Jason and the Argonauts

Themes in Myths

• Prophecies, quests, scheming family members, mobility, impossible odds, and mythical beasts are common

Heroos

• Refers to an often semi-divine figure who accomplishes great deeds in Greek mythology.
• The greek hero extended universe included Meleager, Jason, Castor & Polydeuces, and Talamon

Bacchylides

• A lyric poet, composed odes for Olympic victors

Jason and the Argonauts

• Their ship was the Argo
• It was a Pentekonter (fifty-oared vessel)

Geography of Myth

• Includes Volos, Lemnos, Bosporus, and the Black Sea.

Jason and Medea

• Jason frequently relies on Medea, who uses skills and potions to assist him
• Medea betrays her family, and Jason later betrays her.

Is Jason a Hero?

• His leadership in the Argo's quest for the Golden Fleece qualifies him as a hero

Io

• Io wandered from Illyria to Scythia, finally arriving in Egypt. Isis received her, leading to syncretism between them
• Her son, Epaphus, founded the people of Egypt
• Io is the daughter of Inachos

Danaus and Egyptus

• Were brothers
• Egyptus had fifty sons, and Danaus had fifty daughters
• The Danaids kill the sons and flee to Argos
• The Argives accept the Danaids based on shared kinship

Bellerophontes

• Is associated with the power and mystery of writing

Key Takeaways

• Greek heroes existed in an extended universe, embarking on adventures together
• Stories such as the Iliad and the Odyssey had significant influence
• Myths existed in a wider world that allowed Greeks to claim kinship.
• Medea, Io, and Stheneboia are depicted as "bad women" in Greek mythology
• Medea stands out due to her intelligence

Additional Themes in Myths

• Art, civic identity, wanton violence, shapeshifting, and treacherous women

Heroes

• Perseus is a hero of prophecy, magical tools, and culture

Apotropaic

• Literally means "turning away" of a symbol with the power to avert evil

Herakles

• Transitioned from a hero to an oaf
• He was considered the greatest of all heroes and was educated by the best Greeks
• Hera + Kleos = Glory of Hera, nature changes through time

Labours of Herakles

• Labour I; Nemean Lion
• Labour 11; The Lernaian Hydra
• Labour IV; Erymanthian Boar
• Labour IX; Girdle of Hippolyta

Amazons

• The name comes from "a" (without) and "mazon" (breast)
• They were female warriors from the Black Sea region

More Labours

• Labour X; Cattle of Geryon
• Labour XI; Apples of the Hesperides

Deianeira

• Herakles wrestled Acheloos to win her as his wife

Dionysos

• The god of wine and fertility, embodies a dual nature of joy and chaos

Zethos and Ampion

• Twin brothers, sons of Zeus and Antiope
• Zethos represents "sheer strength" and Ampion "magical lyre"
• They built the walls of Thebes

Tropes

• Treacherous women include Eriphyle, Scylla, and Tarpeia

Hera and Tiresias

• Hera punished Tiresias for claiming women enjoy sex more
• Hera blinded Tiresias, while Zeus granted him prophecy as compensation

Theseus

• A hero in Greek mythology, known for slaying the Minotaur and uniting Attica

Synoecism

• The bringing together of several independent cities into a single political unit

Labyrinth

• The maze built to imprison the Minotaur at the palace of Knossos on Crete

Daedalic

• A style of statuary in early Greece associated with the craftsman Daedalus

Heroes in Art

• Heroes, particularly Herakles and his labors, were popular subjects
• Artistic depictions served purposes of propaganda, entertainment, and identity creation.
• Theseus had a role as a "democratic" hero of Athens.
• Women were represented as either victims for the hero to save or betrayers, Omphale's story shows a gender reversal

Tragedy

• A type of dramatic performance from tragos (goat) and oidos (song), with themes of love, betrayal, violence, and fate
• The introduction of a second actor allowed for dialogue
• Theatrical stages now include with buildings, emphasizing the importance of the house

Democratic Reforms and Liturgies

• Aimed to put the rich to work
• Liturgies involved wealthy Athenians funding state enterprises
• Each year an archon was elected
• One liturgy involved the choregos financing play productions

Choregos

• A wealthy Athenian citizen who financed tragedies as a social benefit and received prestige

Catharsis

• The emotional release experienced by the audience witnessing intense emotions on stage

A Good Tragedy

• Needs recognition, mistake/flaw, purging

Agamemnon

• King of Mycenae and leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War
• Known for his pride and the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia
• He dies tragically at the hands of his wife, Clytemnestra

Aristocrats and the Middling Class

• Hesiod expressed the idea of the metrios man
• Luxury and eastern connections become politicized
• Facing danger from the margins

Democratic Reforms

• Reformation of tribes, ostracism, and expansion of courts and council

Sparknotes Summary

• King of Mycenae and leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War, Agamemnon, is killed by his wife, Clytemnestra, after sacrificing their daughter, Iphigenia

Aristocracy (8th Century BCE)

• Homeric aristocrats, held power, Agamemnon's authority was recognized but open to challenge.
• Rank-and-file soldiers were marginalized
• Groups like women, slaves, and the elderly, made up the chorus that comments on the action and serves as the audience

Xenia

• The play references violations by Paris and Helen and also Atreus and Thyestes
• All lead to disastrous consequences

Hubris

• Excessive pride or arrogance, a character's downfall, often through defiance of the gods

Agamemnon's Hubris

• A carpet symbolizes the arrogance of Agamemnon, as stepping on it foreshadows his tragedy

Gender Roles

• Clytemnestra challenges traditional gender roles (intelligence, authority, and ruthlessness) and men orchestrate Agamemnon's murder and seize power

Key Aspects of Tragedy Explored by Aeschylus

• Tensions/anxieties around the role of the aristocracy
• Women's power and the cost of war.
• The place of justice and revenge in a democratic society
• Clytemnestra as a "feminist" character, treatment of Cassandra is complicated

Aeschylus' Eumenides

• Produced in 458 BC, reflecting shifted from personal vendetta to legal justice, reflecting antidemocratic climate and Ephialtes' murder.

