Jan+15+-+Greek+Heroes%2C+Iliad+1

CLA160 Introduction to Classical Studies

Course Information

• Date: Wed Jan. 15, 2025

• Lecture Topic: The Greek Heroes, Homer’s Iliad 1

• Instructor: Dr. Matt Ludwig

What is a Greek Hero?

• Definition by Sarah Iles Johnson (2018):

  • Humans born with or acquiring status and abilities beyond those of the average human.

  • Retain these qualities after death, benefiting living humans who worship them.

• Key Points of Definition:

  • Emphasizes the link between heroism and religion.

  • Highlights the connection to the past and the necessity of heroes having died or undergone deification (apotheosis).

  • Stresses on the persistent influence of dead heroes on the present.

  • No requirement for heroes to be virtuous individuals.

Origins of Greek Hero Worship

• Historical Context:

  • Originated in the Dark Ages and early Archaic Period.

  • Evidence of hero worship at tombs from Mycenaean times (shaft and tholos).

• Shrines:

  • Dedicated to Mycenaean figures, such as Agamemnon in Mycenae and Menelaus + Helen in Sparta.

• Funerary Practices:

  • Later burial practices mirrored those of Mycenaean times.

  • Descriptions in Homer detail cremated bones in urns and grave weapons.

• Terminology:

  • Worship sites dedicated to heroes referred to as heroa (s. heroon), with the recipient known as a heros.

The Spectrum of Greek Heroism

• Types of Heroes:

  • Older Heroes (e.g., Perseus, Theseus, Jason, Heracles):

    • Engage in exotic quests, possess supernatural abilities, slay monsters, and have divine ancestry.

  • Later Heroes (e.g., figures from the Trojan War):

    • Main characters in the Iliad and Odyssey.

  • Founding Heroes associated with colonization and early kingship (e.g., Thymoetes in Athens, Iops in Sparta).

• Crossover Characters:

  • Figures such as Oedipus and Odysseus that belong to one era but possess attributes of another.

Tensions of Greek Heroism (Part 1/2)

• Local vs. Panhellenic Hero Cults:

  • Many hero cults specific to locales (epichoric).

  • Heroes celebrated in various poetic forms and across different regions.

• Epic Cycle:

  • Focus on heroes from the Trojan and Theban Wars, contributing to a wider cultural interest beyond epic poetry.

• Ceremonies and Events:

  • Heroic influences observed in various rituals, including weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, competitions, and athletic victory celebrations (epinician poetry).

Notable Works and Authors

• Hesiod’s Contributions:

  • Theogony: 1022 lines (date: 900 BC?)

  • Works and Days: 828 lines

  • Shield: 480 lines

  • Catalogue of Women: Fragments survive

• Epic Cycle & Theban Saga:

  • Comprising various major works including Titanomachy, Oedipodeia, and Thebais.

  • Timeline ranging from late 8th century to early 7th century BC.

• Epic Cycle & Trojan Saga:

  • Includes works like Cypria, Iliad, and Odyssey with substantial line counts indicating a rich oral tradition.

Tensions of Greek Heroism (Part 2/2)

• Divine vs. Human Nature of Heroes:

  • Greek heroes associated with gods, serving as helpers and antagonists.

  • Heroes such as Bellerophon, Perseus, and Heracles cited as slayers of creatures and monsters.

• Human Aspects:

  • Experience labor, require divine assistance, confront death.

  • Historical portrayal of heroes evolving from divine to predominantly human traits, especially in the works of Archaic poets like Homer.

Heroism in the Iliad (Part 1/3)

• Achaeans/Danaans (Greeks):

  • Significant figures: Agamemnon, Menelaus, Achilles, Patroclus, Diomedes, Ajax (x2), Nestor, Odysseus, Idomeneus.

• Trojans (Ilios/Ilium):

  • Key characters: Hector, Paris (Alexandros), Aeneas, Priam, Hecuba, Polydamas, Agenor, Antenor, Pandarus, Dolon, Sarpedon, Phoenix, Machaon, Glaucus, Calchas, Helenus.

Heroism in the Iliad (Part 2/3)

• Concept of Aretē (Excellence):

  • Involves something more than mere virtuous behavior:

    • Deeds: Displays of strength (bia) in battle and athletics.

    • Social Standing: Acting with honor (timē) and achieving elevated military status (aristeia).

    • Personal Connections: Loyal to friends (philoi) and hostile to enemies (echthroi).

• Words:

  • Skills in cunning (mētis), deception (dolos), and effective communication (peitho), all contributing to the heroic image.

• Securing Aretē:

  • Glory (kudos) earned among peers, often symbolized through war prizes (geras) and maintained through reputation (kleos) in stories after death.

Heroism in the Iliad (Part 3/3)

• Focus in Iliad Book 1:

  • Examination of the heroic code and its challenges.

  • Key Themes:

    • Security of kleos (glory) and stability of relationships (philoi vs. echthroi).

    • Questions on the applicability of heroic models to contemporary behaviors.

    • Elements such as Ate (delusion) and Hybris (excess) reflect early Archaic concerns.