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