The World of Greek Mythology

1
The World of Greek Mythology

• The Acropolis
• The Parthenon

2
Ancient Greece
3
Homer

• Lived about 700 B.C.
• Rumors Blind poet? Warrior?
• Why does he get credit for both the Iliad and the
  Odyssey?
• Why is he important?

4
Epic

• A long narrative poem about the adventures of a
  great hero, usually a person of great importance.
  The setting is vast and the action is often
  given cosmic significance through the
  intervention of Gods or forces beyond human
  understanding or control.

5
Epic and Homer's Style

• Muses Goddesses of song and artistic
  inspiration. A poet may ask for their aid.
• In Medias Res In the middle of things.
• Epic Simile/Homeric Simile An elaborate,
  detailed comparison written as a simile. EX pg
  165 of Essential Homer.
• Foreshadowing and Flashbacks.

6
Epic and Homer's Style part II

• Aristeia When one character displays great
  fighting prowess and seems unstoppable. When he
  is "in the zone."
• Epithets An adjective used repeatedly to
  describe a character, place, etc. EX
  "swift-footed Achilles" or "crafty Odysseus" etc.
• The Ring Composition The story "comes full
  circle." In The Iliad, the locations and action
  of the first chapters are reflected in the last
  chapters. In The Odyssey, the action begins and
  ends in Ithaca, and then the heroes leave for
  another journey.

7
Who Were the Greek Gods? What Were They Like?
8
Greek Gods

• NEUTRAL GODS
• Zeus
• Hades
• Hephaestus
• Hermes
• TROJANS' SIDE
• Apollo
• Aphrodite

• GREEKS' SIDE
• Ares
• Hera
• Athena
• Poseidon
• Thetis

9
A Cosmic Comedy Tragedy

• The Greek Gods acted like funny soap opera
  characters
• They slept with everyone, cheated on each other
  and tried to hide it, threw temper tantrums, etc.
  Zeus might be a fighter, but he sure was a
  lover. Seriously.
• They were overly dramatic, often becoming
  obsessive (like to destroy Troy because a golden
  apple was given to someone else).
• They were very involved in human affairs (and had
  many affairs with humans).