CLST203: Ancient Civilizations and Myths PDF

Core Integration of Religion and Culture: ➔​ Inseparability of Religion and Daily Life ◆​ Religion permeated all aspects of ancient life, from personal identity to political structures ◆​ Religious beliefs shaped self-identity, family, city, and empire...

Core Integration of Religion and Culture: ➔​ Inseparability of Religion and Daily Life ◆​ Religion permeated all aspects of ancient life, from personal identity to political structures ◆​ Religious beliefs shaped self-identity, family, city, and empire ◆​ Modern terms like “cult” or “pagan” can misinterpret ancient beliefs due to anachronism ➔​ Polytheism and Specialized Roles ◆​ The presence of multiple gods did not inherently cause conflict ◆​ Deities had specialized roles within the pantheon ◆​ Religious studies approaches focus on historical and social contexts, not faith-based analysis ➔​ Cultural Exchange and Influences ◆​ Greek and Roman religions absorbed influences from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Phoenicia ◆​ Minoan civilization on Crete featured a fertility goddess cult and bull-leaping rituals ◆​ Mesopotamian influences shaped creation myths and flood narratives Ancient Civilizations and Religious Practices: ➔​ Minoan, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian Influences ◆​ Minoan civilization (Crete) had a fertility goddess cult and bull-leaping rituals ◆​ Mesopotamian influences are evident in creation myths (Enuma Elish) and flood narratives ◆​ Egyptian influences are seen in the link between mortality, justice, and the afterlife ➔​ Phoenician contributions and greek civilization ◆​ Phoenicians traded widely, spread the phonetic alphabet, and incorporated mesopotamian religious ideas ◆​ Greek civilization progressed through distinct periods: minoan, mycenaean, dark ages, archaic, classical, and hellenistic ◆​ The archaic age saw the development of the polis (city-state) and expansion of greek colonization ➔​ Roman religions and its development ◆​ Roman religion was influenced by the etruscans ◆​ The pomerium marked the sacred boundary of rome ◆​ Roman temples were inspired by etruscan and greek models Temples, Priests, and Sacred Spaces: ➔​ Temples as sacred centers ◆​ Worshippers gathered outside at altars, not inside temples ◆​ The temenos wall marked sacred temple grounds ◆​ Greek temple styles include Doric, ionic, and corinthian columns ➔​ Priests and Priestesses: Roles and Responsibilities  ◆​ Priests and priestesses maintained purity (mental and physical) ◆​ Ritual washings (ablutions) were performed before ceremonies ◆​ Their duties included maintaining sacred days, temple upkeep, and caring for god statues ➔​ Religious Officials in Rome ◆​ Pontifices combined religious and political roles, overseeing law and public festivals ◆​ Flamens were high-ranking priests appointed by King Numa ◆​ Vestal Virgins maintained vesta’s sacred flame and guarded sacred objects Festivals, Cosmic Order, and Sacrificial Rituals ➔​ Festivals and their significance ◆​ Maintained cosmic balance, marked seasons, and honored mythic events ◆​ They included processions with musicians, dancers, and hymns (carmina) ◆​ Festivals reinforced community and civic identity ➔​ Sacrificial Offerings and Practices ◆​ Animals were decorated and sometimes drugged to ensure a willing sacrifice ◆​ Offerings were specific to each deity (e.g. black animals for chthonic gods) ◆​ Sacrificial rituals involved processions through the city and specific steps to ensure proper execution ➔​ Divination and Omens ◆​ Divination experts, such as the college of augurs and duoviri sacris faciundis, interpreted omens ◆​ Methods included observing bird flight patterns, entrails, and other natural signs ◆​ Divination played a significant role in decision-making, particularly in military and political matters Key Deities and Festivals: A Closer Look ➔​ Tyche (Greece): Goddess of fate and fortune ➔​ The Fates (Moirai, Greece): Controlled