theogony/cosmogony as genre - lincoln towersprojectopenlincolntowers.org/inthebeginning.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Myth : A Traditional Tale Retold to meet the needs of succeeding generations: tales explain or describe or model the cosmos, nature, social structures, and human nature
Philosophy and Science develop in Greece when myth no longer satisfactorily
defines or explains the world
and human
life
Hesiod’s Hymn to the Muses, Theogony, 1-115
• Themes:
• Honor to Major Deities
• Primary Position of Zeus
• Zeus as Arbitrator, Model for good kings
• Importance of Muses
• Development from the beginning
From the CastrationBlood Falling to Earth
• Furies
• Giants
• Meliae,
• Nymphs of the
• Mountain Ash
Genitals Falling into Sea
Threats to Zeus 1. Superior Wisdom
• Prometheus and Pandora Metis and the Birth of Athena
• 507-615 891-905
New Order in CosmosTheogony
• Opening Hymn – 72-75
• Hekate 413-455
• Zeus enlists enemies of Cronus
• Threat of cosmic destruction 695-709
• Development of Tartaros after
• Titans’ defeat 726-825***
• Battle with Typhoios threatens cosmic destruction 844-859
• Typhoios blasted to Tartarus where he can only threaten mortals with fierce winds 875-885, but cannot destroy cosmos
Zeus in Power 886-890
• Gaia suggests Zeus be king and rule the immortals, distributing their privileges and rights.
• Balance in good and evil, balance in cosmos, balance in distribution, reciprocity as protection against transgression
Zeus as Arbitator, Not Antagonist to Siblings and Children Who Model
Potential and Perils of LifeThe Divine Family
Lesser Children: 906-928, Personifications of Order, Graces
Explanation 2, Works and Days, 106-200
Degeneration from Golden Age to Silver, Bronze, Heroes, and Iron