Poseidon Part 2 Slides PDF

BACK UP TO THE ORIGINAL 6 Cronos Hestia Rhea Hades po-se-da-o APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER Similar in appearance to Zeus. Majestic and mature figure with full beard. “Generally more severe and rough” – maybe? Rebellious towards Zeus (like Hera!) Attitude more severe than Zeus. Tempestuous nat...

BACK UP TO THE ORIGINAL 6 Cronos Hestia Rhea Hades po-se-da-o APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER Similar in appearance to Zeus. Majestic and mature figure with full beard. “Generally more severe and rough” – maybe? Rebellious towards Zeus (like Hera!) Attitude more severe than Zeus. Tempestuous nature – linked to how the sea behaves. Conflicted emotions. Trident – 3-pronged fork – is main symbol Earthshaker but also earth supporter – dual aspect, but demonstrates a core ferocity γαιήοχος Ἐννοσίγαιος – Earthshaker the earth-holder κρείων Ἐνοσίχθων – Lord Earthsaker Ἐννοσίγαιος εὐρυσθενές – Mighty Earthshaker 2nd C AD, Musee des Beaux-Arts et d’Archeologie Artemision Bronze Poseidon of Melos ORIGINS One of the six children of Cronus, BUT There are hints that a deeper cultural past may be involved Oldest cult traditions preserved in Peloponnese, while Poseidon was focal point of very old cults and myths in Boeotia (Father of Minyas/Minyans) Connections to land. Home is Aigai on Euboea, and he drove “long-maned horses” to his palace there (Iliad 13.20-21,.34-35; Odyssey 5.380-81) Remember Linear B? Has been used to support idea that Poseidon is much more powerful than he seems in the Homeric epics. Pylos – Mycenaean palace SW Peloponnese. Poseidaon was chief deity. Common hypothesis that Poseidon had ruled the land and was pushed to the sea. The Greeks “came upon Poseidon as the mighty lord of the Aegean, and Zeus had to work out an ‘arrangement’ with him. The results of this arrangement are evident in the Iliad” – Simon and Shapiro Sacrifice to Poseidon inland, Odyssey 11.127 MORE ODDITIES Angry gods worshiped in Arcadia Arcadian (south Greece) myth that Poseidon and Demeter mated in the form of horses. Pre-Greek population remained here and fused with Arcadian Greeks No connection to Medusa here, and Demeter’s daughters were fathered by Poseidon, not Zeus Poseidon Hippios Other curiosities Association with salty springs at interior of Greece – interrelationship of land and sea Argives drowned bridled horses in the spring of Dine (welled up out of the sea) Herodotus states name adopted from Libyans (2.50, 4.188). Many variations in Greek dialects and any tales of him fighting for patronage of cities. Chaos Ge Ouranos Oceanus Tethys Ge Titans Cyclopes, Hecatonchires Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Cronus Oceanids Potamoi OTHER WATERY DEITIES Ouranos Chaos Ge Tartarus Mountains Pontus Eros Erebus Night/Nyx Day Aether Ge Nereus Thaumus Phorkys Electra (Oceanid) Doris (Oceanid) Neraids (50, Thetis, Galatea, Amphitrite) Iris Keto Eurybie Phorkys (marries sister) Harpies Graeae Gorgons Medusa Ladon Harvard Art Museums 1927.150 NEREUS Nereus Doris Thetis Galatea Amphitrite The other ones Old man of the sea God of rich bounty of fish Shape-shifter, holds knowledge and gift of prophecy Depicted with a fish body, but still clothed Has 50 daughters that are like mermaids Thetis Thetis = Neraid Tethys = Titan Detail of Tethys attending the wedding of Peleus and Thetis on an Attic black-figure dinos by Sophilos, c. 600–550 BC, British Museum 1971.11–1.1 THETIS Nereid (child of Nereus) Courted by Zeus and Poseidon, but they lost interest because of: Prophesized to have a child greater than Zeus. Attested in later sources (Aeschylus, Pindar) Marries Peleus (mortal) after he pursued her. Metamorphosis! She changed into all kinds of states to get away from Peleus Mother of Achilles Wedding of Peleus and Thetis Eris (Strife) We’ll get there later! Cabinet des médailles, BNF (Inv. 539) GALATEA Loved by Polyphemus, but she was repulsed by him She had eyes on Acis (only attested in Ovid), another water creature Polyphemus tries to woo her, get himself all pretty, but to no avail Acis ends up getting turned into a water god! Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.750-897 Metropolitan Museum of Art 20.192.17 AMPHITRITE Wife of Poseidon Reluctant bride Similar roles as Zeus and Hera Gets angry and vengeful when Poseidon throw about his trident EX: Poseidon disguised as river Enipeus for one scandal”: he liked Tyro– still the major river of Thessaly! Famous son: TRITON Louvre LP 2884; Ma 1880 TRITON AND PROTEUS Getty 81.AE.78 J Paul Getty Museum Returns to Italy (2005) Metropolitan Museum of Art 23.160.1 Thaumus Electra (Oceanid) Iris RISD Museum 35.707 Returned to Italy Harpies AFFAIRS TIME! SCYLLA Poseidon was eyeing up Scylla, daughter of Phorcys (Gaia and Pontus) and Hecate (Asteria and Perses) Amphitrite gets jealous and uses magic herbs to transform Scylla into a monster Different version in Ovid, but don’t worry about it Goes to live in the Straits of Messenia with Charybdis, and they become symbols of natural forces there Louvre CA 1341 MORE Watery Children Zeus and Typhon Ge Pontus Nereus Doris (Oceanid) Thaumus Phorkys Electra (Oceanid) Neraids Iris Keto Phorkys Harpies Graeae Yes, Phorkys gets it on with his sister, Keto Gorgons Medusa Ladon  Disney conflation of Moiria and Graeae Phorcys Ceto Graeae Gorgons Deino Enyo Persis Medusa Stheno Euryale MEDUSA AND THE GORGON SISTERS Hair with serpents Turned people to stone with gaze Favourite art theme in Greece Archaic period Archaic smile Tongue out Bristling teeth Met 01.8.6 MEDUSA AND PERSEUS Perseus gets help from Hades, Hermes, Athena, and Hephaestus Gets location from Graeae Beheads Medusa! Boston MFA 1970.237 Temple of Artemis at Corcyra (Corfu) Medusa/Gorgon, Pegasus, Chrysaor, apotropaic Medusa MORE MONSTERS Of Note: Pegasus Pegasus Chrysaor Callirhoë (Oceanid) Cerberus – Underworld Hydra – Hercules Sphinx – Thebes and Oedipus Geryon Nemean Lion – Hercules Echidna Typhon Orthrus Sphinx Cerberus Nemean Lion Lernaean Hydra Chimaera Geryon? Cerberus? Louvre F 204 Cerberus Louvre E 701 Getty 83.AE.346 DRINKING PARTY! Pegasus, Chimaera, Bellerophon Used in cups to give people at parties something to talk about Show off what you know! Getty 85.AE.121 NEXT UP Athena