Foundations of Western Civilization: Greece and Rome

1. Foundations of Western Civilization: Greece and Rome

2. Why Start Here? • Our civilization stretches back nearly 3,000 years. • If this was not the case, we would have to invent technologies and ideas over and over. • We benefit from the works of countless ancestors.

3. DO NOW! • What is the difference between a myth and a legend?

4. Myth • A myth is a traditional story of gods or godlike beings. • Is used to relate the worldview of a people or to explain a practice, a belief or a natural phenomenon. • Is thought to contain very little truth • There are many ways to interpret or understand myths.

5. Legend • A legend is a traditional story of ostensibly historical events and mortal or semi-divine heroes, often interacting with gods. • Many legends, like myths, reflect the social or political world view of a people • Most legends were originally oral tales; their transformation into written literature often occurred several hundred years after the events they describe.

6. Folk Tale • Folk tales, like fairy tales, are traditional stories told usually about common people that reflect the worldview of a rural or village population. • History is usually absent in these stories; they are typically set in an unspecified time and place.

7. A saga is a tale originally recounted orally but later preserved in written prose. We think of them as Scandinavian, but really they are common to Indo-Europeans. Is the story of Troy a saga? Saga

8. Bronze Age Greece

9. Migrations in the Aegean Region

10. Dorian Greek Invaders • Came to inhabit much of mainland Greece, having driven the Achean Greeks onto the islands of the Aegean Sea. • Main cities were Corinth and Sparta. • Known for their fair hair and complexion. • Famous heroes include: • Helen of Troy (originally from Sparta) • Leonidas, King of Sparta • Possibly Achilles (described as being blonde)

11. Common Indo-European Religious Heritage • The term for "a god" was deiwos • Latin, deus • Sanskrit, deva • Persian, divs • Welsh, duw • Irish, dia • Lithuanian, Dievas • Latvian, Dievs.

12. DyēusPhatēris the god of the day-lit sky and the chief god. • The name survives in Greek Zeus with a vocative form Zeupater (pater = father) • Latin Jūpiter • *Perkwunos, known as "the striker,” or the ‘thunderer,’ is known as Slavic Perun, and Norse Thor. • *H2eus(os), is believed to have been the goddess of dawn,[9] • Greek Eos, in Rome as Aurora, Gallic Esus, a god of hearths; Greek, Hestia, goddess of the hearth; Latin Vesta, goddess of the hearth; possibly also in Germanic mythology as Ēostre

13. Common Trends • They believed in living life to the fullest, because death was going to happen whether you wanted it to or not. • The only response to death was to make a mark on the world. Become a legend. • This is in sharp contrast to Christian beliefs, which stressed rewards in the next life.

14. Zeus • Killed his own father (who deserved it) • Zeus is the father of Hercules and many other gods (see later slide). • He is the most powerful of the Gods. • He appears in many stories. • Unfaithful.

15. Zeus had eight children on Olympus The twins: Apollo and Artemis Athena (born fully armored out of Zeus’s head when he had a bad headache) Hephaestus Hermes Ares Dionysus Aphrodite (adopted) All of Zeus’ children

16. Wife of Zeus Goddess of marriage, protector of childbirth & heroes Portrayed as extremely jealous and vindictive Tries to kill Hercules. Hera

17. God of the sea, horses and earthquakes Lives in a palace beneath the ocean Carries a three-pronged trident Gave people the horse Married a sea nymph named Amphitrite Like his brother, he fathered many children. Very fond of his sister Demeter Poseidon

18. god of the underworld and the dead god of wealth (owned all precious metal) Wore a cap that made him invisible Kidnapped Persephone and made her his wife Hades

19. The Underworld • Is not the same thing as HELL. All people went to the Underworld when they died. • Hades is NOT the devil. He’s as noble as the other gods. • Charon: the boatman who would ferry people/spirits across the river Styx so they could make it to the Underworld. He wanted to get a tip, so people were buried with coins on their eyes so they could pay him. • Cerberus: 3-headed dog who guards the gate. • 3 Levels: Tartarus: Place of pain and suffering. • Asphodel Fields: Where spirits roam like shadows. • Elysian Fields: Where Heroes go – paradise.

20. Demeter means “Barley-mother” Another name for her is Ceres, from the word cereal Goddess of the cornfield, mistress of planting and harvesting, lady of growing things She had a son and a daughter. Her daughter’s name was Persephone. Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades. (reasons for the seasons) Demeter

21. Apollo • god of light, music and poetry • most beautiful god • also the god of medicine • taught people the art of healing • fine marksman • could predict the future

22. Artemis • goddess of hunting, wild things, unmarried girls and the moon • She decided never to marry • Once when she was bathing under the moonlight a human was watching her. She threw rain drops on him and changed him into a stag. Then she had him killed by his own dogs.

