Key Characters and Concepts

  • Identifying Characters: Ability to identify myths, gods, monsters, or other characters (e.g., Epimetheus, Prometheus, Metis, Mnemosyne, Pandora) from descriptions or artwork.

  • Creation of the Universe and First Generations of Gods:

    • Relate information from a neutral viewpoint or from ancient mythical characters' perspectives.

    • Example: Gaining insight from Gaia's and Cronos' opinions of Ouranos' behavior.

  • Divine Family Tree: Create a family tree tracing familial connections among gods in Hesiod's Theogony.

  • Types of Creation Stories: Distinguish between architectural and automatic types of creation stories, providing examples from ancient sources (e.g., Hesiod).

  • Order of Elemental Gods: Identify the sequence in which the first elemental gods appear in the universe.

  • Identifying Speakers: Identify speakers from passages in the Theogony from assigned readings.

  • Gods and Epithets: Identify and refer to gods even when only an epithet is given.

    • Examples: "Cronion" for Zeus, "Owl-eyed" for Athena.

  • Portrayal of Gods in Hesiod: Discuss the depiction of different gods in Hesiod, referencing and paraphrasing evidence.

  • Myths about Prometheus, Pandora, and Creation of Men/Women:

    • Relate information on these myths and the roles of Zeus and Prometheus from various sources:

      • Hesiod's Theogony

      • Hesiod's Works and Days

      • Apollodorus

      • Plato's Protagora

      • Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound

  • Themes in Hesiod's Theogony

    • Examples: Misogyny; consequences of violence and abusive behavior; the evolution of the universe from one ruled by violence and strength to a just and fair one under Zeus; portrayal of female vs. male deities; etiological myths.

    • All statements must be supported with evidence from texts.

Resources for Study

  • Quizlet Sets:

    • Hesiod's Theogony (up to Typhoeus)

    • Origin of Humans (Hesiod's Theogony ll. 509-620, Prometheus, Pandora)

    • Slides from Zeus' Rise to Power to the Origin of Humans.

    • Creation Stories – The Universe, The Gods, Humans.

  • Gimkit on Hesiod's Creation Story and Prometheus/Humans:

    • Chaos up to Gaia's children & Nyx's children.

    • Review from Chaos up to Gaia-Ouranos, Rhea-Cronos, survival of Zeus.

    • Review, Titanomachy, Typhoeus, up to Prometheus.

    • Review, Origin of Humans: Prometheus, Prometheus vs. Zeus, origin of men and women, Pandora, Zeus, Prometheus, Epimetheus (from Hesiod to Aeschylus & Plato), Zeus' children & their mothers.

    • More on Human Origins: The myth of The Five Ages.

  • Your notes.

  • Assigned texts.

Detailed Knowledge Points

  • Hesiod and His Theogony:

    • Lived in the 700s BCE.

    • His meeting with the Muses.

    • Wrote poetry in hexameters.

    • Authored two poems: Theogony and Works and Days.

    • Theogony features epithets and formulaic language.

    • Theogony is both a "theogony" (generation/birth of gods) and a cosmogony (creation of an orderly universe).

  • Creation of the Universe and First Generations of Gods:

    • Order of appearance: Chaos (a gap), then Gaia, then Tartaros and Eros.

    • Gaia's Progeny: Gaia alone generated Ouranos, the Sea (Pontos), and the Mountains.

    • Gaia and Ouranos: Gaia slept with Ouranos and generated Cyclops, Hecatonchires, and 12 children (Titans).

    • Succession of Ruling Gods:

      • First Generation: Gaia + Ouranos.

      • Second Generation: Cronos + Rheia.

      • Third Generation: Zeus + Hera.

    • Associated Myths:

      • Castration of Ouranos: Consequences include the birth of Aphrodite, the Furies, etc.

      • Cronos's Actions: Swallowed his children.

      • Rheia's Trick: Gave Cronos a rock instead of baby Zeus, leading to Zeus's survival.

      • Zeus's Fight for Power:

        • Titanomachy: War against the Titans.

        • Confrontation with Typhoios.

        • Swallowing of Metis.

  • Identifying Characters in Artwork:

    • Typhoios: Depicted with dragons growing out of shoulders, hollow eye sockets, sending fiery rays.

    • Hecatonchires: Described with 50 heads and 100 hands each.

    • Cyclops: Characterized by a single eye in the forehead.

  • Portrayal of Gods in Hesiod and Other Ancient Sources (with evidence):

    • Gaia: Portrayed as clever and a trickster, demonstrated by her plan to punish Ouranos through castration to end his violence.

    • Cronos: Described as not very clever, referred to as "the poor fool" by Hesiod, as he fails to realize Rheia gives him a rock instead of Zeus.

    • Anthropomorphism: Gods resemble humans in appearance, actions, and behavior (e.g., Gaia as a mother and wife to Ouranos). Like humans, gods fight and require sustenance for strength.

  • Myths about Prometheus, Pandora, and the Creation of Women:

    • Feast at Mecone: Prometheus, negotiating for men, tricks Zeus into choosing white bones over meat. Zeus punishes men by taking fire.

    • Pandora's Creation: Created as a second punishment for men because Zeus was angered that Prometheus had outsmarted him by restoring fire to men.

    • Meaning of Pandora: Her name means "all gifts" because each god contributed a gift during her creation, as described in Works and Days.

    • Pandora's Jar/Box: Led to the spreading of evils in the world, with the exception of Hope, which remained inside.

  • The Myth of the Five Ages:

    • Be able to list and describe the differences among the distinct ages:

      • Golden Age

      • Silver Age

      • Bronze Age

      • Age of Heroes

      • Iron Age

  • Themes in Theogony (detailed explanation):

    • Punishment for unjust, arrogant, abusive behaviors:

      • Zeus blasts Menoitios into Erebos.

      • Gaia and Cronos punish Ouranos for his violence against Gaia and their children.

      • Cronos is punished for swallowing his children.

    • From chaos to order and justice: The universe evolves from an initial state of chaos, violence, and guile among the first generation of gods. With Zeus and his children (especially those born from Themis, representing justice and law), order, justice, and peace are established.

    • Misogynistic views reflected in ancient texts:

      • Pandora and women are portrayed negatively in Hesiod.

      • Pandora is held responsible for evils spreading in the world (through her jar/box).

      • Women are seen as "drones" taking advantage of "working bees" (men) and are described as a necessary evil.

    • Anthropomorphic representations of the gods: Gods are depicted with human-like forms, emotions, and behaviors.

  • Etiological Myths (Explanation and Examples):

    • Definition: A traditional and meaningful story that explains the origin of a natural phenomenon, custom, or aspect of human existence.

    • Examples from Hesiod's Theogony or other sources:

      • Myths of Chaos, Gaia, Ouranos, etc.: Explain the origin of the universe.

      • Myth of Pandora and her jar of evils: Explains why men and humans must suffer.

      • Myth of Zeus being tricked at Mecone by Prometheus: Explains the origin of the Greek custom of burning bones for gods during sacrifices rather than offering meat.

      • Typhoios: Explains the origin of whirlwinds (typhoons, cyclones, tornadoes) and, according to Hesiod and Apollodorus, the eruptions of Mt. Aetna.

      • Plato: Explains the origin of justice among humans.