Greek And Roman Mythology Essay

Divine Myth True fables or bothegory proper. Stories in which the main characters are super natural beings. Gener on the wholey relieve some aspect of the orbit Example would be genus genus genus Zeus over throwing his father and the related stories creation of fictions and of the ancient greeks Nyx (Night) the abstract concept of night disposed to a few human characteristics. Union of Nyx and Erebus (Darkness) produced their opposites, aether Radiance and herma day Legends (Sagas) Latin word is Legenda something that must be read. Originated referred to Christian Stories of the saints. Stories of heavy(p) industrial plant from humans.(Semi-divine), usually narrates the events of the human past Stories of the fifth column war and the exploits of Achilles and the other Greek heroes fit into this category. Troy and Legend Heinrich Schliemann 1822-1890 Believed that Homers stories about Troy were ground on historical truth Funded archaeological digs at Troy and later(prenomi nal) at Mycenae Founded a huge horde of gold and jewels, Priams regard Folktales Stories whose characters are ordinary people or creatures folk takes divine service both to entertain and teach or equitableify. Greeks had a work for folk talk, Ainos (Simple fable)Hesiod Works and geezerhood The hawk and the nightingale Motifs Regular appearance of certain identifiable narrative patterns in a story The modern novel we see the motif of water supply or light which consistently comes up n the story, serves as a thread running throughout Simple motifs include double (Twins, doppelgangers) dragons, etc Theories of Myth fabrication Greek word meaning say something differently Similar to symbolism Physical Allegory THEAGENES (6TH CENTURY B. C. )First use of allegory to interpret myth Myths about battles between paragons really represented natural conflicts between naturalcauses Based his interpretations on opposites. One god may represent fire and some other water.Clashes represent e ternal conflicts between fire and water False Etymologies Means getting to the root of a word Cronus (father of Zeus) Greeks tried to relate Cronus to Crono (Time) Cronus eats children (Time devours everything) in time Cronus and Crono are non etymologically related words Historical Allegory Euhemerism An interpretation created by Euhemerus (ca 300 B. C. ) Opposed to physical allegory, Euhemerism says myths tell us historical truths not philosophical truths idols are historical figures, human kings ruled long ago and were transformed into stories by gods Related to Euhemerism and false etymologies is the idea that myths were formed by an understanding. Actaeoniane are not torn apart by his dogs, but vilifyed by spending all his m wholenessy on hunting dogs The Minoans Ca 2200 B. C. E ca 1450 B. C. E Elaborate palaces significant wealth and technology Bull is an important religious symbol Worshipped female fertility goddess No defensive structures- instruction of the sea Non Ind o-Europeans Non Greek Speakers (Linear A script not deciphered) Thera (Modern Santorini)A rich Minoan culture that was destroyed ca 1630 BCE The End of the Minoans ca 1450 B. C. E Minoan Civilization was destroyed and palaces burned Palace at Cnossus Mycenaean Ca 1600 B. C. E- 1150 B. C. E Indo-European Greek Speakers (linear B script) Mycenaes ruled by potent king Warlike people- Bronze weaponry, chariots. 1150 B. C. E, palaces destroyed by fire. Linear B language lost for 400 years until Archeic Period Re-emerged as Greek Alphabets closelipped Eastern Influence Mesopotamia Land between Rivers (Tigris and Euphrates, modern Iraq) all important(p) source for myths Non Indo-Europeans speaking society.