Athenian Empire

• Aeschylus' works reflect democratic tensions of military aggression, political violence, challenges of Periclean rule/

Stasis

• Democratic tensions/political violence: Ephialtes' murder(establishment of Areopagus 462/461), oligarchic coup(Spartan support 458\457).
• "Standing," civil strife -oligarchic and democratic supporters.

Zeus

• Represents family, but is often in conflict
• Zeus punishes bad but rewards good, punishes gods challenge, cheats on wife.

Gods & Mortals

• Relationship between gods/mortals: Gods help/harm, Athena aids Odysseus/Achilles, but Actaeon/Niobe/Arachne suffer.

Divine Justice (Hesiod)

• Zeus maintains order/people get deserves
• Honor gods/live virtuous=rewards, unjust=chaos/suffering/punishment.

Metaphors for Justice

• Hesiod Theogony, Strife (Eris) daughter Night- 2 kinds: 1:competition/good:progress, 2:conflict/destruction.

Greek Idea of Justice

• Balance/reciprocity: help friends/harm enemies reflects dualism(worldview).

Ixion and KinMurder;

• Xion, betrothed to Dia, killed father-in-law, failed purification, Zeus received him, but lusted after Hera, tied to fiery wheel.

The Furies;

• Erinyes, commit kin murder, worship monsters Aeschylus connects with Semnai Thiai, murder, fertility,childbirth, murderer by Hades.

Purification

• Murder required purification w/water/animal blood; failure infects pollution.

Miasma

• Cloud pollution

Oaths

• Marriage/divine authority/juridical law: Gods overrule marriage.

Death and Haunting

• Greek religion: Burials/funeral rites are emphasized to release the deceased souls.

Legal Justice

• Laws (nomoi) written/codified, democratic presents Aitiais (cause) establishment Areopagus homicide.

Legal Proceedings

• Athenian procedures mirror/oaths, assembly of jurors, testimony, official proceedings.

Divine VS Mortal

• Mortal balances divine, Apollo defends Orestes/furies city religious, vengeance to
• structured legal justice

Zeus vs Apollo Argument

• Women can only bear a seed doesn't count as a kin murder.

Myth takeaways

• Tragedy contemporary political events to Greek citizens
• Zeus: Patriarch/judge, protected strangers.
• For heisod hard work and justice had rewards.
• Attempt to subvert the factionalism factionalism is domestication of furies.

Euripides

• Known for innovation and radicalism, known for radical ideas/innovations

Suppliants & Children of Heracles

• Theme of patriotism

Hecuba & Trojan Women

• Theme of anti-war sentiments

Ion and Helen

• Theme of intrigue and romance

dangerous women

Medea,Bacchai

• Theme of dangerous women.

Authochony

• From Autos (self ) and cthonos

Metics

Citizens pay taxes etc

Proxenia

Danaids

• Accepted based on condiviled kinship.

Medea and gender

• Discussed as a good VS bad characteristics where she challenges gender roles/manipulation.
• Atwood’s quote: Men fear women and violence in return.
• This shows how Pericles didn’t want womens to stay silent and protect
• Women fear violence and men’s pleasure.

The furies

• Eniyes pursued murderers from Senmai, linking child birth and fertility.

Oaths

• Marriage divine sanction & law tensions depend on social norms.

Punishment

• Medea is only punishment to challenge the idea of divine retribution.

Ending

• Ends with Chorus.

Scholion

• Pl. Scholion comment on ancient takes

Hyginus

• In 15th century AD mythology handbook, summarize key myths

Where could they get the info

• Hyginus used different sources if you understand.

2 types of sources

• Compare with other sources Apollodorus or Homer.

Intertextuality

Pausanias

• Glavce temple.

Herra and Medea

• Hera, with motherhood, had violent acts.

Lamia

• Queen of Libya has a zest affair killed.

Roman Republic

• Civil war Early empire.

The fall of the Republic

• Caesar crosses to war.

Civil and the pax romana

• Octavian was defeated at Actium.

Virgil and herad

• Author Virgil written in 29 and 19.
• Odyssey and hilled when incomplete.

Evander and Landis

• Italian hero laws circes.

Pietas

• Latin term to ideal states.

Homer

• Poet blind guy

History

• Mixed search ethnography and travelouge.

Archeology

• Narrative in the past.

Heinrich Schlemann

• How the people Navigate.

Simple life

• hesiod and terrrrrible to live.

Luxury eastern

• To be come politicized.

Anaxímenes

• Everything is air

Haraclutas

Everything is Air

Xenophanes

• Blames homers of those Gods.

Prime Movers

• Plato to Aeristos

Myth and Censorship

• Young gen.

Suffering causes

• How does Pluto's view suffer

Reworks

• The division of mithos

Tech Virtues

• Fire crafts must take to execute.

Orbiter’s terrarium

Apotheosis

• After deaf