Week 3.1: Poseidon - Greek and Roman Mythology PDF

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities WEEK 3.1 Poseidon Sea Creatures Group Divinities Monsters NUMEROUS WATERY FELLOWS Pontus (from Ge) Oceanus (Titan) Roman mosaic, Tunisia Oceanus and Tethys, Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Turkey...

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities WEEK 3.1 Poseidon Sea Creatures Group Divinities Monsters NUMEROUS WATERY FELLOWS Pontus (from Ge) Oceanus (Titan) Roman mosaic, Tunisia Oceanus and Tethys, Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Turkey Poseidon Poseidon of Melos, National Archaeological Museum, Athens Blue = Water Dudes Monsters Green = Outside Mates/Ocanids THE FAMILY TREE Chaos Ge Ouranos Cronus and Rhea (Titans) Poseidon Many, many, many kids Tartarus Eros Mountains Pontus Oceanus and Tethys (Titans) Oceanids Potamoi 3,000 3,000 Erebus Nereus Thaumus Doris (Oceanid) Iris Day Aether Phorkys Electra (Oceanid) Neraids Night/Nyx Keto Phorkys (yes, his sister) Harpies Graeae Gorgons Medusa Ladon POSEIDON - SUMMARY General god of waters and all associated forms (rivers, lakes, springs, etc) The Olympian water god. Don’t forget about Pontus (the sea itself), and Oceanus (river encircling the world) Particular focus on the sea (big bodies of water) Brother of Zeus, granted lordship over the waters via drawing lots Rather angry fellow – earth shaker. Ov. Met. 274-92 Doesn’t share Zeus’ reputation for getting around, but is very notable in the divine genealogies and fathered many beings that in turn had even more offspring NAMA, Nr 235 OVID METAMORPHOSES 274-92 The wrath of Jove is not content with the waters from his own sky; his sea-god brother aids him with auxiliary waves. He summons his rivers to council. When these have assembled at the palace of their king, he says: “Now is no time to employ a long harangue. Put forth all your strength, for there is need. Open wide your doors, away with all restraining dykes, and give full rein to all your river steeds.” So he commands, and the rivers return, uncurb their fountains’ mouths, and in unbridled course go racing to the sea. Neptune himself smites the earth with his trident. She trembles, and at the stroke flings open wide a way for the waters. The rivers overleap all bounds and flood the open plains. And not alone orchards, crops and herds, men and dwellings, but shrines as well and their sacred contents do they sweep away. If any house has stood firm, and has been able to resist that huge misfortune un-destroyed, still do the overtopping waves cover its roof, and its towers lie hid beneath the flood. And now the sea and land have no distinction. All is sea, and a sea without a shore. Dactylic Hexameter: HYMN TO POSEIDON (HH 22) |–uu|–uu|–uu|–uu|–uu|–– I begin to sing of the great god Poseidon ἀμφὶ Ποσειδάωτα, μέγαν θεόν, ἄρχομ᾽ ἀείδειν, who shifts the earth and barren sea, γαίης κινητῆρα καὶ ἀτρυγέτοιο θαλάσσης, god of the waters, and of Helike and wide Aigai. πόντιον, ὅσθ᾽ Ἑλικῶνα καὶ εὐρείας ἔχει Αἰγάς. Earthshaker, the gods allotted you a double honor διχθά τοι, Ἐννοσίγαιε, θεοὶ τιμὴν ἐδάσαντο, as tamer of horses and savior of ships. 5ἵππων τε δμητῆρ᾽ ἔμεναι σωτῆρά τε νηῶν. Farewell, Poseidon, blue-haired god who holds earth; χαῖρε, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, κυανοχαῖτα, with a kind heart, Blessed One, aid those who sail. καί, μάκαρ, εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων πλώουσιν ἄρηγε. Rayor, Diane J. 2014. The Homeric Hymns. Berkeley: University of California Press. EXPLANATORY ADDITION – CITIES THE ILIAD Hello! Zeus said you needed some walls. Yes! And I’ll pay you! Poseidon was part of a plot against Zeus along with Hera and Athena (1.396-400) Book 13 – gets involved and rouses the Greeks, supports specific individuals. Zeus always blocks him Background – Poseidon and Apollo built walls for Troy, but the king, Laomedon, didn’t pay them (21.444) Right: series of paintings from Fitzwilliam Museum How it started…how it’s going… I’m so sorry, but, you know, THE ECONOMY DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSE 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 THE ODYSSEY Odysseus, a Greek hero, heads home to Greece from Troy Encounters Polyphemus, cyclops son of Poseidon, and pokes the giant’s eye out Brags about it as he escapes, and dad gets angry (Odyssey 9.500-35) Kuklops! If anyone bound for the death-world should come by, asking about the shameful loss of your eyesight, tell them Odysseus blinded you, looter of cities, the son of Laertes, his home on Ithaka Island. Dark-haired Earth-Upholder, hear me, Poseidon! If I am truly your son – you claim to be Father – make Odysseus, looter of cities, the son of Laertes and ruler of Ithaka Island, fail to arrive home! Dad, uncle Poseidon is messing with my favourite mortal again… ATHENA AND ZEUS Athena is team Odysseus (supported Greeks at Troy), complains to Zeus about the situation Zeus notes Poseidon is only god doing this and “must let go of his anger” since “he won’t be able to fight alone with the great Gods.” Picture of a resentful Poseidon who can change emotions quickly Odyssey 1.44-79 Oh dear, we’ll have to do something about that. Can’t have gods messing with mortals, can we??