Classics "Greek Mythology"
Part One
- Simonides
- A subject on Greek Mythology would be interested in Simonides as he is a Greek lyric poet who was involved in the distinction of the different famous personalities of his time. He uses fanciful elements that had real influence on the enlightenment of the Greek literature towards the classical era.
- “Psychopompus”
- This word is identified to refer to the guider of souls. In Greek mythology, Hermes is considered the psychopompos who leads the bodies of the dead to the state of stability as he hands them over to Charon.
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- “culture hero”
- The subject of Greek mythology thrives on the concept and characterizations of heroism. In a subject dedicated to such discussion of the ancient deities and gods, it is important to describe the heroism that exists behind the said topic as well.
- Koinonia
- This term dictates the existence of the concept of joint participation whereas the fellowship has a unity with their lord or their god; in Greek mythology, such connection between gods and humans is a vital part of existence for both parties.
- Hyperboreans
- This term refers to people living beyond the North Wind. Considered to be a peret land, it is said to have the sun shine over it for 24 hours. It defines a perfect location for the gods and the deities in Greek mythological studies.
- universalist theory
- what is granted general and universalist in form; this is what the universalist theory is all about. In context, it could be analyzed that understanding this term and its relative connection to how Greek mythology has become an acceptably form of belief and literary excellence around the globe.
- Dorians
- One of the four major Greek ethnes. Relatively considered as an ancient ethnic group in Greece that established the belief over gods and deities to be vital in the creation of a social foundation among the people of the nation. Studying about them opens the learning minds towards the development of the Greek belief over mythology that characterizes a major part of their culture.
- Marathonian Bull
- There are two instances in the literary description of the Greek mythological records that identifies well with the Marathonian bull or the Cretan bull; it could refer to either the bull that carried Europa away or the one that Pasiphae fell in love with. Later on such love gave birth to another mythical creature named Minotaur. This aspect of Greek mythology would be interesting to talk about as it identifies how Greek mythology defines love and other emotions related to it to be the core foundation of the development of anything or anyone.
- Sintians
- Noted as an ethnic group comprising of plunderers and raiders. They are notable warriors from where notable heroes come from. Also referred to as the Thracian people, learning about them provides a distinct understanding on how human characteristics define heroism as a basis of recognition in front of the gods.
- “Homeric Question”
- Identifies with the questions regarding the authorship and the issues about Homer’s writings and his capacity to identify well with the concepts defining Greek mythology. Relatively, studying about this opens the doors to critical thinking in the aspect of identifying what is valid and what is not in relation to determining mythological themes in writing.
- folkloric motif
- Identified as the manner of writing that follows the concept of folklore that is used in Greek Mythology, this form of motif, when studied properly shall provide a distinct understanding on how Greek mythology developed through excellently written notes by the poets and other prose authors in Greece.
- Panathenaea
- This is referred to as one of the most important religious festivals in Athens dedicated to the gods and deities that the people specifically worship. Said to have been inaugurated by the king Erichthonus, this festival became a specific foundation of different festivals in Greece later on. Studying about this matter gives a distinct presentation on how festivals tend to define the importance of gods and deities in the ancient and the current culture of the Greeks.
- Cerberus
- Described as bronze, multi-headed dog that has a mythological background. He is considered by some critics to have been developed under the influence of the bible’s accounts about the multi-headed beasts of revelation. Learning about them in Greek mythology subjects specifically give a distinct description on how strongly dependent the matter is in the creation and development of characters that are highly mythical in form.
- Heracleidae
- Refers to the many descendants of Heracles. These descendants specifically create the lineage of connection between the different ethnic groups believed to have existed in Greece based on historical data. Learning about this particular generation of ethnic groups specifically identify well with the concept of development that Greek mythological subjecst ought to be grounded upon.
- Poetics
- This concept is identified as the manner of writing that follows through the thematic presentation of words based on the ideas that are likely wanted to be suggested by the author. With the use of creative words, it is assumed that understanding the formation of good poetics would actually constitute the determination of better understanding of the different concepts that make up Greek mythology which is mostly written in poems.
- “Black Demeter”
- Noted as the sculpture created by Onatas to define the counter character of Demeter; this character is observed in Greek mythology as the being that function as the exact opposite of Demeter, the God of harvest and rich agricultural produce in Greece. Learning about this character would determine the distinct creation of development on how the Greek culture identifies with the existence of counter characters in history and how it determines the reality behind natural human characterization.
- “Cambridge School”
- Pioneers in the excellent identification of factors that creates the connection of the past towards the current ways of living and the future as well, Cambridge School and the literary studies conducted in this institution are best used as basis for the manner of studying the different concepts that define Greek mythology and its backgrounds.
- Bacchylides
- He was a Greek lyric poet whose works have been mixed with the most celebrated ones in history. Studying about him and his connection to Greek mythology and its background shall provide a good background understanding as students try to identify well with the different concepts that makeup the developmental aspects of Greek mythology and its connection to Greek history.
- Dithyramb
- This refers to the ancient Greek hymn sung and danced by the people to honor their god Dionysus. This aspect of learning provides a distinct presentation on how music is a relative part of worship in Greek mythology.
