Difference between revisions of "Study Greek Mythology"
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#*'''Aphrodite''' – Depending on which myth you read, either the daughter of Zeus and the Titan Dione, or she emerged from sea foam after the Titan Ouranos was castrated and his testicles thrown into the sea. The goddess of love. | #*'''Aphrodite''' – Depending on which myth you read, either the daughter of Zeus and the Titan Dione, or she emerged from sea foam after the Titan Ouranos was castrated and his testicles thrown into the sea. The goddess of love. | ||
#*'''Dionysus''' – Son of Zeus and the mortal princess Semele. The god of wine. | #*'''Dionysus''' – Son of Zeus and the mortal princess Semele. The god of wine. | ||
| − | #Get to know the great heroes of Greek mythology. While the same gods appear in myth after myth, they are rarely the protagonists the leading characters of Greek myths, who are typically human or half-human (quite a few have one divine parent). These heroes are famous for a variety of reasons, from fighting monsters to winning glory on the battlefield to suffering family tragedies. The most famous include:<ref>http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/heroes.html</ref><ref>http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/heroes-in-greek-mythology/</ref> | + | #Get to know the great heroes of Greek mythology. While the same gods appear in myth after myth, they are rarely the protagonists the leading characters of Greek myths, who are typically human or half-human (quite a few have one divine parent). These heroes are famous for a variety of reasons, from fighting monsters to winning glory on the battlefield to suffering family tragedies. The most famous include:<ref name="rf1">http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/heroes.html</ref><ref name="rf2">http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/heroes-in-greek-mythology/</ref> |
#*'''Heracles''' (Hercules) – Stronger than even the gods, he also had a horrible temper. Completed 12 labors to absolve the guilt of killing his own family in a fit of madness. | #*'''Heracles''' (Hercules) – Stronger than even the gods, he also had a horrible temper. Completed 12 labors to absolve the guilt of killing his own family in a fit of madness. | ||
#*'''Perseus''' – If you have seen ''Clash of the Titans'', then you know the basic outline of his story: cast into the sea in a chest as a child; defeated the gorgon Medusa; and married Andromeda. | #*'''Perseus''' – If you have seen ''Clash of the Titans'', then you know the basic outline of his story: cast into the sea in a chest as a child; defeated the gorgon Medusa; and married Andromeda. | ||
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#*'''Odysseus''' – The hero of Homer’s ''Odyssey''. He had the idea for the Trojan horse – a giant hollow horse with Greek warriors hidden inside – which as used to defeat Troy. After the war, he spent 10 years returning home, battling monsters, gods, and witches along the way. | #*'''Odysseus''' – The hero of Homer’s ''Odyssey''. He had the idea for the Trojan horse – a giant hollow horse with Greek warriors hidden inside – which as used to defeat Troy. After the war, he spent 10 years returning home, battling monsters, gods, and witches along the way. | ||
#*'''Jason''' – Set sail with the Argonauts and, after fighting off monsters and sirens, found the golden fleece with the help of the which Medea, who fell in love with him. | #*'''Jason''' – Set sail with the Argonauts and, after fighting off monsters and sirens, found the golden fleece with the help of the which Medea, who fell in love with him. | ||
| − | #Study the major myths. While the heroes each have their own stories, there are a number of other myths featuring less prominent protagonists that have become famous, such as the story of Narcissus, who was so vain that he became transfixed upon seeing his reflection in a pond, and stayed staring at it until he died. Other important myths include:<ref>http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/c/greek-myths/</ref> | + | #Study the major myths. While the heroes each have their own stories, there are a number of other myths featuring less prominent protagonists that have become famous, such as the story of Narcissus, who was so vain that he became transfixed upon seeing his reflection in a pond, and stayed staring at it until he died. Other important myths include:<ref name="rf3">http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/c/greek-myths/</ref> |
#*'''Sisyphus''' – A trickster who cheated the gods more than once, he is famous for his punishment after death: in the underworld of Hades, he is condemned to forever roll a boulder to the top of a steep hill; and as soon as the boulder reaches the top, it rolls down the far side and he must start again. | #*'''Sisyphus''' – A trickster who cheated the gods more than once, he is famous for his punishment after death: in the underworld of Hades, he is condemned to forever roll a boulder to the top of a steep hill; and as soon as the boulder reaches the top, it rolls down the far side and he must start again. | ||
