Theogony/Cosmogony as Genre 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 Theogony as Cosmogony Our Cosmos Was Not Built in a Day Theogony, ll. 233-370 From the Castration Blood Falling to Earth Genitals Falling into Sea • Furies • Giants • Meliae, • Nymphs of the • Mountain Ash Cronus, His Children, and Zeus Threats to Zeus 1. Superior Wisdom • Prometheus and Pandora Metis and the Birth of Athena • 507-615 891-905 Threats to Zeus 2. Superior Force Titanomachy 621-725 Typhoios 826-885 New Order in Cosmos Theogony Zeus in Power 886-890 • Opening Hymn – 72-75 • Gaia suggests Zeus be king and • Hekate 413-455 rule the immortals, distributing • Zeus enlists enemies of Cronus their privileges and rights. • • Threat of cosmic destruction Balance in good and evil, 695-709 balance in cosmos, balance in distribution, reciprocity as • Development of Tartaros after protection against • Titans’ defeat 726-825*** transgression • 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 as Arbitator, Not Antagonist to Siblings and Children Who Model Potential and Perils of Life The Divine Family Lesser Children: 906-928, Personifications of Order, Graces The Older Generation of Olympian Family Brothers Sisters • Zeus Poseidon Hades Hera Demeter Hestia Offspring with Unusual Births Athena , 891-905 Hephaistos, 929-934 Zeus’ Most Important Divine Sons Ares Apollo Hermes Dionysus Zeus’ Most Important Divine Daughters Athena Aphrodite Artemis Persephone Semi-Divine Offspring Who Slay Monsters Perseus Heracles Jason Semi-Divine Participants in Trojan War Achilles Aineias Explanation 1. for Bad Aspects of Life Prometheus’ Theft of Fire , Works and Days, 47-105 Explanation 2, Works and Days, 106-200 Degeneration from Golden Age to Silver, Bronze, Heroes, and Iron Explanation 3: Imperfect Material Orpheus and Mystery Religions.