Left: Artemision Bronze (Zeus or Poseidon). c. 460 BCE. National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Above: Hades and Persephone. Attic red figure kylix, attributed to the Codrus Painter. ca. 430 BCE. British Museum Project Assignment: Homeric Hymn

For this project, you will write a “mini” Homeric Hymn (mini as opposed to the longer Homeric Hymns we have read) to the god of your choice. Your hymn should not exceed one page in length and should include the major formal elements of Hymns that we have discussed in class:

1) Address to/identification of the deity 2) Praise of the deity • Birth/parentage • Sedes (“abodes”): birthplace, major cult sites, favorite cities/areas • Timai: powers, responsibilities, spheres of influence • Attributes • Epithets 3) [Mythical narrative—optional] 4) Farewell/request

You may want to look over the slides from 8.24.18 (specifically, the sections on attributes and epithets) and 9.21.18 (on elements of hymns) for more details. See also the examples of hymns on the following page. Lists of epithets and cult sites for the major deities are available on theoi.com but you should feel free to modify these and even invent your own!

Projects will be graded on the following criteria: 1) Inclusion of the required formal elements (50%). You must include items 1, 2, and 4 from the list above and item 2 must include at least 3 of the possible elements bullet-pointed below. 2) Originality/creativity (50%). You will not receive full credit for simply re-writing a pre-existing hymn in more “contemporary” language! Below are some examples of “real” Homeric Hymns. You may find it Examples: “Mini” helpful to go through them and identify the major elements as discussed on page 1. You can also find more hymns on theoi. com. Homeric Hymns (Translations H. Evelyn-White, with some adaptations.)

Aphrodite (Hymn #6)

I will sing of reverend Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all Cyprus by the sea. There the moist breath of the western wind carried her over the waves of the loud-roaring sea, swaddled in soft foam, and there the gold-ribboned Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a well-made crown, golden and beautiful, and in her pierced ears they hung earrings of copper and precious gold, and on her soft neck and snow-white breasts, they adorned her with golden necklaces of the kind which the gold-ribbonedHours wear themselves whenever they go to the lovely chorus of the gods and their father’s house. And when they had decked her out all over her body, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her. They gave her their hands and each prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly amazed they were at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea. Hail, sweetly-winning, glancing-eyed goddess! Grant that I may gain victory in this contest, and shape you my song well. And now I will remember you and another song also. of Arles 1st. c. BCE. Possible copy of the Aphrodite of Thespiae by . .

Athena (Hymn #11)

Pallas Athena, defender of cities, I begin to sing, Awesome one, who, along with Ares, loves deeds of war And the sacking of cities and the battle-cry and wars, And she saves the people as they go out and return. Farewell, goddess; grant me good fortune and joy.

Poseidon (Hymn #22)

I begin to sing of Poseidon, the great god, mover of the earth and the barren sea, sea-lord, who also rules over Helicon and wide Aegeae. A two-fold power the gods allotted you, Earthshaker: to be a tamer of horses and a savior of ships. Athena and Poseidon. Attic black-figure amphora, Hail, Poseidon, dark-haired Earthholder. c. 540 BCE. Amasis Painter. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris. Blessed one, be kindly in heart and give aid to sailors!