Theogony Analysis (Part 2)World LiteratureMr. Brennan

Portr

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s of Th

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ny• Metaphysical (Origin of Cosmos):

• Religious (Poly- Mono- theistic):

• Social/Political (Hierarchy of Power):

• Social/Political (Patri- Matri- archy):

• Axis mundi (World Axis):

• Anthropological (Origin of Man):

• Environmental (Explanation of Natural):

• Psychological (Psyche/Archetypes):

• Morality (Values/Good v. Evil/Purpose of Man):

Void and World Parents

Polytheistic

Hierarchy w/ Supreme Ruler(connection to tyranny/reality)Patriarchy

Mount Olympos

Created by Prometheus, on behalf of Zeus, from clay

Earth composed of Gaia; Personification of Gods

[we will cover this in a future lesson]

serve the gods, honor bravery and courage via stories of heroes

Gender of TheogonyFemale MaleGaia (Earth) gives birth, without help, to

Ouranos (Sky).

Ouranos tries to prevent female birth, but

loses his own reproductive power instead. 

But Aphrodite, goddess of love, is born from the ruins of his power. 

Kronos plays male hero-bad-boy. Later, he swallows his own kids, except for 

Zeus, hidden in a cave by mom and Gaia. 

Kronos forced to "give birth" by vomiting.

First wife Metis is swallowed by Zeus who  

then gives birth to Athena (female virgin who will not give birth) through his head. Women give birth, which leads to old age, and death—

stressing the cycle of death and re-birth. For men, the control over birth and death, sometimes leads to a power—struggle, potentially revealing their

desire to take over birth—power?

• Affirms no historical royal line, just the kingship as the natural embodiment of society (i.e. Zeus), and solidifies Olympus as the dwelling of the gods

• Hesiod is unique in that he appropriates to himself, the poet, the authority usually reserved to sacred kingship (Muses bestowed unto him the two gifts of a scepter and an authoritative voice, the visible signs of kingship. The authority of kingship now belongs to the poetic voice)

• Cyclical Violence towards Order & Fate: Kronos and Ourano’s murder symbolizes the presence and suppression of primal appetites that must occur before society can come into being. [Struggle can produce a better world. From murder and bloodshed comes beauty and order.] Like in most creation myths, though, the forces of chaos never disappear completely [ongoing tyranny]

Significance of Theogony

Enuma Elish and Theogony

• The creation myth in Hesiod is believed to have Eastern influences (i.e. Enuma Elis). This cultural crossover would have occurred around 900 B.C. Greek trading colonies (i.e. Al Mina, North Syria)

• Al-Mina (Arabic "the port") is an ancient Greek trading colony, founded a little before 800 BC that supported cultural mixing from both east and west.