FOR 106
Myth and Meaning

Syllabus

Calendar

Materials
 by chapter

Grades

Power
points

Topics of
Interest

Internet
Resources

Chapter 6

Anthropomorphism: Gods look like humans and have usually extreme manifestations of human personality quirks and qualities - they have fewer limitations and more powers (e.g., invisibility, flight) and immortal lifespans, but not unlimited knowledge, or power over fate, or unfailing righteousness.

The Divine Hierarchy:

Gods: Olympian (deities of the upper world/air) or Chthonic (deities named for their realm, "earth")
Monsters: offspring of a human and an animal, with divine intervention (Minotaur -see chapter 23)
Creatures: offspring of a god and an animal or second generation (sphinx, Pegasus)
Biforms: some combination of animals, sometimes including a pinch of man (satyr, chapter 13 and centaur, see introductory power point for images)
Nymphs: Daphne, Echo, Syrinx, etc. - generally represent the nature spirit
Muses: daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, provide divine inspiration to human artists (see Muses power point)
Demigods: one immortal parent (Theseus, Herakles, Perseus, etc. see respective chapters)
Heroes: mortal but can go beyond human limits, honored with cult after death - generally have the help of divinity during life - sometimes difficult to distinguish from demigods, but they do not need to have one immortal parent

Zeus and Monotheism: an iffy connection
Zeus' interest in protecting the morality of the universe: he becomes god of hospitality, protector of the family and clan, protector of suppliants, upholds the sanctity of oaths - upholder of justice. But Zeus himself is known to violate some of these rules.

Other gods' (mostly goddesses' ability) to sway/thwart/ him

see cartoon (source unknown)

Greek Humanism: Is Man free to act or limited by fate?
"Man is the measure of all things" - Protagoras

Role of Fortune in Human Life:

Solon: "And so then, Croesus, a human being is completely a thing of chance...good fortune keeps [doom and desire] from [a lucky man], and he is unmaimed, free from disease, does not suffer evils, and has fine children and a fine appearance. If in addition to these things he still ends his life well, this is the one whom you seek who is worthy to be called happy. Before he dies do not yet call him happy, but only fortunate." (M&L p 137)

"Happy" comes from the word "hap," meaning "chance. Cf. "happenstance" and "hapless". Things that cause our good or bad fortunes are out of our control. In Latin, the word "felix" (cf. English "felicitous") means both "happy" and "fortunate" depending on the context. For Herodotus, you can enjoy your good "fortune" while alive, but only be deemed "happy" after the final act has been played.

Story of Cleobis and Biton:
Argive Heraion
Statues in Delphi Museum