destiny ➔​ Ceres (Rome): Associated with agricultural fertility and protection ➔​ Roman Triumphs: Celebrated military victories with parades and rituals ➔​ Entertainment and Drama: Pantomime, comedy, and theatre often conveyed myths and social commentary Myths: Nature, Interpretation, and Cultural Context ➔​ Definition and Types of Myths ◆​ Myths are traditional stories with social, religious, or moral significance ◆​ Types include divine myths (focusing on gods and the cosmos), legends (saga), and folktales ◆​ Myths reflect societal values, explain natural phenomena, and connect humans with the divine ➔​ Theories of myth interpretation  ◆​ Euhemerism interprets myths as exaggerated historical events ◆​ Structuralism (levi-strauss) views myths as resolving binary opposites ◆​ Jungian archetypes identify universal symbols appearing across myths ➔​ Influence of Near Eastern Myths ◆​ Mesopotamian creation myths (like Enuma Elish) influenced greek cosmogony ◆​ Egyptian ideas of the afterlife influenced greek conceptions of the underworld Olympian Gods and the Creation of the World ➔​ The Olympian Gods: their roles and attributes ◆​ Zeus: King of the gods, enforcer of order ◆​ Hera: Goddess of marriage, known for jealousy ◆​ Poseidon: God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses ◆​ Demeter: goddess of agriculture, central to the eleusinian mysteries ◆​ Athena: Goddess of wisdom and war strategy ◆​ Apollo: god of prophecy, healing, and music ◆​ Artemis: goddess of the hunt, protector of young women ◆​ Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty ◆​ Hermes: messenger of the gods, guide of souls ◆​ Ares: god of war ◆​ Hephaestus: god of craftsmanship ◆​ Dionysus: god of wine, ecstasy, and theatre ➔​ Hesiod’s Theogony and the Creation Narrative ◆​ Hesiod’s theogony describes the primordial void (chaos), the emergence of Gaia (earth), and uranus (sky), and the subsequent generations of gods ◆​ The titanomachy details the war between zeus and the titans (goal was to determine which generation would rule the universe) ◆​ Prometheus’s creation of humans and his punishment for giving fire to mankind ( eternal punishment that involved chaining him to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver every day → given by Zeus) ➔​ Underworld and Afterlife ◆​ Hades: ruler of the underworld ◆​ Persephone: queen of the underworld ◆​ Rivers of the underworld: styx, lethe, acheron ◆​ Punished figures: tantalus, sisyphus, ixion ◆​ Heroes visiting the underworld: odysseus, aeneas, orpheus Heroes and the Heroic Cycle ➔​ Common traits of heroes ◆​ Divine parentage or favour ◆​ A quest or struggle ◆​ Suffering or exile ◆​ Apotheosis (becoming divine) ➔​ Examples of heroes  ◆​ Heracles: 12 labors, achieved immortality ◆​ Perseus: slayed medusa, saved andromeda (a greek princess) ◆​ theseus : defeated the minotaur (a half-man, half-bull who lived on island of Crete), founded athens The Trojan War and the Odyssey ➔​ The Trojan War: Causes and Key Figures ◆​ The judgement of paris ◆​ Helen’s abduction ◆​ Key figures: Achilles (greek hero, most successful in Trojan War), Agamemnon (king of Mycenae who commanded the Achaeans), Odysseus, Hector, Aeneas ◆​ Outcome: greek victory, destruction of Troy ➔​ The Odyssey: Odysseus’s Journey ◆​ Encounters Polyphemus, Circe, Calypso, the Sirens ◆​ Visits the underworld ◆​ Returns to ithaca, defeats suitors The Theban Saga and Orpheus ➔​ The Theban Saga: Key Figures and Themes ◆​ Cadmus: Founder of Thebes, introduced the alphabet ◆​ Oedipus: Killed his father, married his mother ◆​ Antigone: Defied Creon to bury her brother ◆​ Themes: Fate, divine justice, human law vs. divine law ➔​ Orpheus and the Power of Music ◆​ Orpheus: musician who attempted to retrieve eurydice from the underworld ◆​ Dionysian vs Apollonian themes ​ Dionysian: ○​ Intoxication and ecstasy ○​ Unbridled passion and emotion ○​ Loss of individual identity ○​ Primal instincts and desires ○​ Associated with