23. Zeus’ favorite goddess of wisdom, strategy, protector of cities and civilizations goddess of handicrafts and art She sprang from her father’s head fully clothed and in armor. Hephaestus, Zeus’ son, had to release Athena by cutting his head open with an axe. Athena

24. Hephaestas • god of fire • The only ugly god, but he was peaceful, loving and popular. • He walks with a limp because Zeus threw him over the palace walls one day when he took his mother’s side over Zeus’. • Made all the Olympians’ thrones, armor, furniture and weapons • Married Aphrodite

25. Hermes • Zeus’ graceful, happy son by the goddess, Maia • God of shepherds, merchants, travelers and thieves • Very mischievous and tricky • Stole Apollo’s cows the day he was born • Guided the newly dead to the underworld • Invented the alphabet, astronomy, scales, playing cards and card games • Zeus’ messenger • Wore winged sandals and a winged cap

26. Ares • god of war • Boastful, cruel and had no manners • Son of Zeus and Hera • Loved to fight, but was a coward once he got hurt • Wherever he went there was violence and bloodshed

27. god of wine • Zeus’ youngest son • His mother, Semele, was a princess and a mortal woman • His mother was consumed by fire when she was tricked by Hera • He was saved by Hermes. • Taught people the art of wine making & the consequences of too much wine Dionysus

28. Aphrodite • Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. • Wherever she walked flowers sprang up beneath her feet • she appeared from the foam of the sea • Her son is Eros (Cupid)

29. DO NOW! • Suppose that Helen of Troy was not the reason for a major war between mainland Greece and the Trojans. • What other, more realistic, reasons might there have been for conflict?

30. Greatest of the Greek poets Lived approximately 1000 B.C. Epic poems- 1st to make stories a unified whole Sung for entertainment Stories taught Greek ideals w Homer w

31. Homer’s Great Epics The Odyssey • Follows the Trojan War • 10 years • Odysseus’s journey to return to Greece • A metaphor for every person’s journey through life. The Iliad Ilium- Greek for Troy Story of the Trojan War 10 years Fought over Helen of Troy

32. What were thereal & mythicalcauses of theTrojan War??

33. The Start of it All… Three generations of misery and bloodshed started because a wedding planner failed to invite an important goddess…

34. Peleus was a mortal man. Thetis (mother of Achilles) was a sea nymph and the daughter of Zeus. Peleus had been on many adventures and had already been married, but things went sour when he accidentally killed his father-in-law. He saw Thetis, fell in love with her, and tried to kidnap her. She managed to fight him off with a snake until he eventually won her over. Peleus and Thetis’ Wedding

35. The Big Affair – Peleus and Thetis’ Wedding • With Zeus’ consent, all the famous mortals, gods, and goddess attended • Eris, the goddess of strife was not invited • Eris was insulted and snuck into the wedding reception…

36. Eris tossed a golden apple onto the dance floor. On the apple were the words, “To the fairest.” The golden apple was a serious party killer. Who was the most beautiful? A Golden Apple To the fairest

37. The competition was between: Athena – Zeus’ daughter and a real daddy’s girl Hera – Zeus’ wife and Queen of the Gods Aphrodite – The Goddess of Love They asked Zeus, as the King of the Gods, to award the prize, but he was no fool… Who is the fairest of them all?

38. The Judgment of Paris • Zeus gave the task to Paris, son of Priam, the King of Troy. • Zeus knew that Troy was fated to be destroyed because of an old run-in with Apollo and Poseidon. • Paris was the “torch to set the whole city on fire.”

39. Paris’ Ill-fated Choice • Athena offered him victory in war • Hera offered him power over nations • Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman in the world What would you choose?

40. Helen of Troy • Paris accepted Aphrodite’s offer • He then learned that the most beautiful girl in the world was ALREADY MARRIED • She was Helen, daughter of Leda and Zeus • She was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta

41. Knew many men would pursue Helen Was afraid conflicts or wars would be fought over her Convinced suitors to swear an oath Helen’s father, Tyndareus • to always protect Helen • to support her husband , • whomever she chose

42. Helen of Troy:“The Face That Launched 1000 Ships” Whatdid she look like?

43. The Kidnapping of Helen • Paris already had a wife named Oenone who warned him not to go through with the kidnapping • He didn’t listen • He sailed off to Sparta to be guest at the palace of Menelaus

44. The Kidnapping of Helen • Zeus was the “Protector of Hospitality” • Kidnapping your host’s wife isn’t exactly hospitable • Troy is now doomed.

45. Troy in Trouble • When Menelaus discovered that his wife was kidnapped, he ran to his big brother Agamemnon who agreed to get wage war to get Helen back • Menelaus called all Helen’s suitors, who were bound to help him get her back. • Helen is thus known as the “face that launched a thousand ships”

46. Clever Odysseus! • Odysseus tried to get out of joining Agamemnon and Menelaus in their fight for Helen by pretending to be crazy. • Thetis (whose wedding started all this) tried to get her son Achilles out of fighting, too.

47. Now the War Can Begin!

48. Bronze Age Enemies: The Trojan War

49. Troy – high and thick walls, surrounded by plain of Troy Aphrodite- sides with the Trojans Athena and Hera - side with the Greeks Zeus- remains impartial Achilles kills Hector, Prince of Troy –defiles body by dragging it behind his chariot Paris takes revenge for brother –shoots Achilles in heel, killing him Greeks – create a plan - Odysseus – known for strategy - Athena’s favorite warrior Siege of Troy - lasts 10 years

50. Plan of the City of Troy