- Eileithyia
- the Greek goddess of childbirth; leaning about her provides the students a conceptual understanding on how each aspect of human living becomes distinctively connected to a specific god or goddess and how humans [as described in Greek mythology] respond to such aspects of recognizing superior personas
- eleutheria
- the ancient personification of liberty, this term and its study shall provide students with the proper understanding of what liberty is for the Greeks and how it is considered as the foundation of developing concepts of independence from living apart from the gods and their directions.
- Triptolemus
- Inventor of agriculture and its structure of operation, he was the favorite of Demeter. Studying about him shall introduce the students in the ideal understanding of how humans gain the favor of the gods according to Greek mythology.
- Gigantomachia
- Described as the army of avengers, the gigantomachia is considered by critics to have been patterned on the story of the nephilims [giants] in the bible. Studying about them gives a distinct indication on how interrelated some concepts of Greek mythology are to the concepts of biblical narrations and records.
- Thera
- Noted in history as an ancient mythical place in the mountainous regions of Santorini, Greece, this place serves a great role in determining the relative development of Greek literature that is shown under evidences of historical records noted through time.
- Eleusinian Mysteries
- Referred to as the initiation ceremonies that are dedicated to the god Demeter and how the people intend to worship his image and his existence as the provider in the field of agriculture. Studying about these ceremonies will provide a distinct indication on how agricultural celebrations actually characterize the concept of worship and how these matters affect the regular living conditions of the people in Greece.
- “the collective unconscious”
- In Greek mythology, it is assumed that the concept of collective unconscious is noted as the manner of psychological bearing that determines the condition of understanding the people develop in relation to matters that are abstract and are likely defined through their imagination and their willingness to think of the unthinkable or the impossible.
- “Ahhiyawa”
- An ancient kingdom noted to be the Acheans in Homer’s writings. Relatively, they are known to be strong seafarers. Learning about them gives the students a visual understanding of how the sea served a great impact on how mythology between land the sea affected the regular lives of the people.
- “Sea Peoples”
- People thriving in the sea, most often than not related to pirates and other creatures that might be more than just human, studying about the sea peoples specifically give way to the idealism of understanding the concept of connection in the field of Greek historical discussions and how it has been shaped by beliefs in mythology.
- Ernst Cassirer
- A German philosopher who has a strong identified interest in the history that identifies with the concept of Grecian history and how it is shaped by mythology, studying about him serves the students well especially in being critical when it comes to determining the separation of facts from fictional records.
- Arete
- Means ‘moral virtue’, this concept is recognized in Greek mythology as the supposed basis of all actions whereas people are motivated to be excellent in everything they do as desired by the gods and deities surrounding them. Excellence is however differentiated differently under a particular god’s perception of the concept.
- Homeridae
- A family, a clan that is noted as the descendants of Homer. Studying about them and their ways of living shall provide students with the ideal thinking of who Homer was and why he wrote the way he did depending on his background and his upbringing as seen from his people and his family.
- “Master of Wild Beasts”
- The superior persona who is seen to have released the wild beasts in relation to how the desire of disciplining humans and likely directing them towards the course of living that they ought to depend upon. Studying about him and his connection to ‘Satan’ in the bible shall again provide a distinct understanding to students as they trace the origins of Greek mythology towards its developmental stages of being written and recorded in history.
- “culture hero”
- What makes a hero is what makes the determinable foundation of a major part of Greek mythology. Humans could be heroes as well as gods and deities depending on the situations they are in and the different ways by which they face the different issues that they have to contend with as individuals of their own characters.
- “Dark Age”
- A distinct era of confusion in relation to religious beliefs; this era is considered to be the time when the deities and gods of the Greek mythology defined the background of human nature and how wrong motives develop wrong actions [a matter that has been believed in mythology to have affected both gods and humans at the same time]
- labrys
- a double-headed axe used as weapon by armies in Greece. They are considered as the most ancient symbol of Greek civilization. In Greek mythology, studying about these tools of war defines how much humans depended on the guidance of their gods when it comes to defending themselves in warfare.
- Peri Theon
- A collection of myths referring to gods and deities in ancient Greece. Referred to as the early history of gods basing from the early history of cosmos or the point of creating the universe and the earth.
- Multifunctionalism
- In Greek mythological studies, this may refer to the use of words that have numerous meanings based on semiotic criticism; a manner that is very important in studying Greek mythology and its background foundation.
- Eusebius
- A Roman historian who is a Christian polemicist who believes that the Greek mythology is a weak presentation of Christian records. Studying about him shall provide a differential vision on the part of the students as they see the connection between Greek history, Christianity and the concepts that bind these matters together.
- parthenogenesis
- Refers to motherhood and the development of the embryo; in Greek mythology, this refers to the personified mother of earth in the name of Gaia.
- Areopagus
- Functions as the high court of appeals in the ancient times in Greece, this particular part of Greek history is relatively connected to Greek mythology and how it is characterized as the point of judgment that the gods used to identify their roles in determining human relations and actions.
