Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the term 'katabasis' literally mean?
What does the term 'katabasis' literally mean?
Which hero is considered the first to venture into the Underworld and return alive?
Which hero is considered the first to venture into the Underworld and return alive?
Which character was trapped in the Underworld according to one version of the myths?
Which character was trapped in the Underworld according to one version of the myths?
In which literary work does Odysseus’ visual journey to the Underworld appear?
In which literary work does Odysseus’ visual journey to the Underworld appear?
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What notable ability is associated with Orpheus in Greek mythology?
What notable ability is associated with Orpheus in Greek mythology?
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Which of the following characters is NOT mentioned as having completed a katabasis?
Which of the following characters is NOT mentioned as having completed a katabasis?
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What was the primary challenge of a katabasis according to the myths?
What was the primary challenge of a katabasis according to the myths?
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In relation to the Orphic Mysteries, what role did Orpheus hold?
In relation to the Orphic Mysteries, what role did Orpheus hold?
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What characteristic distinguishes Orpheus from other heroes like Cadmus or Pelops?
What characteristic distinguishes Orpheus from other heroes like Cadmus or Pelops?
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Which adventure is Orpheus notably known for?
Which adventure is Orpheus notably known for?
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What ultimately caused Orpheus to fail in his attempt to bring Eurydice back from the Underworld?
What ultimately caused Orpheus to fail in his attempt to bring Eurydice back from the Underworld?
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What was the special skill that Orpheus was known for?
What was the special skill that Orpheus was known for?
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Who is the mother of Orpheus?
Who is the mother of Orpheus?
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Which category BEST describes the tale of Cupid and Psyche?
Which category BEST describes the tale of Cupid and Psyche?
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What does the name 'Psyche' literally mean in Greek?
What does the name 'Psyche' literally mean in Greek?
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What allegorical theme is present in the Cupid and Psyche tale?
What allegorical theme is present in the Cupid and Psyche tale?
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In which work was the tale of Cupid and Psyche originally written?
In which work was the tale of Cupid and Psyche originally written?
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Which other hero performed a katabasis besides Orpheus?
Which other hero performed a katabasis besides Orpheus?
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Study Notes
Katabasis: Journey to the Underworld
- Katabasis literally means "march downward" or "downward hike."
- It's a living person's journey to the Underworld in Greek mythology, not a ghost's descent.
- Odysseus's vision of the Underworld in the Odyssey is an early example of katabasis.
Famous Katabasis Performers
- Five figures successfully completed the journey and returned: Orpheus, Theseus, Heracles, Odysseus, and Psyche.
- Orpheus is considered the first to complete a katabasis and return alive.
- Theseus's companion, Peirithoüs, was trapped in the Underworld.
- Heracles' twelfth labor involved a katabasis.
- Odysseus's journey to the Underworld is described in Homer's Odyssey.
- Psyche's katabasis is detailed in the Greco-Roman fable of Cupid and Psyche.
Orpheus's Katabasis
- Orpheus's importance connects to the Orphic Mysteries (a fringe religion).
- He was considered a prophet or gospeller of this religion.
- Orpheus was believed to have gained special knowledge during his katabasis.
- He was a musician and poet, with a poem supposedly written by him about the origins of the universe.
- Unlike other heroes, he was a peaceful figure associated with civilizing arts, not war.
- Orpheus was not Greek; he originated from Thrace.
- His parents were the Thracian king and Calliope (a Muse).
- He participated in the Calydonian boar hunt and the Argonautic expedition.
Orpheus and Eurydice's Myth
- Their story is a famous tale of heroic devotion.
- Orpheus's musical skill and courage led him to the Underworld to retrieve Eurydice.
- Hades agreed to release Eurydice on the condition that Orpheus not look back on her during their upward journey; Orpheus failed.
Other Katabasis Performers
- Theseus's journey to the Underworld is mentioned.
- Heracles's twelfth labor, to the Underworld, is included.
- Odysseus's katabasis from Homer's Odyssey is described.
- The legend of Psyche's katabasis is mentioned.
Psyche's Legend
- Psyche is a mortal Greek woman, whose name means "soul."
- Her myth is not detailed in the textbook.
- Her legend is described in Apuleius's "The Golden Ass" (a Roman novel).
- The story is an engaging adventure, an allegory of young love, and an allegory of a spiritual journey towards the afterlife via initiation into Mystery religions.
Apuleius's "The Golden Ass"
- Apuleius, a Roman orator, wrote the novel circa 160 AD.
- It's a book-length fictional prose story often titled "The Golden Ass."
- The story is based on a Greek folk tale, about Psyche.
- It has three key themes: adventure story, allegory of maturing through love, and allegory of a spiritual journey.
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Description
Explore the concept of katabasis, the journey to the Underworld in Greek mythology. Learn about famous figures like Orpheus, Odysseus, and Heracles who undertook this perilous descent and returned. Discover the stories and significance of their journeys in the context of ancient beliefs and literature.
