intro to greek mythology the odyssey. epics an epic is a long narrative poem that tells the...
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INTRO TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY
THE ODYSSEY
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EPICS
• An epic is a long narrative poem that tells the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilizations. • Often, epics would be
used in schools to teach values
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THE GREAT WAR• The Odyssey is the counter part to the Iliad, an epic
written about a ten year war (Trojan War) fought in the Mediterranean over 200 years prior to the epics
• Both epics were written by Homer, who took all of the orally recited tales and collected them into two volumes
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BACKGROUND
• The war started when Helen, the wife of the Greek king Menelaus, ran away with Paris, a prince of Troy• Agamemnon, Menelaus’ brother, banded all the
Greeks together to attack Troy• This story would have been common knowledge for
the readers of the epics
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HOMER• No one really knows who
Homer was, though he is believed to be a blind minstrel (singer) from Chios.• Epics were often told orally, by
traveling singers, but they were also performed as plays in amphitheaters
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ODYSSEUS• He is the main character of The
Odyssey• Traditional Greek heroes were
flawless and mighty, but Odysseus is more down to earth and faces difficulties• Married to Penelope, a beautiful
and faithful wife• They have one son, Telemachus
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• Odysseus was not interested in fighting in the war, so when the generals came to get him, he pretended to be insane• The generals saw through
this and tossed his then-infant son in front of a plow, and Odysseus was forced to save his boy, proving he was not insane
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• Once in the army, he was a competent general. He is said to be the one who thought of the Trojan horse trick (hiding soldiers inside a giant wooden horse, presented to the enemy as a gift so they would bring it inside their gates)
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GREEK GODS• Apollo – god of poetry, music,
prophecy, medicine, and archery• Athena – goddess of wisdom,
war, and peace. Favorite daughter of Zeus, she favored the Greeks in the Trojan war. Often called Pallas Athena
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• Cronus – (Kronos) Titan god who ruled the universe until his son Zeus overthrew him• Hades – god of the underworld• Helios – god of sun• Hephaestus (Ha-fest-us) – god of metalworking. Notoriously
ugly, married to the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite• Hermes – messenger god• Poseidon – god of the sea, brother to Zeus. Believed to
cause earthquakes; enemy to Odysseus• Zeus – most powerful god. Lives on Mt. Olympus
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PEOPLE TO KNOW IN ITHACA (ODYSSEUS’ HOME)
• Antinous (Ant-i-nus) – One of Penelope’s main suitors; an arrogant and mean young noble from Ithaca• Eumaeus (you-may-us) – swineherd (pig farmer), one
of Odysseus’ loyal servants• Eurycleia (you-rick-lee-uh) – Odysseus’ old nurse• Eurymachus (you-rim-uh-cuss) – suitor of Penelope
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• Penelope – Odysseus’ wife. While Odysseus is away, everyone assumes he is dead and men try to win her over. She remains faithful.• Philoetus (fil-i-shus) – Cowherd (Cow farmer) One of
Odysseus’ loyal servants• Telemachus (tel-eh-
meh-cus) – Odysseus’ son
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OTHER PEOPLE AND PLACES
• Aeaea (Ay-ee-uh) – home of Circe, the enchantress and goddess• Alcinous (al-sin-us) – king of Phaeacia
(fay-shuh). Odysseus tells the story of his adventures to Alcinous’s court• Calypso (cal-ip-so) – beautiful nymph
goddess who keeps Odysseus on her island for 7 years
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• Charybdis (Ka-rib-dis) – female monster who sucks in water three times a day to form a deadly whirlpool• Cicones (si-ko-neez) – people living on the
southwestern coast of Thrace who battled Odysseus and his men on their journey• Circe (sir-see) – enchtantress and goddess who
turns Odysseus’s men into swine
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• Erebus (air-eh-bus) – dark area of the underworld where the dead reside• Eurylochus (You-ril-uh-cuss) – a member of
Odysseus’ loyal crew• Lotus eaters – people who feed Odysseus’ men
lotus flowers to make them forget Ithaca• Phaeacia (Fay-shuh) – island kingdom ruled by
Alcinous
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• Polyphemus (polly-fee-mus) – son of Poseidon; blinded by Odysseus. Polyphemus is a Cyclops
• Scylla (sill-uh) – female monster with 6 serpent heads, each head having a triple row of fangs• Sirens – sea nymphs whose
beautiful and mysterious music lures sailors to steer their ships towards rocks
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• Teiresias (tee-ray-see-us) – famous blind prophet from the city of Thebes• Thrinakia (thrin-ah-kee-uh) – island where helios
keeps his cattle• Greeks are often referred to in the story as Acheans
or Argives