#*'''Tantalus''' – Tantalus was a favorite of the gods, and invited them to a feast at his home, where he had his own son cooked up and served to them. This was not a good idea. He, too, became famous for his punishment: forever standing in a pool of clean water, with delicious fruits hanging from trees overhead. Yet when he reached for the fruit, the wind tossed the branches out of reach, and when he bent down to drink, the water drained away. | #*'''Tantalus''' – Tantalus was a favorite of the gods, and invited them to a feast at his home, where he had his own son cooked up and served to them. This was not a good idea. He, too, became famous for his punishment: forever standing in a pool of clean water, with delicious fruits hanging from trees overhead. Yet when he reached for the fruit, the wind tossed the branches out of reach, and when he bent down to drink, the water drained away. | ||
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#*You can find online translations of ''The Iliad'' at http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerIliad1.html and of ''The Odyssey'' at http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey1.html. | #*You can find online translations of ''The Iliad'' at http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerIliad1.html and of ''The Odyssey'' at http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey1.html. | ||
#*You can also find the original Greek, along with translations, at http://homer.library.northwestern.edu/. | #*You can also find the original Greek, along with translations, at http://homer.library.northwestern.edu/. | ||
| − | #Learn more about Jason and the Argonauts by reading Apollonius Rhodius. An Alexandrian born in 295BC, Apollonius’s ''Argonautica'' is the best-known version of Jason’s adventures.<ref>http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> It is available online at http://www.theoi.com/Text/ApolloniusRhodius1.html. | + | #Learn more about Jason and the Argonauts by reading Apollonius Rhodius. An Alexandrian born in 295BC, Apollonius’s ''Argonautica'' is the best-known version of Jason’s adventures.<ref name="rf4">http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> It is available online at http://www.theoi.com/Text/ApolloniusRhodius1.html. |
#Read the three great tragic playwrights. Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles were contemporaries who produced tragic plays of profound psychological insight that have influenced writers to this day and which continue to be performed.<Ref>http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> | #Read the three great tragic playwrights. Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles were contemporaries who produced tragic plays of profound psychological insight that have influenced writers to this day and which continue to be performed.<Ref>http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> | ||
#*'''Aeschylus''' – Born around 525BC, the most famous of his seven surviving plays are ''Prometheus Bound'' and the ''Oresteia Trilogy: Agamemnon'', ''The Libation Bearers'', and ''The Eumenides''. Find his works at http://www.theoi.com/Text/AeschylusPrometheus.html. | #*'''Aeschylus''' – Born around 525BC, the most famous of his seven surviving plays are ''Prometheus Bound'' and the ''Oresteia Trilogy: Agamemnon'', ''The Libation Bearers'', and ''The Eumenides''. Find his works at http://www.theoi.com/Text/AeschylusPrometheus.html. | ||
#*'''Euripides''' – Born around 486BC and of humble origins, his plays are unique in that his characters often question the gods and fight against their fates.<Ref>http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> Nineteen of his plays survive. Some of the most famous include ''The Bacchae'', ''The Trojan Women'', ''Medea'', ''Electra'', and ''Orestes''. Find his works online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman. | #*'''Euripides''' – Born around 486BC and of humble origins, his plays are unique in that his characters often question the gods and fight against their fates.<Ref>http://www.thehellenictimes.com/sources.html</ref> Nineteen of his plays survive. Some of the most famous include ''The Bacchae'', ''The Trojan Women'', ''Medea'', ''Electra'', and ''Orestes''. Find his works online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman. | ||
#*'''Sophocles''' – Also born around 486BC, he was a priest of Asclepius who has seven extant plays, including ''Oedipus'', ''Electra'', and ''Oedipus at Colonus''. His works are online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman. | #*'''Sophocles''' – Also born around 486BC, he was a priest of Asclepius who has seven extant plays, including ''Oedipus'', ''Electra'', and ''Oedipus at Colonus''. His works are online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman. | ||
| − | #Lighten up with the comic playwright Aristophanes. The Greek theater was not exclusively about grim topics like men marrying their mothers or serving their children to the gods. Aristophanes, born about 450BC, is the sole surviving comic playwright of the age.<ref | + | #Lighten up with the comic playwright Aristophanes. The Greek theater was not exclusively about grim topics like men marrying their mothers or serving their children to the gods. Aristophanes, born about 450BC, is the sole surviving comic playwright of the age.<ref name="rf4" /> Eleven of his plays survive intact, including ''The Clouds'', ''The Birds'', and ''The Wasps''. You can find his work online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collection?collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman. |
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