MythologyMythologyandand

The OdysseyThe Odysseyby Homerby Homer

MythologyMythology Mythology did not start with the Mythology did not start with the

Greeks—it has existed since the Greeks—it has existed since the beginning of time.beginning of time.

Mythology serves 3 basic functions in Mythology serves 3 basic functions in ALL societies. It represents:ALL societies. It represents:

Our effort to explain our existenceOur effort to explain our existence Our effort to explain our worldOur effort to explain our world Our attempt at seeking justiceOur attempt at seeking justice

MythMythA myth is:A myth is:

A story that uses fantasy to A story that uses fantasy to express ideas about life express ideas about life

which cannot be expressed which cannot be expressed easily in realistic terms.easily in realistic terms.

PolytheismPolytheism PolytheismPolytheism is the worship of many is the worship of many

gods. (Poly= many) (Theos= god)gods. (Poly= many) (Theos= god) The gods of ancient peoples came The gods of ancient peoples came

to represent moral attributesto represent moral attributes They were also connected with They were also connected with

specific aspects of the life that specific aspects of the life that these societies experienced.these societies experienced.

Mythology TodayMythology Today The ancient myths are still a part of our culture today.The ancient myths are still a part of our culture today. Myths are alluded to in literature, sports, media, and Myths are alluded to in literature, sports, media, and

everyday life.everyday life. For example, we see references to mythological gods:For example, we see references to mythological gods:

Circe:Circe: god of agriculture (cereal)god of agriculture (cereal)Hermes (Mercury):Hermes (Mercury): messenger god (quick and prompt) messenger god (quick and prompt)

Emblem for FTD floristsEmblem for FTD floristsAtlas:Atlas: Greek hero known for his strength (Atlas tires are Greek hero known for his strength (Atlas tires are

strong!)strong!)Olympus:Olympus: mountain home of the gods (cameras=best, mountain home of the gods (cameras=best,

highest quality)highest quality)

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

War of the TitansWar of the Titans

Division of the World Division of the World (Straws were drawn)(Straws were drawn)

Zeus = HeavenZeus = Heaven

Poseidon = SeaPoseidon = Sea

Hades = UnderworldHades = Underworld

The Greek godsThe Greek gods

Physical appearancePhysical appearance Resemble mortals but stronger and largerResemble mortals but stronger and larger Live like nobles (need food and drink but Live like nobles (need food and drink but

do not labor)do not labor) Dress like humans and sleep at nightDress like humans and sleep at night

The gods generally uphold The gods generally uphold

virtuous behaviorvirtuous behavior

The gods up CloseThe gods up ClosePowersPowers

They can change form at willThey can change form at will They transform mortalsThey transform mortals They can control mortals’ mindsThey can control mortals’ minds

LimitationsLimitations They cannot interfere with fateThey cannot interfere with fate They may be interfered with by other They may be interfered with by other

godsgods

Gods’ expectations of mortalsGods’ expectations of mortals

Keep oaths--honestyKeep oaths--honesty

Do not harbor pride, or Do not harbor pride, or hubrishubris

Properly bury the dead--respect othersProperly bury the dead--respect others

Show hospitality to strangersShow hospitality to strangers

Gods and Goddesses To Gods and Goddesses To KnowKnow

godsgods Zeus:Zeus: King of gods; King of gods;

home is Olympus; not home is Olympus; not the most moral; symbol the most moral; symbol is lightning bolt.is lightning bolt.

Poseidon:Poseidon: god of sea god of sea & earthquakes; carries & earthquakes; carries a Trident; he’s very a Trident; he’s very important since important since Odysseus is traveling Odysseus is traveling home from Troy by home from Troy by sea.sea.

Polyphemus:Polyphemus: a one- a one-eyed giant (Cyclops); eyed giant (Cyclops); Poseidon’s son.Poseidon’s son.

goddessesgoddesses Hera:Hera: Queen of the Queen of the

gods; Zeus’ wife and gods; Zeus’ wife and sister; she seeks sister; she seeks revenge on Zeus’ revenge on Zeus’ mortal infidelities.mortal infidelities.

Athena:Athena: favorite favorite daughter of Zeus; daughter of Zeus; goddess of goddess of wisdom/war; she wisdom/war; she favors the Greeks favors the Greeks during the Trojan during the Trojan War.War.

