Greek and Roman Mythology - Classics 102 PDF

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities  The only way for us to become great, or even...

CLASSICS 102 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY C. Myles Chykerda Sessional Instructor, Department of Humanities  The only way for us to become great, or even inimitable if possible, Found the corkscrew! is to imitate the Greeks. WEEK 4.3 Dionysus and Friends Aka, make sure you have a Designated Thyrsus Bearer The Braschi Antinous, Vatican NAME(S) Dionysus = Bacchus They’re the same. Romans tended to prefer Bacchus Βάκχος – related to Thracian fertility god? BUT! Linear B. Dionysus =/= Dionysius Right – Mosaic from Roman Tunisia Διονύσιος ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης Dionysios the Areopagite AREOPAGUS Rock outcropping NW of the Acropolis in Athens Areios Pagos Ἄρειος Πάγος – Hill of Ares Court which tried cases of deliberate homicide, wounding, religious matters, and arson of olive trees Hill where Ares was tried for the murder of Halirrhothius, Poseidon’s son (Apol. 3.14.2) Also where we’ll see the trial of Orestes (Libation Bearers)  BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS Zeus is at it again – affair with Semele Hera finds out, decides to put Semele in the burn book (literally) Disguised as old woman, convinces Semele to ask Zeus to show his full divinity Semele burnt to a crisp, but her baby survives (divine) Zeus sews up the kid in his thigh and gives birth later Dithyrambos – epithet. Apulian Red Figure Krater, Late Classical, Taranto 8264  MULTIPLE DIVINITIES? Cicero de Nat. Deor. iii 23 Five Dionysi Diod. iii. 63 Those mythographers, however, who We have a number of Dionysi. The first is the son represent the god as having a human form of Jupiter and Proserpine; the second of Nile — ascribe to him, with one accord, the discovery he is the fabled slayer of Nysa. The father of the and cultivation of the vine and all the third is Cabirus; it is stated that he was king over operations of the making of wine, although Asia, and the Sabazia were instituted in his they disagree on whether there was a single honour. The fourth is the son of Jupiter and Dionysus or several. Some, for instance, who Luna; the Orphic rites are believed to be assert that he who taught how to make wine celebrated in his honour. The fifth is the son of and to gather "the fruits of the trees," as they Nisus and Thyone, and is believed to have are called, he who led an army over all the established the Trieterid festival inhabited world, and he who introduced the mysteries and rites and Bacchic revelries were one and the same person; but there are others, as I have said, who conceive that there were three persons, at separate periods, and to each of these they ascribe deeds which were peculiarly his own. SOURCES FOR BIRTH – BASIC STORY Theogony 940 Homeric Hymns 1, 7, 26 1: “For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on “Cadmus’ daughter Semele bore windy Icarus; and some, in Naxos, O Heaven- born, Insewn and others by the deep-eddying [Zeus] a resplendent son in shared river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to intimacy, merry Dionysus, immortal Zeus the thunder-lover.” 7: “] I will tell of Dionysus, the son of glorious son of mortal mother, but now they Semele,…. Hail, child of fair-faced Semele!” are both gods” 26: “…the loud-crying god, splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele.” OR: born in India? Boeotia? (Diodorus Siculus) APOLLODORUS 3:26-29 Cadmos [and Harmonia] had as daughters Autonoe, Ino, Semele and Agaue... Zeus fell in love with Semele and slept with her, promising her anything she wanted, and keeping it all from Hera. But Semele was deceived by Hera into asking Zeus to come to her as he came to Hera during their courtship. So Zeus, unable to refuse, arrived in her bridal chamber in a chariot with lightning flashes and thunder, and sent a thunderbolt at her. Semele died of fright, and Zeus grabbed from the fire her six-month aborted baby, which he sewed into his thigh. After Semele's death the remaining daughters of Kadmos circulated the story that she had slept with a mortal, thereafter accusing Zeus, and because of this had been killed by a thunderbolt. At the proper time Zeus loosened the stitches and gave birth to Dionysos, whom he entrusted to Hermes. Hermes took him to Ino and Athamas, and persuaded them to bring him up as a girl. Incensed, Hera inflicted madness on them, so that that Athamas stalked and slew his elder son Learkhos on the conviction that he was a dear, while Ino threw Melikertes into a basin of boiling water, and then, carrying both the basin and the corpse of the boy, she jumped to the bottom of the sea. Now she is called Leukothea, and her son is Palaimon: these names they receive from those who sail, for they help sailors beset by storms... As for Zeus, he escaped Hera's anger by changing Dionysos into a baby goat. Hermes took him to the Nymphai of Asian Nysa, whom Zeus in later times places among the stars and named the Hyades BIRTH OF DIONYSUS KRATER Red Figure Early 4th C BC Similar to the Francois Krater in the sense it has a lot of characters on it with labels Trendall 1934 POP QUIZ – WHO IS IT? CHILDHOOD Whisked away by Hermes Nymphs of Mt. Nysa Nannied by Ino, Semele’s sister Grows up and spreads message of happiness and prosperity Death and madness if you don’t listen Origins in Thrace/Phrygia REMEMBER THIS? Sophilos Dinos 580-70 BC Earliest portrayal of Dionysos accompanied by his name Sophilos Dinos A FUN GOD? Maenads (aka Bacchae) Thyrsus A GOD OF… Vegetation and the vine in particular Making and drinking of wine BUT – becomes object of a cult following with associated teachings Subject of Euripides’ Bacchae, set in the town of Thebes. Boston 13.67 Πού Είναι Η Θήβα; “Where is Thebes?” Modern city right on top of ancient In Boeotia Mycenaean Palace! Linear B cache THE BACCHAE Play by Euripides, 405 BC Won first prize along with Iphigeneia at Aulis and Alcmaeon in Corinth Pentheus – cousin of Dionysus and king Agave – Pentheus’ mother and Dionysus’ aunt Semele – mother of Dionysus Louvre K 240  Ch 24 fun! Athamas THEBAN ROYALTY Nephele Cadmus Phrixus Helle Harmonia Polydorus Agave Autonoe Ino Semele Echion Zeus Pentheus Dionysus  Bacchae Cadmus and Tiresias = hedging our bets Pentheus = young king who won’t stand for any challengers Berlin, Antikenmuseen F 2290 MADNESS AND CONTROL Dionysus led to prison by Pentheus, who think all is good CM p. 307 – Dionysus explains to chorus how he escaped Messenger comes and reports the frenzy encountered Bacchae Dionysus leads Pentheus down a path of gradually growing insanity Dresses as one of the maenads in order to infiltrate their camp Makes his way to the camp Metropolitan Museum of Art 41.162.19  The Death of Pentheus Pentheus heads out to the forest and falls victim to his own desires, in a sense Ripped apart by his own mother Play ends with Agave in a state of madness after realizing what she had done DEATH OF PENTHEUS DON’T GET IN THE WAY OF DIONYSUS Madness if you resist him Tiryns (major Mycenaean city) – daughters of Proetus go mad, run around killing children and destroying things Melampus cures the madness by means of herbs and therapeutic dancing. (fee – HALF THE KINGDOM) Ties to Agriania festival Orchomenus – daughters of Minyas. Women remained at home weaving rather than participating Driven mad, tear people to pieces. Do not return to normal – become winged creatures Link back to other gods – Clymene was loved by Helius and was mother of Phaethon.