( linguistic group than the Greeks) Greek myths of the origin of the present world order, a universal flood and other myths show the influence of the near east. Other important peoples that influenced Greek myth Sumerians, Semites, Akk September 12, 2013 Creation Myths 1 Hesiods Theogo ny Ca. 700 B. C. E 2 works survive intact (fragments of some of his other works are extent) About the origin of the universe and the ascension of Zeus to kings of the gods Works and long time The account of the fall of man from a golden age to one of the iron Elaborated on the personification of various aspects of life.Eg Gaea is the bring forth spirit Gaea is in pain because of Uranos hatred of their mutilate spring Uranos imprisons his materializationest children to Tartarus Succession myth (Uranos feared that his children would take his power away from him) Gaea encourages Cronus to exact revenge Cronus threw Uranos crotch into the sea, which gave rise to Aphrodite (God of love/sexuality) The Giants (Erinyes, Furies) and Melian ash-tree Nymphs sprang from Uranos spilled declivity Cronus warned by Gaea (Mother) and Uranos (Father), would be afraid of their off springs Cronos (Time) and Rhea had Zeus, Poseidon (Earth Shaker), Hades, Hera, Demeter, andHestia Once born, Cronos eats his children to prevent from being overthrown Rhea, advice from her parents hid her youngest child, Zeus on the island of Crete in a subvert. Rhea gave Cronus a stone in place of Zeuss place Zeus raised in a cave by nymphs and fed milk from the caprine animal Amalthea and the honey from the bee Melissa Protected by the Corybantes (Whirlers)/ Curetes young menMetis (Cleverness) give Cronus an emetic (causes him to vomit his sons and daughters) The stone render the famous omphalos placed in Delphi (Center of the earth) Rhea and Cronos, and Gaia and UranusThe Titanomachy (War against the Titans) Titans led by Cronus, Olympians led by Zeus Some of the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires (the Hundred-handers) helped Zeus.The Cyclopes forge Zeuss thunderbolt. Eventually the Olympians won Zeus banishes Cronus to Tartarus, along with the other Titans where they are watched by the Hundred-handers The women were neutral, they were not banished. Epimetheus, Prometheus, and Atlas were spar ed. Atlass punishment was that he had to hold up the sky at the edge of the world Typhoesus/Typhons/Typhus Typheous is the youngest son of Tartarus and GaeaHe was so terrifying that the Olympian gods fled to Egypt and disguised themselves as animals. In a fierce battle (hurled, torn to sinews) Zeus thrashinged Typheous- Mt. Etna(Typheous was being held down there)Dragon combat motif (Characteristics where they are born inwardly the earth) (Dragons represent feminity Zeus represents masculine values Birth of Athena Zeus escapes the pattern of the succession myth (overthrown) Zeus has married Metis and she was pregnant Zeus swallowed Metis (Assimilated news into himself) Gave him a school principalache (Cracks his skull into allowing Athena to come out of his head)One of Zeuss favorite children Gigantomachy not mentioned by Hesiod Giants were urged to attack Olympus Another test of Zeuss powers The Olympians defeat the Giants, in a great battle. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades divide the w orld among themselves Prophecy of the son of a mortal mother Hercules. (Was the hero Zeus needed to defeat the giants) Giants urged to attack by Gaea Creation Myths 2The Fall of Man The Punishment of Prometheus Prometheus cultural hero (Gives mortals a chance) Said to be the creator of humans Prometheus tricked Zeus at Mekone unto reserving the edible parts of the sacrifice for humansGods get the bones and fat Etiology (Explains the reason) Greek sacrificial usage For the trick, Zeus punishes the humans (Withholds the fire)Prometheus and Fire Prometheus steals the fire back from heaven in a fennel-stalk Punishment for this trickery Zeus sends Pandora to men and chains Prometheus, years later freed by Hercules. Prometheus gets a visitation from an eagle every day to peck out his liver Pandora (All gifted) Name means all-gifted because of all the gods contributed to her creation and