Classics 110 Midterm UO Flashcards

Hesiod's Theogony

• Poem outlining the creation of the universe and genealogy of gods.
• Contains a prologue and various myths about the births of gods.
• Features succession myths that explain the rise of Zeus as the king of gods.

Muses

• Nine Muses from Mount Helicon associated with song, dance, and arts.
• Hesiod emulates the Muses, who grant him a beautiful voice.

Origin of Muses

• Resulted from Zeus' union with Mnemosyne (Memory).

Cosmogony

• Refers to the birth and creation of the cosmos.

Theogony

• Focuses specifically on the birth of the gods.

Chaos

• Considered the first entity in existence, representing space.

Gaia

• The second goddess in existence, symbolizing the Earth.

Tartarus

• Third deity, depicted as the prison for Titans.

Eros

• The fourth god, associated with love (Cupid); notable for being not gendered.

Ouranos

• God of the sky, born from Gaia alone.

Hesiod's Vision of the Cosmos

• Conceptualizes the universe as a layered structure: Chaos at the bottom, followed by Tartarus, Gaia, and finally Ouranos.

Titans

• Offspring of Gaia and Ouranos.

Cyclopes

• Known for strength and craftsmanship; provided Zeus with his thunderbolt.

Hundred Handers

• Children of Gaia and Ouranos, noted for their immense power; freed by Zeus during the Titanomachy.

Kronos and Ouranos' Castration

• Kronos castrates Ouranos, an unusual act in Greek mythology but justified in the Theogony.

Birth of Aphrodite

• Born from Ouranos' severed genitals, also known for her ties to various locations and names (e.g., Kythereia, Philommedes).

Styx

• Goddess and river, progenitor of four gods: Zelos, Nike, Kratos, and Bia; her waters are sacred for oaths.

Hymn to Hekate

• Hekate is a minor deity with significant control and a unique mythological background.

Kronos' Cannibalism and the Stone

• Kronos swallows his children due to a prophecy; Rhea saves Zeus by giving Kronos a stone to swallow instead.

Zeus, Prometheus, and Sacrifice

• Zeus favors the burnt fat over bones during a sacrificial offering, leading to Prometheus' trickery.

Zeus, Prometheus, and Fire

• Zeus punishes humanity by taking away fire; Prometheus steals it back, symbolizing his love for humans.

Punishment of Prometheus

• Zeus torturously confines Prometheus to a pillar, with an eagle consuming his liver daily.

Pandora and Human Females in Theogony

• Created by Zeus as a punishment for humans, embodying negative stereotypes of women in Greek culture.

Titanomachy

• Epic battle between the Titans led by Kronos and the Olympians led by Zeus.

Ambrosia

• Food of the gods, symbolizing immortality.

Nectar

• The divine drink enjoyed by the gods, associated with immortality.