The Making of MythCultural and Historical Influences
on Star Wars and Greek Mythology
Influences on Star Wars
• The Western
• The Space Age
• Science Fiction
• World War II
• The Crises of the 70’s
• Humanity Vs. the Machine
“Star Wars and the Western”
“Greek Myth and the Western”
Star Wars and the Space Age
Greek Myth and the Unknown
Star Wars and Science Fiction
Star Wars and Alien Life Forms
CannibalismCruelty
Wampa
Jabba the Hutt
Greek Myth and “Alien Life Forms”:The Chimera
Bellerophon and the Chimera
Detail from an Athenian black-figure clay vase, about 550 BC. Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum 85.AE.121 © J. Paul Getty Museum
Star Wars and World War II
Greek Myth and War
Chigi Vase: small oinochoe, found in Etruria (central Italy), Late Protocorinthian (c.620BC) First representation of hoplite warfare in Greek art, but warriors carry Homeric double spears.
http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/pottery/painters/keypieces/corinthian/chigi.htm
Star Wars and Crisis of the 70’s
Greek Myth and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Humanity vs. the Machine
Mortal vs. Immortal
Influences on Greek Myths
• Europe vs. Asia (Herodotus)
• The Trojan War (Thucydides)
• Athenian Nationalism (Plutarch on Theseus)
• Roman Nationalism (Aeneas)
Europe vs. AsiaGustave Moreau
(1826-1898)
Herodotus on Europa Thucydides on and the Trojan War;
Athenian Nationalism:Theseus as another Heracles
Heracles and the HydraAntonio Pollaiolo, 1460Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Plutarch on Theseus
Labors of Heracles and Theseus
The labors of Theseus, Attic red-figure cup,440 BC, British Museum
Labors of Heracles on Metopes of Temple of Zeus at Olympia
Heracles and the Golden Apples
Heracles and Theseus in the Underworld
Athena as Patroness
Athena and Heracles
Athena and Theseus
Roman Nationalism
denarius of Julius Caesar: 47-46 BCAeneas leaves Troy carrying Anchises and Palladium.
Vergil on Anchises and AeneasVergil on Aeneas and Rome