endowed her with many a(prenominal) charms. Hephaestos- Fashions her from the earth Athena- Gives her domestic s bug outs.Aphrodite- gives her grace, beauty, desire and the ability to spark sexual longing Graces and Persuasion Necklaces Epimetheus (after thought) is told by his brother Prometheus (fore thought) to not accept any gifts from Zeus He sees Pandora and accepts Pandora She carries a JAR ( not a box) In the jar, it contains all the evil and good things When she opens the jar, all the evil things fall to earth while the good things vanish to heaven/ Only hope is caught in the jar 4/5 Ages of Men Hesiods Works and Days and Ovids Metamorphoses Ovid 43 B. C. E 17 B. C. E Works include Art of Love and the Metamorphoses.Exiled by Augustus Zeus Father of Gods and Men Derived from the Indo-European Sky God di-cf. Germanic Tiu and Indic Dyaus Ritar Roman Jupiter blotch Gather Aegis bearing Zeus Goat Skin a magical object that represented Zeus power, it often represented as a shield with snake headed tassels. Zeus lent it to Athena Many Lovers (Eurynome (Graces) Mnemosyne (M uses) Ganymede (cup-bearer to the gods) Themis (rules and order) Many offspring (Sarpedon, Zeuss Son, Minoss brother Moerae fates Clotho spinner, Lachesis apportioner and Atropos she who cannot be dark aside Horae Seasons.Zeus is renowned for his physical strength which guarantees his preeminence over all beings Signature weapon which was the Lightning Bolt Zeus Kataibates Zeus who descends Zeus is associated with the misrepresent (Crete, power, fertility) and the Eagle God of law and justice Dike- from the root to point out Xenia (Formal guest friendship) cf. Xenophobia As The father of gods and men, Zeus is a metaphorical father who oversees all that occurs on earth and in the heaven. Literal father to a large number of gods and heroes- famous for his numerous consorts and paramours. 114 at some counts. inner procreation as a metaphor for agricultural production- rain semen, earth- the womb Famous story from IIiad associates Zeuss exploits and the growth of vegetation Aphrodi tes damp/belt (a symbol of sexuality and sexual consent) & Heras use of it leads to grasses, flowers and plants springing from the earth on which they reclined. Hera Who sits on a Golden Throne Hera (Juno) Zeuss married woman Marriage and child birth Mother of Ares (by Zeus), Eileithyia, Hebe(personification of youth) & Hephaestus (Crippled and sickishe fun of ) (Two versions of parentage) Persecutes Zeuss mistresses and illegitimate children.Quarrels with Zeus incessantly Seduces Zeus to turn tide of the Trojan War Zeus remember when I strung you up Poseidon Dark-Haired Lord of the Deep God of the sea and earthquakes Associated with the horse (drowned in a pool to sacrifice to Poseidon) Produced Pegasus with the Gorgon Medusa (grotesque offspring Polyphemus) Hades Plutos Wealthy One Name means invisible unseen dead and the facelessness of death (Helm of invisilibty) never leave behindingly allows anyone who comes to his house to leave An immortal god but not an Olympian. Apol lo Origin of Apollo unknown Lycian = Lycia (Asia Minor)?Or association with Hyperborean ( 3 Winters mos. In the far north)= Nordic Origin? Born on Delos ( Floating island Heras persecution of Titaness Leto light of day Artemis is his twin sister Depicted as a physically perfect young man and un-bearded and with long hair. God of music, aristocratic concerns and light (later came to be associated with the sun) God of illness (arrows- Lord of mouse, they bring disease) and healing (Asclepius, his son was the god of medicine) God of prophecy killed Python to name his Oracle of Delphi (Dragon-combat cf. Marduk vs Tiamat and Zeus vs Typhoeus)- shaman.Known for his unhappy loves Daphine, Cassandra, Sibyl at Cumae, Coronis (Asclepius Mother) Hermes Psychompus Mercury (Soul guide, or the leader of the souls) God of travel, commerce, boundaries, theft and trickery (God that was revere