HeroesHeroesIn Greek In Greek

mythology, mythology, heroes occupy heroes occupy a special a special position in life: position in life: they are below they are below the gods but the gods but above other above other mortals.mortals.

The stories of these The stories of these heroes were heroes were popular then—and popular then—and are still read noware still read now—because we can —because we can sympathize with sympathize with their experience of their experience of feeling lost in a feeling lost in a world of difficult world of difficult choices.choices.

The OdysseyThe Odyssey Odyssey = a voyage or long journey Odyssey = a voyage or long journey

marked by wanderings, adventures, and marked by wanderings, adventures, and hardshipshardships

Hero in Hero in The OdysseyThe Odyssey = Odysseus = Odysseus (Ulysses)(Ulysses)

Named after the hero, OdysseusNamed after the hero, Odysseus The OdysseyThe Odyssey covers his 10-year journey covers his 10-year journey

home to Ithaca after the warhome to Ithaca after the war His journey is difficult because some gods His journey is difficult because some gods

had wanted the Trojans to win (they had wanted the Trojans to win (they thought the Greek victory was unfair, so thought the Greek victory was unfair, so they were angry with Odysseus)they were angry with Odysseus)

3 Plots in 3 Plots in The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Events that happen to Odysseus’ wife Events that happen to Odysseus’ wife and son as they await his journey home and son as they await his journey home to Ithacato Ithaca

Odysseus’ wanderings during his 10-Odysseus’ wanderings during his 10-year journey home after the Trojan Waryear journey home after the Trojan War

Odysseus’ return home and joint effort Odysseus’ return home and joint effort with his son, Telemachus, to defeat with his son, Telemachus, to defeat their enemiestheir enemies

Causes of the Trojan WArCauses of the Trojan WAr

It started as a beauty contest; the It started as a beauty contest; the prize was a beautiful golden appleprize was a beautiful golden apple

The contestants were: Hera, The contestants were: Hera, Athena, and AphroditeAthena, and Aphrodite

Zeus declined to judge, so Paris of Zeus declined to judge, so Paris of Troy became the judgeTroy became the judge

Paris was asked, “Who is the most Paris was asked, “Who is the most beautiful goddess?”beautiful goddess?”

A Momentous decisionA Momentous decision

The three goddesses each promised The three goddesses each promised Paris gifts in exchange for winningParis gifts in exchange for winning

HeraHera promised power, a happy promised power, a happy home, and a good lifehome, and a good life

Athena Athena promised wisdom and promised wisdom and respectrespect

Aphrodite Aphrodite promised the love of the promised the love of the most beautiful woman in the worldmost beautiful woman in the world

Who do you think wins?………...Who do you think wins?………...

APHRODITE, OF APHRODITE, OF COURSE!!!COURSE!!!

Many ConsequencesMany Consequences And the most beautiful woman is…And the most beautiful woman is…

Helen of Troy!Helen of Troy! Many men have fought over Helen Many men have fought over Helen

(daughter of Zeus and Leda) because of (daughter of Zeus and Leda) because of of of her beauty.of of her beauty.

Long ago, Odysseus promised that when Long ago, Odysseus promised that when she chose a husband, no one would harm she chose a husband, no one would harm him or else Odysseus would kill the him or else Odysseus would kill the aggressor.aggressor.

Helen married King Menelaus of Sparta, Helen married King Menelaus of Sparta, Greece.Greece.

The Plot ThickensThe Plot Thickens

ParisParis wants to marry Helen and wants to marry Helen and reminds Aphrodite of her promise.reminds Aphrodite of her promise.

AphroditeAphrodite uses her uses her powerpower to get Helen to get Helen to leave her husband, elope with Paris, to leave her husband, elope with Paris, and return with him to Troy.and return with him to Troy.

MenelausMenelaus calls on Odysseus to keep his calls on Odysseus to keep his promise. Odysseus really doesn’t want promise. Odysseus really doesn’t want to go because he’s happy in Ithaca; to go because he’s happy in Ithaca; however, he follows through with his however, he follows through with his word – keeping the oath of honor.word – keeping the oath of honor.

