Classical Mythology Exam 1
Notes with Complete Verified
SOLUTIONS UPDATED!!!
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47061011
January 12 th
What is Myth?
• Meaning “word, saying, report, tale”
• Early Greek lit implies no distinction between true and false
• In 5th century, meaning changes to include fictitious story or legend
• Classical mythology refers to the collection of mythological narratives from ancient
Greek and Roman cultures
Time in Greek Literature
• Events in Greek literature take place in one of three distinct timeframes, each defined by
dominant actors:
o The Era of the Gods and Goddesses
Divine Myths
• Set in the time of the gods
• Topics include establishment of the cosmos : Earth, sky
o The Era of Heroes and Heroines
Heroic Legends
• Set in times of heroes and heroines
• Members of prominent and powerful families/ long journeys/
interactions with gods
• Topics may be foundational on local level
o The Era of Men and Women
Historical Narratives
• Set in recent historical time (respect to ancient Greeks
• Characters are typical human beings
• Topics concern the lives of humans
Mythological Narratives - (Traditional stories with collective importance)
• Group of traditional stories that includes both divine myths and heroic
legends
• Typically presented as accounts of something that actually happened
• All can be inter-related/ characters reappear in different stories “fabric of
classical mythology”
• Specificity is key in mythological narratives
• Collective importance - holding cultural, religious, and/or historical
significance to a group of people
January 14 th
Characteristics of the Greek Gods
• Greeks were polytheistic - worshipped many gods
• Polytheistic gods were associated with elements of the cosmos and
forces of nature o Zeus: Sky god, hurls thunderbolts
o Poseidon: God of the sea, and cause of earthquakes
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, lOMoAR cPSD| 47061011
Monotheistic God of Abrahamic faith Polytheistic gods of the Greeks contrast as:
is seen as:
Eternal Immortal, but not eternal
Omnipotent (all powerful) Powerful, but not all powerful, can be defeated
Omniscient (all knowing) Knowing but not all knowing (Can be tricked,
limited knowledge)
Omnipresent (Existing everywhere) Exists in certain locations
Anthropomorphism
• Greeks conceived of their gods in their own image
• Greek gods are portrayed as anthropomorphic (human-form), both in appearance and in
their behavior
• Their activities and their personal strengths and weaknesses are human-like
• They are not exemplary (or even admirable) in their behavior
• They relate to one another as members of an extended family
• They are essentially large and dysfunctional
Qualities of Greek Literary Myth
• Humanism: most Greek mythological narratives are anthropocentric, where human
beings and their activities are at the center of the cosmos
• Individualism: Glorify the individual, non-conformist, heroes and heroines
• Competitiveness: Solo competition and individual glory are important themes
• Pessimism: Human glory is fleeting; suffering loss, and death are always inevitable due
to over-reaching
A Brief History of the Greeks
3000-1600 BC:
o Highly sophisticated Minoan culture flourishes on the island of Crete
Strong connection between Minoan culture and bulls
• 2100 BC
o Indo-Europeans arrive in Greece, apparently bringing with them the Indo-
European pantheon (“roster” of the gods)
• 1650-1150 BC
o Mycenaean civilization flourishes on the Greek Peloponnese
• 1100-800 BC o “Dark Ages”
• 800-480 BC
o Archaic Period: Beginnings of Greek literature. Age of Homer, Hesiod, early lyric
poets; Olympic games begin; Persian invasions of Greece in 490 and 480
• 480-323 BC
o Classical Period: “Golden Age” of Athens; age of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and
Euripides; Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta; Alexander the Great
Downloaded by EXAM PREDICTOR ()
Notes with Complete Verified
SOLUTIONS UPDATED!!!
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47061011
January 12 th
What is Myth?
• Meaning “word, saying, report, tale”
• Early Greek lit implies no distinction between true and false
• In 5th century, meaning changes to include fictitious story or legend
• Classical mythology refers to the collection of mythological narratives from ancient
Greek and Roman cultures
Time in Greek Literature
• Events in Greek literature take place in one of three distinct timeframes, each defined by
dominant actors:
o The Era of the Gods and Goddesses
Divine Myths
• Set in the time of the gods
• Topics include establishment of the cosmos : Earth, sky
o The Era of Heroes and Heroines
Heroic Legends
• Set in times of heroes and heroines
• Members of prominent and powerful families/ long journeys/
interactions with gods
• Topics may be foundational on local level
o The Era of Men and Women
Historical Narratives
• Set in recent historical time (respect to ancient Greeks
• Characters are typical human beings
• Topics concern the lives of humans
Mythological Narratives - (Traditional stories with collective importance)
• Group of traditional stories that includes both divine myths and heroic
legends
• Typically presented as accounts of something that actually happened
• All can be inter-related/ characters reappear in different stories “fabric of
classical mythology”
• Specificity is key in mythological narratives
• Collective importance - holding cultural, religious, and/or historical
significance to a group of people
January 14 th
Characteristics of the Greek Gods
• Greeks were polytheistic - worshipped many gods
• Polytheistic gods were associated with elements of the cosmos and
forces of nature o Zeus: Sky god, hurls thunderbolts
o Poseidon: God of the sea, and cause of earthquakes
Downloaded by EXAM PREDICTOR
()
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47061011
Monotheistic God of Abrahamic faith Polytheistic gods of the Greeks contrast as:
is seen as:
Eternal Immortal, but not eternal
Omnipotent (all powerful) Powerful, but not all powerful, can be defeated
Omniscient (all knowing) Knowing but not all knowing (Can be tricked,
limited knowledge)
Omnipresent (Existing everywhere) Exists in certain locations
Anthropomorphism
• Greeks conceived of their gods in their own image
• Greek gods are portrayed as anthropomorphic (human-form), both in appearance and in
their behavior
• Their activities and their personal strengths and weaknesses are human-like
• They are not exemplary (or even admirable) in their behavior
• They relate to one another as members of an extended family
• They are essentially large and dysfunctional
Qualities of Greek Literary Myth
• Humanism: most Greek mythological narratives are anthropocentric, where human
beings and their activities are at the center of the cosmos
• Individualism: Glorify the individual, non-conformist, heroes and heroines
• Competitiveness: Solo competition and individual glory are important themes
• Pessimism: Human glory is fleeting; suffering loss, and death are always inevitable due
to over-reaching
A Brief History of the Greeks
3000-1600 BC:
o Highly sophisticated Minoan culture flourishes on the island of Crete
Strong connection between Minoan culture and bulls
• 2100 BC
o Indo-Europeans arrive in Greece, apparently bringing with them the Indo-
European pantheon (“roster” of the gods)
• 1650-1150 BC
o Mycenaean civilization flourishes on the Greek Peloponnese
• 1100-800 BC o “Dark Ages”
• 800-480 BC
o Archaic Period: Beginnings of Greek literature. Age of Homer, Hesiod, early lyric
poets; Olympic games begin; Persian invasions of Greece in 490 and 480
• 480-323 BC
o Classical Period: “Golden Age” of Athens; age of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and
Euripides; Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta; Alexander the Great
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