from the thieves and bandits, and try to trick people) Messenger to the gods (Called quicksilver because he was fast) Important myths Births, Invention of Lyre( by killing and gutting a Tortoise), Killing of Argus (Monster with 100 hundreds, watcher of 1 of Zeuss lovers) Worshipped as a Herm at crossroads and even doorways Zeus had an affair with a star, and Hermes was born.Pan Son of Hermes Hoofs and legs of a goat with human features The gods name is likely from Indo-European root meaning to feed (cf Pasture) The inspiration for later representations of the devil Hephaetus, God of Smiths Lame smith god- highly skilled and ingenious 2 versions of his birth Born from Hera alone (b/c of Athena) or son of Zeus and Hera 2 versions of expulsion from Olympus Zeus threw him off for taking Heras side in an argument(landed on Lemnos) or Hera threw him from Olympus in disgust (Hephaetus golden throne of revenge and his subsequent return to Olympus) Typhoeuss fucking in Mt.Etna Husband of Aphrodite (Ares & Aphrodite trapped in bed) Hateful Ares (God of War) Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena Sept 24 Aphrodite Of the Golden Daughty Goddess of Love Born from sea-foam (ophros)- Hesiod (Roman Venus Always go with by Eros (Winged boy with bow and arrows or flaming torch) Also Himmeros= desire and the Graces) Only Athena, Artemis and Hestia (Virgins for life, did not want to endeavor into Aphrodites powers) were immune to Aphrodites powers Not before Greek (cf. Eastern fertility goddesses, Inanna, Ishstar, Astarte)- Cyprus (transit point) Cypris & Cythera.Cyprus is the doorway between the East and the west Temple prostitution (Corinth & Cythera) Important Myths Birth (theogony) Hermaphroditus (fused with Nymph Salmacis, became both genders by fusing with him) Priapus (Dionysus or Hermes)- Boned Aphrodite & Ares-Boned Aphrodite & Anchises (Aeneas lone survivor of the Trojan War)-Boned Artemis Potnia Theron Mistress of Animals Not a Greek Name- earlier (possibly as far back as the Paleolithic Period) Twin sister of Apollo (Roman Diana) Virgin goddess, but alluring (dangerous) Hunt ress (bow and arrows, deer) Struck by the arrows of Artemis.Scared animals include the bear (Braurania ritual and the Arktoi- little bear) Important Myths Iphigenia (Sacrifice) Daughter of the great Greek general Niobe (Boast about having more kids than Leto) Leto ask Apollo and Artemis to honor Orion (constellation) tried to rape Artemis and Artemis put a scorpion on his head and he died. Actaeon (Human Sacrifice? ) Turned into a Stagg because he saw Artemis nude. Then Actaeons dogs killed him Athena Mistress of the City Takes her name from the city of Athens ( Not the other way around) Roman Minerva Associated with the owl (owl-eyed).Often represented with the helmet, shield and spear, wears the Aegis around her shoulders Goddess of war (justified, defensive, strategic) Goddess of domestic crafts ( e excessly weaving) Important Myths Birth competitor with Poseidon BIRTH OF ERICHTHONIUS (1ST KING OF ATHENS) HEPHATUS JIZZED ON ATHENAS HIPS AND SHE wiped it off and she threw it of f the ground on Athens and spawned the legendary king Erichthonius, he was snaky because he spawned in the earth Arachne (Athena turned her in a spider) She weaved something that made fun of the gods. Athena slashed her face. She then committed felo-de-se.Athena felt sorry for hersuicide and turned her into a spider September 26, 2013 Demeter Meter means mother, De- unknown meaning Greek Goddess most closely associated with the great mother-goddess Goddess of grain and the result Story of Demeter and Persephone comes from the Homeric Hymn to Demeter Close association between the female, the underworld and the cyclical nature of existence Demeters daughter by Zeus is Persephone, as well known as KoreDaughter or girl D. and P. are often called the two Demeters or the two goddesses.The rape of Persephone Persephone is taken to the underworld