Greek And Roman Mythology PDF

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities WEEK 3.2 Athena Her Unusual Birth Cult of Athens State Religion The Nashville Parthenon Athena Promachos AC odyssey WHO IS ATHENA? Daughter of Zeus (and Metis). Not of the Original 6...

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities WEEK 3.2 Athena Her Unusual Birth Cult of Athens State Religion The Nashville Parthenon Athena Promachos AC odyssey WHO IS ATHENA? Daughter of Zeus (and Metis). Not of the Original 6 Goddess of wisdom and good counsel, handicrafts (esp. pottery and weaving), war, cities Virgin Assoc. with training horses, the flute, olive trees Linked often to her brother Hephaestus Contended with Poseidon for patronage of Athens Attributes: armor, owl, olive tree, Nikai Important sanctuary at Athens πρόμαχος, ον, fighting before or in front πρόμαχοι, οἱ, champions I begin to sing about Pallas Athena, renowned goddess, with bright eyes, quick mind, and inflexible heart, chaste and mighty virgin, protectress of the city, Tritogeneia. Wise Zeus himself gave birth to her from his holy head, and she was arrayed in her armor of war, all gleaming in gold, and every one of the immortals was gripped with awe as they watched. She quickly sprang forth from the immortal head in front of aegis-bearing Zeus, brandishing her sharp spear. And great Olympus shook terribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and the earth round about gave a dread groan and the dark waves of the deep seethed. But suddenly the sea became calm, and the glorious son of Hyperion halted his swift-footed horses all the while that the maiden Pallas Athena took the divine armor from her immortal shoulders, and Zeus in his wisdom rejoiced. So hail to you, child of aegis-bearing Zeus; yet I shall remember both you and another song too. - Homeric Hymn 28 Red = seen before Green = titles Gold = attributes AEGIS What this thing exactly is – is unclear. Hyginus, 1st C Becomes associated mostly with Athena, although Apollo also borrows in on some occasions. Iliad: 15. 308-09 – Given to Zeus by Hephaestus 2.447 – 100 golden tassels 4.167 – Zeus shakes 15.318 – Apollo uses to ensure war continues 21.400-402 – Athena wears aegis, which “not even the thunderbolt of Zeus can overcome.” 24.20 – used to protect the body of Hector Virgil: Aeneid 8.435 “and eagerly with golden scales of serpents were burnishing the awful aegis, armour of wrathful Pallas, the interwoven snakes, and on the breast of the goddess the Gorgon herself, with neck severed and eyes revolving “ BIRTH OF ATHENA Details not clear other than springing from the head of Zeus Louvre CA 616 British Museum 1837,0609.27 MORE IN HESIOD Theogony (886-898) tells us that Zeus’ first wife was Metis (Oceanids – Oceanus and Tethys) μῆτις = wisdom Gets her pregnant, but then is back to worrying about a son that would overpower him Listens to his grandparents, Ge and Uranus, and swallowed her down Later (Theogony 924) Zeus gives birth without Hera or Metis. Hera is jealous and bears Hephaestus without Zeus (one version) Hephaestus usually splits head, sometimes Prometheus (Apol. 1.3) or Hermes helps Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 60.23 WHY THE CRAZY BIRTH? Emphasizes: Prowess and wisdom (daughter of Metis (Wisdom)) Her “masculine” aspects (born from her father) Metaphorical use of her birth (modern) Metropolitan Museum of Art 06.1097 I begin to sing about Pallas Athena, renowned goddess, with bright eyes, quick mind, and inflexible heart, chaste and mighty virgin, protectress of the city, Tritogeneia. Wise Zeus himself gave birth to her from his holy head, and she was arrayed in her armor of war, all gleaming in gold, and every one of the immortals was gripped with awe as they watched. She quickly sprang forth from the immortal head in front of aegis-bearing Zeus, brandishing her sharp spear. And great Olympus shook terribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and the earth round about gave a dread groan and the dark waves of the deep seethed. But suddenly the sea became calm, and the glorious son of Hyperion halted his swift-footed horses all the while that the maiden Pallas Athena took the divine armor from her immortal shoulders, and Zeus in his wisdom rejoiced. So hail to you, child of aegis-bearing Zeus; yet I shall remember both you and another song too. - Homeric Hymn 28 Red = seen before Green = titles Gold = attributes PALLAS ATHENA TRITOGENEIA Tritogeneia – given in Iliad 4.514, Odyssey 3.378, Homeric Hymn, Theogony. Curious title with unknown significance. Region of birth. Apollodorus says “at the river Triton” Or connection to Triton (Poseidon’s son), who raised her. This leads us to the Pallas part and Apollodorus 3.12.3 Pallas was daughter of Triton, and Triton taught both the girls the arts of war Athena wounds and kills Pallas (uses the Aegis to block). Feels bad and makes a wooden statue in her likeness, the Palladium Athena takes name Pallas, and Palladium cast down by Zeus to the area of Troy. Ajax the Lesser drags Cassandra from the Palladium. Pompeii ATHENA AND ARACHNE Metamorphoses 6.5-145 in textbook Patroness of women’s household arts – spinning and weaving WEAVING CONTEXT The Fable of Arachne (The Weavers), by Diego Velázquez, c.1656-58 ATHENA VS POSEIDON Patronage of Athens Athena: Olive Tree Poseidon: saltwater spring Apollodorus 3.14.1 Athena wins, city named in her honour Paris, Cabinet des Medailles: 222 THE ATHENIAN ACROPOLIS Athenian Acropolis AC odyssey