Week 2_3 Olympians Part 1 Slides.pdf
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CLASSICS 102 (OP95) GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities Thetis Appeals to Zeus, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1811 WEEK 2.3 Zeus and the Olympians Kids. More kids. SOME CLEANUP Why did Cronus barf up his kids? Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.2...
CLASSICS 102 (OP95) GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities Thetis Appeals to Zeus, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1811 WEEK 2.3 Zeus and the Olympians Kids. More kids. SOME CLEANUP Why did Cronus barf up his kids? Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.2.1 Cf. Hesiod “tricked by the cunning counsel of Earth” But when Zeus was full-grown, he took Metis, daughter of Ocean, to help him, and she gave Cronus a drug to swallow, which forced him to disgorge first the stone and then the children whom he had swallowed, and with their aid Zeus waged the war against Cronus and the Titans. They fought for ten years, and Earth prophesied victory to Zeus if he should have as allies those who had been hurled down to Tartarus. So he slew their jailoress Campe, and loosed their bonds. And the Cyclopes then gave Zeus thunder and lightning and a thunderbolt, and on Pluto they bestowed a helmet and on Poseidon a trident. Armed with these weapons the gods overcame the Titans, shut them up in Tartarus, and appointed the Hundred-handers their guards; but they themselves cast lots for the sovereignty, and to Zeus was allotted the dominion of the sky, to Poseidon the dominion of the sea, and to Pluto the dominion in Hades. RECAP Zeus Hestia Poseidon Demeter Hera Hades SHARING IS CARING? Zeus is basically ‘supreme’, but we’re told that he shares powers with his brothers in Iliad 15.187-192. Lots are cast and Zeus gets the sky, Poseidon gets the sea, and Hades gets the Underworld Metis Sweet! Free sushi! Hey bros, I’m busy ruling. Sharesies? Eurynome Mnemosyne Demeter Themis I get what? Hera Leto IF YOU CAN’T SHARE, DIVIDE BY LOT Art by Meduas' Peach Since we are three brothers born by Rhea to Cronus, Zeus, and I, and the third Hades, lord of dead men. All was divided among us three ways, each was given his domain. I when the lots were shaken drew the grey sea to live in forever; Hades drew the lot of the mists and the darkness, and Zeus was allotted the wide sky, in the cloud and the bright air. But earth and high Olympus are common to all three. Homer, Iliad 15.187-193 Art by Meduas' Peach Walters Art Museum 23.40 Hades Eliminated Dionysus replaces Hestia The Olympians OH NO, MORE KIDS Bolded names are among our main 12 Olympians Cronos Hestia Demeter Rhea Hera Hades Poseidon e-ra Zeus di-we po-se-da-o ZEUS AND HERA’S KIDS e-ra di-we Zeus Hephaestus a-pa-i-ti-jo Hebe Hera Ares Eileithyia a-re e-re-u-ti-ja ZEUS AND… EVERYONE Zeus Zeus Semele Zeus Leto Dionysus Athena di-wo-nu-so Apollo Metis a-ta-na Zeus Artemis Dione Zeus Maia a-ti-mi-te Note that some of these traditions are malleable: Athena, for instance, either springs from Zeus, or Zeus first swallowed Metis. Linear B: Leto, Dione, Apollo possibly attested Aphrodite Hermes e-ma-ha HESTIA Ἑστία | ἑστία Meager mythology Important as she is sister of Zeus and also rejects advances from Poseidon and Apollo Virgin/chaste deity – like Athena and Artemis Name = hearth Rituals connected with sacred fire and use in bonds of affection and kinship. Communal hearths therefore sacred Connected to not only heart of a household, but also to the heart of a community. Various scales starting at the home Homeric Hymns 24 and 29 National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia, RC6848 Tsingarida, A. 2020. Oversized Athenian Drinking Vessels in Context: Their Role in Etruscan Ritual Performances. American Journal of Archaeology 124(2):245-74 ATHENIAN RED FIGURE 52 cm diam; last quarter 6th C Found in Etruria in funerary context Assembly of the gods Signed by Euxitheos and Oltos HOMERIC HYMNS FOR HESTIA - PERSEUS 24: Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the allwise —draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song. 29: Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honor: glorious is your portion and your right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last. And you, Slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod, giver of good, be favorable and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear. Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship together; for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom and their strength. Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, bearer of the golden rod! Now I will remember you and another song also. NATURE OF ZEUS Amorous god – many mates (both divine and mortal). ALSO Glorified image of Greek husband and father Men had different cultural standards than women. Dual aspect Amoral or immoral, or both as a joke. BUT Zeus is elevated to the single supreme being concerned with the morality of god and humans alike. Wrathful god of justice and virtue. Portrayal depends greatly on period and intent and purpose of an author. Thus the conception of Zeus is multifaceted, varied, and complex. Thetis Appeals to Zeus, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1811 PRIMARY SOURCES Zeus: Homer, Iliad 1.396-412 Homer, Iliad 1.493-567 PRIMARY SOURCES Zeus: Homer, Iliad 11.67-83 Homer, Iliad 12.241-257 Homer, Iliad 17.188-212 ZEUS AND HERA Another form of the hieros gamos Links to sky and earth seen in Iliad 14.346-351: “The son of Cronus clasped his wife in his arms and under them the divine earth sprouted forth new grass, dewy clover, crocuses, and hyacinths, thick and soft, to protect them from the ground beneath. On this they lay together and drew around themselves a beautiful golden cloud from which the glistening drops fell away. Metope of Temple of Hera at Selinus, 550-530 BC HERA “I sing about golden-throned Hera, whom Rhea bore, immortal queen, outstanding in beauty, sister and wife of loud-thundering Zeus; she is the illustrious one whom all the blessed ones throughout high Olympus hold in awe and honor, just as they do Zeus who delights in his lightning and thunder.” – Homeric Hymn 12 Not much direct mythology but has great power. Intensely dedicated to being a wife and mother. RISD 25.078, red-figure lekythos Jealous, gets obsessed with punishing Zeus and avenging his sexcapades. Zeus and Hera, Block V Parthenon Frieze. British Museum 1816,0610.19 HERA “ox-eyed”, white-armed Associated with the peacock. Remember story of Argus? Special place of worship – Argos, where Io was priestess Iris – often a particular servant of Hera SO WHO IS ZEUS? Son of Cronus and Rhea, therefore important and becomes king of gods and men Married to Hera in another form of cosmic match Becomes portrayed as a mature god. Attributes include the eagle, and thunder/lightning bolts. Contrasts with “young” Zeus – the one who punished Prometheus and was harsh when setting up and stabilizing the universe Not immune to everything Lots and lots of affairs Ganymede pouring Zeus a libation. Attic red-figure calyx krater by the Eucharides Painter, c. 490–480 BC SANCTUARY OF ZEUS Olympia Olympic games – 776 BC Started rather small, but grew to become major panhellenic festival Lots of different events SANCTUARY OF ZEUS Site of earlier cults to Pelops and Hippodamia Separate temple of Hera Zeus become principal god of site Not an isolated temple – whole sacred zone. Periods Archaic = purple Orange = Classical Yellow = Hellenistic Green = Roman TEMPLE OF HERA Older than Zeus’ temple Ca 600 BC Potentially wooden to start, elements replaced by stone TEMPLE OF ZEUS TEMPLE OF ZEUS 470 BC after Pisa conquered by Elis Commemoration of event Libon from Elis – architect Largest Doric temple at the time 6 x 13 columns – canonical form that features symmetry Column to column – 16 ft Triglyph and Metope – 8 ft Limestone covered with stucco Sculptures made of Parian marble External metopes blank, internal ones have decoration. Heracles. 6 on each side EAST PEDIMENT The Chariot race between Oinomaos and Pelops Zeus as juror flanked by Oinomaos and Pelops, Hippodameia and servant next to Pelops Chariots on either side Static scene EAST PEDIMENT – THE SEER More naturalistic style: body of an old man Despite static form of assembly, note emotion in his face TEMPLE OF ZEUS: WEST PEDIMENT Centauromachy at King Perithoos’ wedding Drunk Centaurs assault women and young boys. Apollo and Theseus expel them Classical theme of civilisation against barbarism Punishment of misdirected violence: abusing the hospitality of the host Is this pediment full of action? CULT STATUE Finished in 430 BC Already in antiquity was one of the seven wonders of the world Made by Pheidias. 42 ft high Chryselephantine See CM p. 119 for description. Largely based on Pausanius. Conglomeration of many myths. AD 392 – moved to Constantinople PAINTING! Temples weren’t left white! DODONA Another major site associated with Zeus Different aspect – oracular Herodotus 2.55 – foundation myth of two black doves SITE OF DODONA HELLO? IT’S ME… Many ways to get a response Rustling of leaves of sacred oak Becomes more like Delphi – priestess delivers communications Foundation story in Herodotus 2.55, which connects Zeus and Egyptian god Ammon BACK TO THE KIDS Zeus Hephaestus Hebe Hera Ares Eileithyia