with Zeuss permission- cf. spousal relationship in ancient Greece Persephone picked flowers as Hades arose from the depths to abduct her Only H ecate and Helius heard her cries Finally, Demeter heard her daughters cries and searched the entire earth for her Demeters Search zilch mortal or immortal would tell Demeter what happened She wandered the earth for nine days with torches in her hands Refused to eat ambrosia or drink nectar and did not bathe Hecate finally told Demeter part of the story and then Helius filled in the rest In disguise, Demeter left Olympus and descended to the towns and cities of men whereshe eventually came to Eleusis (Town outside Athens, center of the Eleusinian Mysteries) The Eleusinian Mysteries At Eleusis, Demeter rested at the Well of the Maiden where she was approached by the daughters of Eleusis king Celeus They asked where she was from and offered her hospitality They hired Demeter as a nanny to their mother, Metaneiras child, Demophoon Lambe tries to entertain Demeter by congress her dirty jokes Metaneira offered Demeter, Kykeon, as barley-drink Demeter tried to repay their kindness by mak ing Demophoon immortal. (Demeter would take the baby and put him in the fire, burning away his mortality).Eventually, Celeus decreed a glorious temple be built in honor of Demeter. Tough Times for Humanity In anger over her daughters abduction, Demeter withdrew all agriculture from the earth Zeus demanded that Demeter relent but she refused. Zeus sent Hermes to Hades to convince him to release Persephone and he agreed (etiological myth re seasons). The heroical of Gilgamesh and lordly Myth Oct 1 Legends are stories about exceptional humans doing exceptional things which are said to narrate episodes from the human past- heroes. chockes were noble or well-born, originally living and breathing people-Homeric kingsand warriors. Eventually these great individuals came to be worshipped as powers dwelling beneath the earth The name of places of the individuals cult where they were worshipped, were called Heroa Heroa were often huge earthen mounds visible on the landscape for great distan ces eg Achilles at Troys Pelops at Olympia and Aeneas near Rome. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Heroic Pattern Few ancient cultures produced heroic myths however the Mesopotamians and Greeks did The Epic of Gilgamesh greatly influenced later Greek heroic myth(movement of ideas from the East to West in Archaic period)Gilgamesh was a real man who rules the Sumerian City of Uruk c 2600 B. C. E (cuneiform lists of kings) evidence that heroes likely lived at one time. This influence on Greek heroic myth is shown by shared motifs Shared Motifs One of the heros parents may be divine (eg Gilgamesh) but he is like all humans, destined to die. tall(a) or unusual birth of which we know little (Part is missing from the Epic Gilgamesh) Hero is outstanding in his strength and is a menace to those around him, friend, and oppositeness alike. Hero has a male companion (Enkidu created by the gods from clay to temper Gilgameshs spirit)Hero falls under enemy power and is forced to expel impossible ta sks (eg. Kills Humbaba) Taboo broken by hero, terrible price demanded (Enlil the storm-god was angry that Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed Humbaba) Hero resists the temptations of a dangerous woman (Ishtar asks her father Anu to send Bull of Heaven) Hero responsible for friends death (Enkidu dies after he and Gilgamesh kill Bull of Heaven cf. Patroclus & Achilles) Hero goes on a quest to defeat death even traveling to the underworld (Gilgamesh travels across the waters of death to see Utnapushtim (cf. Ziusudra, Atrahasis, Noah, Deucallion)Has help of gods, spirits, or magical objects (Gilgamesh magical stilts/poles) Hero returns home, atones for his misdeeds and accepts his mortality (after failing twice to achieve immortality- unable to stay awake for 7 days, loss of prickly