- Sappho
- A Greek lyric poet who is noted to have been able to consider presenting almost visual definitions of the overall value of Greek mythology in relation to the reports of Greek history.
- Bronislaw Malinowski
- A Polish anthropologist who has created several studies that identify well with the background of Greek mythology and how it relates to the development of individuals living in the country.
- Hippokrene
- A fountain on Mt. Helicon that is considered sacred to the ancient Greeks. Studying about its characteristics and its value in ancient Grecian records specifically identifies well with the concept of religious value that it serves to the background of the Greek culture.
Part Two
- Discuss the heroic career of Theseus and his importance in the framework of Greek mythology and to Athenians in particular.
In Greek mythology, Theseus was believed to be a hero and the first king to whom the political stature of the nation was specifically founded upon. This indicates that the Grecians believe that Theseus’ influence in the history of the Greek politics is large enough that he is not noted to be a mere mythical being that is recognized by several Greek Mythology literatures.
- Describe the elements of the “Heroic Outlook” (i.e., what it meant to be a hero in the minds of the ancient Greeks) as represented by Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus. You must mention how the deeds of each fulfill aspects of the Heroic Outlook in different and similar ways.
Heroism is a complex matter in relation to how it is recognized in Greek mythology. Several characters are noted to have been given the chance to become heroes because of their birth origins and some others because of their characteristics. Nevertheless, it specifically defines the extraordinary capacity of an individual to become more involved in situations that determine their worth as a person or as a hero in the minds of both the gods and the people.
- Discuss the contribution of Mircea Eliade to the understanding of myths in his theory of the Creative Era
Through the studies of Mircea Eliade, it could be realized that his thinking and philosophies that connect human psychology with the development of the stories that identify well with the ideas that correlates with the condition of the people and the way they think about the need for superior beings to guide them provide a distinct basis on understanding the development of Greek mythology. Relating religion with history and human psychology specifically identifies well with theories of creativity that is able to determine the development of Greek mythology through writing and through historical record.
- What were the arguments raised by the Greek philosophers, historians, and Christian theologians in criticism of the presentation of Greek myth in Homer and Hesiod?
Somehow, Christian critics say that instead of pointing out the Grecian background of this mythological idealisms, Homer dependent some of his narratives on Christian values; something that specifically shows allegory. Greek critics on the other hand contend to the fact that the thinking of Homer have been intertwined with the thinking of the Christians at some point, however, this should not render him unreal or his writings invalid in relation to identifying the real value of Greek mythology in literature and in history.
- Describe Pindar’s objectives in writing lyric poetry and his use of mythical allusion to achieve his objectives. Why was he so successful?
Pindar’s objectives in his writing were specifically dependent on the desire of bringing a visual presentation of mythology towards his readers. He wanted to basically bring about a sense of realization in consideration to the connection of mythology to the actual ways of living that people had to deal with in the past. His success was shown through the way his writings were accepted by his readers and are still continuously being realized as basis of classic literature at present by scholars.
- Describe the basic elements of Minoan and Mycenaean religion. How do they differ and why would we anticipate a difference?
Both beliefs are based on the existence of gods and deities and the realization of their worth as guides and determinable superiors of the human society. Realizing their value towards determining their core role in developing religious groups in Greece, the Minoan and Mycenaean religions are noted for their difference when it comes to rituals and the way they require human worshipers to strongly identify well with the requirements of the superior beings supposed to protect and provide for them.
- Discuss the characters in Euripides’ play Hippolytus and the roles of the goddesses Aphrodite and Artemis in the tragic conflict. What is Euripides telling us about the relationship between gods and men in the play?
In these plays, Euripides tries to show the connection between gods and men to be reciprocal. Pointing out that the gods respond to good works and they punish the bad actions accordingly; Euripides tried to show how Aphrodite and Artemis both used their power to direct and control human affairs according to their will and matters that would specifically benefit their godship.
- Explain Hesiod's concept of the Earth Mother in the persons of Gaia, Rhea, and Demeter. What does the Theogony tell us about the process of Hellenization underway in the Aegean world? What does the generational descent of the Earth Goddess achieve for the Greek mythologists?
Showing that women are powerful and have the capacity of protecting, guiding and punishing, the personification of Gaia, Rhea and Demeter all identify well with the desire of Hesiod to provide the society a new conceptual understanding about the real value of womanhood and how it should be recognized by the society; a matter highly important in the process of determining the role of women in the development of communities in Greece during Hesiod’s time.
- Discuss the dilemma of Orestes in the Aeschylus’ Oresteia trilogy and the role of Apollo and Athena in directing his actions and in resolving the conflict between the “old gods” and the “new gods”. You can also bring in the way in which other deities interact with and interfere in human affairs in other tragedies discussed in your readings.
Given that Athena and Apollo have their own unique characteristics and human-like attitudes towards the people and their supposed ‘comrades’, the dilemma of Orestes’ presentation of the way these gods dealt with their subordinates intend to show how partial they are, a character that is most likely noted to be ungodly. In this case, the real issues could be considered to be dependent on the irregularity of the presentation of characteristics that gods are likely known for and are established with.