Last EffortLast Effort

But first Odysseus makes one last bid for But first Odysseus makes one last bid for freedom: when the draft board comes to freedom: when the draft board comes to call him to the war, Odysseus pretends to call him to the war, Odysseus pretends to be insane by dressing like a peasant and be insane by dressing like a peasant and plowing the field. The draft board is too plowing the field. The draft board is too smart for him, though: they throw his smart for him, though: they throw his infant son in front of the plow. Odysseus infant son in front of the plow. Odysseus of course refuses to run over his son, so of course refuses to run over his son, so his disguise evaporates, and he knows he his disguise evaporates, and he knows he has to honor his oath and go to war.has to honor his oath and go to war.

The Great WarThe Great War The Greeks assemble an army—the war lasts The Greeks assemble an army—the war lasts

10 years, and the Greeks cannot get inside the 10 years, and the Greeks cannot get inside the walls of Troy.walls of Troy.

Odysseus eventually creates the Trojan Horse.Odysseus eventually creates the Trojan Horse. It is a giant wooden horse that is hollow It is a giant wooden horse that is hollow

inside.inside.

The Greek army packs up and takes off, leaving The Greek army packs up and takes off, leaving the Trojan horse outside the gatesthe Trojan horse outside the gates..

The Great TrickThe Great Trick The Trojans pull the horse into The Trojans pull the horse into

their city, thinking it is a gift or an their city, thinking it is a gift or an offering to the gods.offering to the gods.

Greek soldiers are hiding Greek soldiers are hiding inside the horse’s stomach.inside the horse’s stomach.

At night, the Greeks sneak out At night, the Greeks sneak out and take the city by surprise, and take the city by surprise, opening the gates to let in the opening the gates to let in the rest of the Greek army, which rest of the Greek army, which had only been hiding out of had only been hiding out of sight of the city.sight of the city.

Problems…Problems…

Odysseus doesn’t give credit to Odysseus doesn’t give credit to the gods—this shows pride, or the gods—this shows pride, or HUBRISHUBRIS

Poseidon, who supported Troy, is Poseidon, who supported Troy, is angry with Odysseus for winning angry with Odysseus for winning and for his hubris.and for his hubris.

Poseidon warns Odysseus it will Poseidon warns Odysseus it will be a LONG journey home.be a LONG journey home.

This is whereThis is where

The OdysseyThe Odysseybeginsbegins

Behind the OdysseyBehind the OdysseyThe Odyssey was The Odyssey was

written by a written by a man named man named Homer. Homer. According to According to the Greek the Greek tradition, tradition, Homer was a Homer was a blind minstrel blind minstrel from the island from the island of Chios.of Chios.

EpicEpicAn epic is a long narrative poem An epic is a long narrative poem

telling about the adventures of a telling about the adventures of a hero who embodies the values of hero who embodies the values of his particular civilization.his particular civilization.

An epic teaches the virtues and An epic teaches the virtues and value systems of the society that value systems of the society that produced the epic.produced the epic.

The RhapsodesThe RhapsodesA minstrel like Homer would A minstrel like Homer would

also be called a rhapsode. also be called a rhapsode. Rhapsodes were wandering Rhapsodes were wandering singers of tales—they were singers of tales—they were the historians, entertainers the historians, entertainers and myth-makers of their and myth-makers of their cultures. There was no TV or cultures. There was no TV or internet, and the Greeks internet, and the Greeks didn’t have a common didn’t have a common religious text like a Bible or religious text like a Bible or other book. other book.

MinstrelsMinstrelsSo the rhapsodes, or So the rhapsodes, or

minstrels, were very minstrels, were very important in ancient important in ancient societies, because societies, because they were the source they were the source of news and fun: they of news and fun: they went from community went from community to community to to community to report the news and report the news and to entertain people.to entertain people.

Minstrels tied Minstrels tied communities communities together.together.

Epic StyleEpic StyleWhen a minstrel told an epic, When a minstrel told an epic,

he would often use he would often use formulas: expressions that formulas: expressions that are repeated.are repeated.

The audience could recognize The audience could recognize the formulas; a formula the formulas; a formula helped the listener to helped the listener to remember—and helped the remember—and helped the minstrel to remember the minstrel to remember the story himself!story himself!

The Homeric SimileThe Homeric Simile

The Homeric simile is a special kind The Homeric simile is a special kind of simile often used in Homer’s of simile often used in Homer’s writing. It is also called an epic writing. It is also called an epic simile.simile.

It is an extended comparison of It is an extended comparison of heroic or epic events to simple, heroic or epic events to simple, everyday events that are easily everyday events that are easily recognizable.recognizable.