herb at the bottom of the sea) Hero given a great reward (Gilgamesh honored by people of Uruk) Hero given a great funeral and may become a god (Gilgamesh given a hunky-dory funeral and his memory will never die) Rationalism and Allegory THEAGENES (6TH CENTURY B. C. E) THEORIZED THAT BATTLES BETWEEN THE GODS REPRESENTED clashes between natural elements (e. g in the Lliad 20.54ff Apollo (representing fire) fights Poseidon (water)Cronus is identified with time ( Cronos)- all things are begotten by time and devoured by it as well, just like Cronuss children. Because of this false etymology, we still envision Father of time as the grim-reaper (with sickle) on account of Cronuss castration of his father Another false-etymological example stems of Hera sounding like the Latin word for air, Air lay just beneath the upper-atmosphere. Or aether ie. Jupiter/Zeus lays just about Juno/Hera. Historical Allegory Euhemerism myths reveals a historical truth (Euhermerus wrote of a golden column inscribe with the names with early human kings)The conflicts between Uranus, Cronus and Zeus were representative of palace intrigues During his reign Zeus traveled the earth teaching the arts of civilization, banning cannibalism, and open temples. Died on Crete after a long life Gods may have been kings and heroes of real men who founded cities and did great deeds. Moral Allegory The interpretation that a myth is a system of advice on good and bad behavior Eg. Daphine was an example of chastity and Harpies who steal mens food are really prostitutes who ruin men with their fees.When Paris gives his famous judgment, he is really choosing between 3 kinds of life active (Hera), contemplative (Athena), amorous (Aphrodite) which all men must choose. Perseus and the Myths of the Argive Plain Rich Bronze Age area Tiryns- Perseus was the king of Tiryns when he founded Mycenae Argos not important in the Bronze Age, but is often confused in the myth with the Mycenae which was The Wanderings of Io The River god Inachus and Melia- parents of Io Io ancestor of 3 great dynasties the houses of Argos, Crete & Thebes Zeuss passion and Heras jealousy (spots mysterious clouds)The cow, Hera took her and takes the cow puts a giant to watch her, so Zeus doesnt see her again Argus (Hundred Eyes) Hermes (Argeiphontes Killer of Argus) Ionian Sea, Byzantium- the Bosporus cow-missing, the Caucasus Mountains(Meets Prometheus things will get better), Egypt (Regains human form) Gives birth to Epaphus he who has been stirred Crimes of the Danaids Epaphus + Memphis (name of the ancient Egyptian capital, daughter of the Nilus the Nile River)= Libya (country west of the Nile river in North Africa) Libya + Poseidon are parents of Agenor (Ancestor to the houses of Crete and Thebes)(Arabia)Belus (ancestor of Perseus & Royal house of Argo, means lord in Semitic language)(Libya) Crimes of the Danaids Aegyptus has 50 sons genus Danaus has 50 daughters= the Danaids They flee to Argos to prevent proposed marriages (feared a takeover of Libya) The sons of Aegyptus eventually marry to Danaids. (Danaus gives all his daughters daggers to kill every husband) Only Hypermnestra spared her husband Lynceus- all but one motif All the daughters/Sisters were doomed on the underworld, they had to fill a jar that would never fill The Legends of Perseus Danae and the Shower of Gold Lynceus (the one sparred) in Argos after Danaus.His sons Abas has tally ( hate each other-quarreled in womb cf. Jacob & Esau and Isis, Osiris & Seth) Acrisius has a daughter, Danae but wants sons (Heirs) Oracles say that Danae will have a son, but that he will kill his grandfather (Acrisius) (Forbidden to Marry- prohibition) Acrisius builds underground bronze chamber to imprison Danae (folktake Seclusion) Zeus shower of gold impregnates her (Folktale motif violation of prohibition. Heroic motif extraordinary birth) Perseus and Danae set undirected in a wooden box (folktake motif threat of death) Dictys (netman) at Seriphos saves Danae and Perseus (folktale motif liberation).Dictys brother Polydectes (much-receiver, the king of Seriphos) demands Danaes hand in marriage Perseus tricked into going on a quest for the head of a Gorgon he had no horse as a wedding gift for Polydecates- Perseus boasts I will bring anything, else Polydecates wants, even a Gorgons head (Heroic motif hero falls under enemy power and is forces to complete impossible tasks) Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer Gorgons Stheno genus Euryale Medusa (The only mortal Gorgon) Instructions from Athena find the Graeae grey-haired women and learn whereabouts of helpful Nymphs (grabs eye, demands answers where are they).Perseus receives magical objects from the Nymphs Hades cap of invisibility, winged sandals special pouch. Hermes also provides a sword and a polished bronze shield (Heroic motif has the help of the gods, spirits, or magical objects) The killing of Medusa Uses shield as a mirror to avoid the gaze of the Gorgons, sneaks up on Medusa and cuts off her head From the body of Medusa, who was at the time pregnant by Poseidon Pegasus (Later tame by Bellerophon) Chrysaor Puts his head in pouch, flies off with winged sandals with the Stheno an d Euryale in pursuit (cant see him with the cap of invisibility).Perseus frees his mother by showing the Medusas head to Polydecates Perseus and Andromeda A variant has Perseus returning to Seriphos after a few adventures Came to Joppa (near Modern Tel Aviv) ruled by Cepheus Cepheuss daughter, Andromeda, is about to be sacrificed to a sea monster, because of a rash boast by her mother, Cassiopeia (more beautiful than the Nereids) Perseus given Andromedas hand in marriage and the kingdom for having freed her Phineus (Cepheuss brother) to whom Andromeda has been betrothed, bursts in a banquet in Honor of Perseus and is turned into stone with his men by the head of Medusa.Perseus rest in the East for a year and gives birth to Perses, ancestor to the Persian people. The Death of Acrisius Wanting to meet his grandfather Perseus returns to Argos Acrisius flees (it is fated that Perseus will kill him) At a sports contest in Thessaly, Perseus accidentally kills him with a stray discus (Mot if heroes can be a threat to civil society, even without meaning harm) shamed to receive the kingdom from his death grandfather, Perseus trades Argos for Tiryns with Megapenthes (cousin) Perseus also builds Mycenae (rules, begets dynasty) and lives there with Andromeda formany years.At their deaths, Athena placed them among the stars as constellations, remembered forever. Heracles Oct 8 Herakles Alexikakos (Wards off evil) Obscure origins- Argive plain? (Eurystheus) or Thebes? (Birth place). Belong to all Greeks Associated with an earlier time club, bow & arrows Excessive (Heroic) Shaman figure- Master of Animals provided food and protection to his people Heraclids (Dorians/Spartans) Perseuss granddaughter is Alcmena, wife of Amphitryon While Amphitryon (Hs stepdad) was off fighting pirates, Zeus disguised himself as Amphitryon.As Zeus leaves, the real Amphitryon appears In his way, Alcmena gave birth to a child of Zeus (Herakles) and of Amphitryon (Iphicles) HERA IS NOT HAPPY ( TRICKS ZEUS INTO SWEARING HIS 1ST OFFSPRING BORN THAT DAY WOULD RULE. Heras delay tactics- Eurystheus (Perseuss descendent, Heracles cousin) born before Herakles. accepted an aristocratic education (wrestling, archery, warfare, playing lyre Kills Linus for telling Herakles that he is bad at playing the lyre (poor linus) Herakles sent away to tend cows in the mountains cf. cattle of Geryon- Herakles as master of animals.Hunted a lion (Ravaging flocks) for king Thespius of Thespaie by day, stayed at his house by night (50 daughters-Heraclids, sons of Heracles, founded the noble family of the Spartans) Herakles marries Megara daughter of Creon (King of Thebes) and has 3 children Goes mad and kills his family (driven insane by Hera he believes that they are his enemies) Went to Delphi to learn what he must do to atone for his crime- must leave Thebes, go to Argive plain serve Eurystheus (Herakles cousin, king of Mycenae) 12 Labors Miasma is that his blood is tainted and his blood his contagious.