wildness, dance, and frenzied celebration ​ Apollonian: ○​ Reason and logic ○​ Order and structure ○​ Individual self-preservation and clarity ○​ Moderation and restraint ○​ Associated with art, beauty, and intellectual pursuits ◆​ Mystery cults: Eleusinian Mysteries, Orphism The Foundations of Romen and Key Takeaways: ➔​ The foundation of Rome ◆​ Aeneas: Trojan hero, forefather of Rome  ◆​ Romulus and remus: raised by a she-wolf , romulus founded rome ◆​ Themes: destiny, divine factor, civilization vs barbarism ➔​ Key takeaways from Greek and Roman Religions ◆​ Reciprocity between humans and gods ◆​ Temples as sacred spaces, not community centers ◆​ Festivals reinforced social cohesion and political structures ◆​ Divination and omens shaped decision-making ◆​ Sacrifices ensured balance with the divine Rules of Myths and Religion: Additional Insights ➔​ Religious practices are typically very conservative ➔​ Gods: immortality, characteristics, relationships, interactions ➔​ Heroes: extraordinary deeds or suffering ➔​ Hybrids: human-animal combinations ➔​ People: modesty, justice, family relationships, and cultural movements MLS timeline and other key figures ➔​ Primordial beginnings: Chaos, Gaia, Uranus ➔​ Rise of the olympians: titanomachy, zeus’s rise to power ➔​ Creation of mortals: prometheus, pandora ➔​ Key figures: homer, hesiod, ovid, euripides, plato, and others ➔​ Early religious foundations, classical greek religion, hellenistic transformations, and early roman religion ➔​ Roman imperial religion and festivals, decline of polytheistic religion, and the rise of christianity Out of Chaos ➔​ The Beginning of Creation: ◆​ Chaos (Void) existed first. ◆​ Gaia (Earth) and Eros (Love) emerged. ◆​ Night and Day formed, bringing the cycle of dusk and dawn. ◆​ Tartarus, the deepest abyss, appeared. ◆​ Gaia gave birth to Uranus (Sky). ➔​ The Titans and Their Rule: ◆​ Uranus and Gaia produced 12 Titans. ◆​ Uranus imprisoned the Titans inside the Earth. ◆​ Gaia gave Cronus a sickle to overthrow Uranus. ◆​ Cronus castrated Uranus; from his blood and sea foam, Aphrodite was born. ◆​ Cronus ruled but swallowed his children to prevent them from overthrowing him. ➔​ Zeus' Rise to Power:  ◆​ Rhea saved Zeus by hiding him and tricking Cronus with a stone. ◆​ Zeus grew strong and returned to defeat Cronus, freeing his siblings. ◆​ Zeus and his allies waged war against the Titans for 10 years. ◆​ The Cyclopes gifted Zeus his thunderbolt, Poseidon his trident, and Hades his helmet of invisibility. ◆​ The Titans were defeated and imprisoned in Tartarus. ◆​ Atlas was punished by holding up the sky. ◆​ Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades divided the world: Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the Underworld. ◆​ The 12 Olympians ruled from Mount Olympus 🌍 Key Terms: 🌌 ​ Gaia – Earth, mother of the Titans. ⚔️ ​ Uranus – Sky, father of the Titans, cruel ruler. ⚡ ​ Cronus – Titan who overthrew Uranus but became a tyrant. 🌊 ​ Zeus – Overthrew Cronus, ruler of the sky and gods. 💀 ​ Poseidon – God of the sea. 🌀 ​ Hades – Ruler of the Underworld. 💖 ​ Chaos – The void from which everything emerged. 🌙 ​ Eros – Love, primordial force of attraction. ☀️ ​ Selene – Goddess of the Moon. 🗡️ ​ Hyperion – Titan of the Sun. 🔥 ​ Atlas – Titan forced to hold up the sky. ​ Prometheus – Titan who helped Zeus and later gave fire to humans. Prometheus ➔​ Creation of Man ◆​ Prometheus, one of the few Titans spared after the Titanomachy, saw only mindless beasts on Earth. ◆​ He sculpted man from clay, shaping them in the image of the gods. ➔​ The Gift of Fire ◆​ Although man was created, they still lived in caves like animals. ◆​ Prometheus gifted them fire, allowing them to build tools, cook food, and rise above other creatures. ➔​ Zeus' Demand for Sacrifice ◆​ Zeus saw the rise of humanity and wanted them to show gratitude to the gods. ◆​ He required an animal sacrifice at every meal and allowed Prometheus to decide what part would be offered. ➔​ Prometheus' Trick ◆​ Prometheus set a trap for Zeus, dividing a bull into two portions: ​ One side: The best meat, hidden under the unappealing stomach. ​ The other side: Only bare bones, covered in a thick layer of delicious fat.  ◆​ Zeus chose the fat-covered portion, but upon discovering it was only bones, he became furious. ➔​ Zeus' First Punishment: Taking Fire Away ◆​ Enraged by Prometheus' trick, Zeus took fire away from humanity. ◆​ Without fire, man retreated back into caves, losing their advancements. ➔​ Prometheus Steals Fire Again ◆​ Unwilling to let his creation suffer, Prometheus climbed Mount Olympus. ◆​ He stole the divine flame and returned it to mankind, restoring civilization. ➔​ Zeus' Ultimate Punishment ◆​ Furious at the defiance, Zeus captured Prometheus and chained him to a mountain. ◆​ Each day, an eagle was sent to feast on Prometheus' liver. ◆​ Since Prometheus was immortal, his liver would regenerate overnight, creating an endless cycle of suffering. ◆​ His torment continued for millennia. Pandora’s Box ➔​ Zeus’ Punishment ◆​ Zeus sought to further punish humanity. ◆​ He commanded Hephaestus to create a being capable of causing great suffering. ➔​ Creation of Pandora ◆​ Hephaestus shaped the first woman from clay. ◆​ The gods granted her various gifts: ​ Aphrodite – beauty and emotions. ​ Zeus – insatiable curiosity. ​ Hermes – speech and the name Pandora ("all gifts"). ​ The Forbidden Box ◆​ The gods gave Pandora a sealed box, warning her never to open it. ◆​ Hermes delivered Pandora to Earth, where she married Epimetheus (Prometheus’ brother). ◆​ Prometheus warned Epimetheus never to accept gifts from the gods, but he was captivated by Pandora’s beauty and took her as his wife. ➔​ Life with Epimetheus ◆​ The couple lived happily, exploring nature. ◆​ They had a daughter, Pyrrha, who brought them great joy. ◆​ Pandora’s curiosity about the box grew stronger over time. ➔​ The Opening of the Box ◆​ Unable to resist any longer, Pandora opened the box. ◆​ A cloud of evils escaped into the world, including: ​ Greed ​ Envy ​ Old age  ​ Disease ◆​ She quickly shut the lid, but only one thing remained inside – Hope. ➔​ Zeus’ Final Punishment ◆​ With hope, humans would continue to endure suffering, clinging to life despite hardship. ◆​ This ensured that mankind would bear their burdens for all time. The Great Flood ➔​ The Decline of Humanity ◆​ The Golden Age of Man was a time of peace and abundance. ◆​ Humanity did not grow old and lived off the land freely. ◆​ With old age escaping from Pandora’s box, this age ended. ➔​ The Ages of Man ◆​ Silver Age: Humanity became arrogant and neglected the gods. ◆​ Bronze Age: People became cruel, waging wars with weapons. ◆​ Zeus grew disgusted by mankind’s violence and decided to wipe them out. ➔​ The Flood ◆​ Zeus ordered Poseidon to unleash a flood. ◆​ Poseidon struck the ocean with his trident, creating waves that engulfed the land. ◆​ Rains poured, winds raged, and all land disappeared. ◆​ Humanity perished, except for two survivors. ➔​ The Survivors: Pyrrha & Deucalion ◆​ Pyrrha (daughter of Pandora) & Deucalion (son of Prometheus) were forewarned. ◆​ They built a ship and survived Poseidon’s storm. ◆​ They drifted until they reached Mount Parnassus, the last dry land. ➔​ The Rebirth of Humanity ◆​ Zeus stopped the flood, and the waters receded. ◆​ Deucalion & Pyrrha asked the gods how to rebuild humanity. ◆​ Themis, the Titan of law and prophecy, instructed them to: ​ Walk the land and throw stones behind them. ​ Deucalion’s stones turned into men. ​ Pyrrha’s stones turned into women. ◆​ Humanity was reborn, with their ancestors’ crimes washed away. The Gods Zeus: King of the Gods ➔​ Ruler of Mount Olympus and god of sky, lightning, and justice. ➔​ Controlled weather and protected travelers and guests.  ➔​ Married Hera, but had many affairs with both goddesses and mortals. ➔​ His children included: ◆​ Ares (War), Hephaestus (Forge) – with Hera ◆​ Athena (Wisdom), Hermes (Messenger), Apollo (Music & Prophecy), Artemis (Hunt), Persephone (Underworld) – with various goddesses ◆​ Dionysus (Wine & Festivity), Perseus, Hercules – with mortal women Poseidon: God of the Sea ➔​ Controlled the ocean, earthquakes, and horses. ➔​ Had a palace on Mount Olympus but preferred his underwater kingdom. ➔​ Sailors prayed to him for safe passage. ➔​ Known for his vengeful nature, punishing those who wronged him. ➔​ Created the Minotaur by cursing King Minos’ wife to fall in love with a bull. Hades: God of the Underworld ➔​ Oldest of the Olympian brothers, ruling over the realm of the dead. ➔​ Shared his throne with Persephone, whom he abducted and made his wife. ➔​ The Underworld was guarded by: ◆​ Charon – the ferryman of the River Styx, requiring payment for passage. ◆​ Cerberus – a three-headed dog guarding the entrance. ➔​ The dead were judged and sent to: ◆​ Elysium – paradise for heroes and the virtuous. ◆​ Asphodel Meadows – a neutral realm for ordinary souls. ◆​ Tartarus – a prison for Titans and criminals, where they were tortured forever. Hera: Queen of the Gods ➔​ Goddess of marriage & women, but known for her jealousy. ➔​ Punished Zeus’ lovers & illegitimate children, including: ◆​ Leto, whom she tried to prevent from giving birth to Apollo & Artemis. ◆​ Io, whom she turned into a cow and had guarded by Argus. ◆​ Hercules, whom she tried to kill as a baby and later drove to madness. Athena: Goddess of Wisdom & War ➔​ Daughter of Zeus & Metis, but born from Zeus’ forehead, fully armored. ➔​ Associated with strategy, wisdom, and heroism. ➔​ Helped heroes like Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus. ➔​ Patron goddess of Athens, winning the city by gifting the first olive tree. ➔​ One of the three virgin goddesses. ➔​ The Parthenon in Athens was dedicated to her. Ares: God of War  ➔​ Bloodthirsty, violent, and cruel, representing chaos in battle. ➔​ Unpopular among both gods and mortals. ➔​ Had a love affair with Aphrodite, despite her being married to Hephaestus. ➔​ Hephaestus trapped Ares & Aphrodite in an invisible net, humiliating them before the gods. Aphrodite: Goddess of Love & Beauty ➔​ Either born from Uranus’ severed genitals or a daughter of Zeus. ➔​ Used her beauty to manipulate gods & mortals. ➔​ Caused the Trojan War by promising Prince Paris the most beautiful woman, Helen, who was already married. Artemis: Goddess of the Hunt & Moon ➔​ Twin sister of Apollo, goddess of wildlife and hunting. ➔​ Fiercely protected her chastity, punishing those who threatened it. ➔​ Actaeon saw her bathing, so she turned him into a deer and set his own dogs on him. Apollo: God of Prophecy, Music & Archery ➔​ Twin brother of Artemis and son of Zeus & Leto. ➔​ Slayed the great snake Python and founded the Oracle of Delphi. ➔​ Associated with prophecy, music, light, and healing. ➔​ Fell in love with Daphne, but she was transformed into a laurel tree to escape him. Hermes: Messenger of the Gods ➔​ Known as a trickster and thief, often stealing from fellow gods. ➔​ Recognizable by his winged helmet & sandals. ➔​ Guided souls to the Underworld and carried messages for the gods. Demeter: Goddess of Agriculture ➔​ Mother of Persephone, whom Hades abducted. ➔​ When Persephone was taken, Demeter caused a famine by refusing to let crops grow. ➔​ Zeus ordered Persephone’s return, but since she had eaten pomegranate seeds, she had to spend three months per year in the Underworld (explaining winter). Hephaestus: God of the Forge ➔​ Born lame, so Hera threw him off Olympus. ➔​ Later became the blacksmith of the gods, crafting weapons and armor. ➔​ Created Achilles' armor & Zeus’ thunderbolts. ➔​ Trapped Aphrodite & Ares in a net when he discovered their affair. Dionysus: God of Wine & Festivity ➔​ Associated with drunken revelry and theater. ➔​ Followed by frenzied women (Maenads) and satyrs. ➔​ Inspired wild festivals where followers engaged in drinking & debauchery.