Homer-The Iliad

Mycenaeans

• Destruction of societies

Who Was Homer?

• Wandering bard?

• Improvisation

Epics

• Definition

• Oral tradition

• One version or many?

What was the story about?

• The Rage of Achilles

Paris

• Runs away with Helen

Agamemnon, Menelaus

Patroculus

Plot

• Helen/Paris

• Anger of Achilles and its consequences

Themes

• Rage of Achilles

• Honor

Characters

• Achilles, Patroclus

Hector

• War leader of Trojans

• Complete man

Violent World

• Heroes die

• Contrast with peacetime

Gods

• Zeus, Hera

• Intervention or not

Heroes

• Best in their field

• Failure and death

Immortality

• What does it mean to be mortal?

• Acceptance of death

Homer-The Odyssey

Themes

• Return home

• Evil pay for their deeds

• Coming of age of Telemachus

• Mortality

Odysseus

• Not flawed

• Crafty and intelligent

– Trojan horse

– Monsters

– Mortality

Penelope

• Virtous

• Faithful

• Excellence

Plot

• Four sections

• Telemachy

• Calypso

• Adventures

• Ithaca

Similarities And Differences

Between Odyssey And Iliad

• Characters

• Time span

• Events

• Groups, gods, fighting

Lyric Poetry

Definition

• Short poems accompanied by the lyre or

other musical instrument

• Epic poetry differences-subject matter

• Two main forms

– Choral

– Monodic

Archilocus

• Life on the frontier

• Other themes

• Bawdy poems

Hesiod

Hesiod

• Theogony

• Works and Days

• Nine Muses

– Calliope-epic poetry

– Clio-history

– Euterpe-aulos playing

– Erato-poetry sung to lyre

– Terpsichore-dance

– Melpomeme-tragedy

– Thalia-comedy

– Polyhymnia-prayers/ritual

– Urania-astronomy

Sappho

• Most celebrated of the lyric poets

• Personal life

• As a poet

Pindar

• Victory odes

Alkman

• Choral odes

Alcaeus

• Civil wars

• Wine, women, and song

Alcaeus and Sappho

Solon

• Political poetry

Theognis

• Conservative poet

• Many laments

Gods and Mythology

Attributes

• Human-like

• Benevolent

• No priests

• Gods in common

• Origination

Hades/Persephone

• Similar to Isis/Osiris

Oracle of Delphi

• Source of prophecy and wisdom

• Questions

Getting the Gods Mad

• Hubris

• Ate

• Oath-breaking

Sacrifices

• Procedure

Greek Beliefs

• Mankind most important

• Heaven

Creation Legend

• Many stories

• Hesiod

Zeus

• Father of gods and men

• Philanderer

Hera

• Relationship with Zeus

• Protector of womankind

Poseidon

• God of oceans

Hades

• Underworld

• Persephone

Myths

• Heroes/heroines

• Rituals

• Reversals

• As history

Gods and Mythology

Attributes

• Human-like

• Benevolent

• No priests

• Gods in common

• Origination

Hades/Persephone

• Similar to Isis/Osiris

Oracle of Delphi

• Source of prophecy and wisdom

• Questions

Getting the Gods Mad

• Hubris

• Ate

• Oath-breaking

Sacrifices

• Procedure

Greek Beliefs

• Mankind most important

• Heaven

Creation Legend

• Many stories

• Hesiod

Zeus

• Father of gods and men

• Philanderer

Hera

• Relationship with Zeus

• Protector of womankind

Poseidon

• God of oceans

Hades

• Underworld

• Persephone

Myths

• Heroes/heroines

• Rituals

• Reversals

• As history