( blood guilt) Must be purified by a God. 12 LABORS. 1ST LABOR, FACES A MONSTROUS LION SKIN THAT IS IMPENETRABLE. NEMEAN LION. Wrestles with the lion and kills him. Uses the lions claws to skin the lion. Wears the skin 2ND HERAKLE SLAYS THE HYDRA (OFFSPRING OF TYPHEOUS GAEA) SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE THEY thrash the older generation. Herakle has help from his nephew, kills the Hydra by having his nephew torch the heads of which he cuts off, so they do not grow back. Hydras blood is poisonous, arrows dipped in it.3RD HERAKLES AND ATHENA WAS TO CAPTURE THE GOLDEN HIND OF CERYNEIA WHO IS SCARED TOArtemis. By taking the stag when it was asleep. Told Artemis on the way back that he had to. 4TH TOLD TO bump THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTA FROM THE AMAZONS. IT IS TO EXERT SEXUAL dominances. 5TH HERAKLES TOLD TO BRING THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR TO EURYSETHUS WHO HIDES IN PITHOS.(Eurysethus is scared and builds himself a jar to hide from) 6th Mares of Diomedes 4 man eat horses who were owned b y Diomedes. In the end he fed Diomedes to his mares because the mares kill his favored companion Abderus 7TH TRIPLE BODY GERYAN, THE CATTLES WHERE HE KILLED GERYAN AND HIS BROTHER WHO GUARDED the cattle.Eurytheus sacrificed the cattle to Hera. 8TH APPLES OF HESPERIDES (WEDDING GIVES TO HERA WHEN SHE MARRIED ZEUS) THESE APPLES ARE immortal. They are grown on the edge of the world. Atlas taunts Herakles with the Apples of the Hesperides. Herakles took the world on his shoulder. Atlas gets the apples, Herakles trick Atlas by telling Atlas to hold the world while Herakles adjust his neck. Atlas takes the world, and Herakle takes the apples from him. 9TH hellhound IS HADES HOUND OF HELL. HE MAKE SURE YOU NEVER LEAVE HELL. DRAGS BACK THE hounds of hell 10TH AUGEAN STABLES CLEANSES THE AUGEAN.IT IS A BIG STABLE, STABLE OF molar concentration DIVINE CATTLES that poop a lot. Re-routed a couple of rivers and flush the stables out. 11TH HERCULES WAS TO DRIVE AWAY AN ENORMOUS FLOCK OF BIRDS WH ICH GATHERED AT A LAKE NEAR the town of Stymphalos. Hercules had no idea how to drive the huge gathering of birds away.The goddess Athena came to his aid, providing a pair of bronze krotala, noisemaking clappers similar to castanets. These were no ordinary noisemakers. They had been made by an immortal craftsman, Hephaistos, the god of the forge. 12TH LABOR HERCULES EASILY DISPOSED OF THE CRETAN BULL. BRINGS THE BULL BACK TO EURYTHEUS.King Midas was to sacrifice whatever animal that the Poseidon sent. The god sent a bull so beautiful that he couldnt. Made the bull rampage all over Crete and made Midass wife fall in love with it, making the Minotaur. He put the Minotaur in the labyrinths, feeds him with the prisoners of Athens. After the Labors Wished to merry Lole, daughter of Eurytus, a local king. He refused remembering Megaras fate Eurytus discovers 12 prize mares missing, sends Son to question Herakles- son is killed (violate of Xenia) Herakles goes to Delphi to find out how to atone for crimes, Pythia refuses to respond.Herakle steals tripod runs off and boasts that he will establish his own oracle Apollo prescribe 3 years as a womans slave (Omphale the Lydian queen) Afterwards marries Deianaira man killer Tricked by the centaur Nessus told that his blood and semen would make potent love potion to use on Heracles. The blood is poisoned by the Hydra blood used to kill him Undergoes Apotheosis (became a god of Olympus) after his mortal self is killed by the poison Hercale marries Hebe (personification of youth) after ascending to Olympus Oct 10 Athens and Theseus.